Ghandl of the Qayahl Llaanas was born around 1851 in the Haida village of Qaysun. His world was devastated by waves of European diseases, which wiped out over ninety percent of the Haida population and robbed him of his sight. He became a skilled listener, taking in the myths, legends and everyday stories of his people. Creatively adapting them, the storyteller became a master of his craft, a trained and skilful mythteller.