Tlingit

The Tlingit or Lingít are an Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. They are one of the many groups of Alaska Natives and also have communities as First Nations in Canada. The Tlingit speak their own special language called the Tlingit language, which is part of a group known as Na-Dene language.

Tlingit families and traditions are organized in a way where children belong to their mother’s family group, or clan. Important jobs and belongings are passed down from mothers to daughters and their children. This way of living developed in the thick, green forests along the coast of southeastern Alaskan lands and many islands nearby, known as the Alexander Archipelago.

For a long time, the Tlingit people lived by fishing and gathering food from nature, moving between places but always returning to the same spots each year. They lived close to the water and relied on the sea for many of their needs. Some Tlingit also lived far inland in parts of British Columbia and the Yukon in Canada. Today, Tlingit people continue to honor their rich traditions and history.

Name

The Tlingit call themselves Lingít, which means "People of the Tides". In older books, you might see them called Koloshi or Koulischen. These names come from a word used by another group of people to describe a piece of jewelry worn by Tlingit women.

Contemporary nations

The Tlingit people have communities in both the United States and Canada. In the United States, they are recognized groups in Alaska, including the Angoon Community Association, Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, and many others.

In Canada, Tlingit people are part of First Nations groups in British Columbia and Yukon, such as the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. The Sealaska Corporation is an organization in Alaska that includes Tlingit people and has smaller regional groups within it.

Territory

The Tlingit people historically lived in a large area along the coast from the Portland Canal to near the Copper River in Alaska. They lived on many islands in the Alexander Archipelago, except for the southern part of Prince of Wales Island, where the Haida lived.

The Tlingit were divided into different groups based on where they lived. Some lived along rivers like the Chilkat River and Taku River. Others lived farther inland near lakes and rivers, where they traded with nearby tribes.

Today, Tlingit people live in both Canada and the United States. In Canada, they have communities in places like Atlin, British Columbia, Teslin, Yukon, and Carcross, Yukon. In Alaska, they do not have special land set aside for them, but they still live in areas that have been their home for a long time.

The Tlingit territory can be divided into four main areas based on where they live and their way of life. These areas have different natural environments and resources, which shaped the culture and traditions of each group.

Culture

Main article: Culture of the Tlingit

The Tlingit culture is rich and complex, shaped by the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Family and kinship are very important, along with storytelling and sharing. Being kind and generous shows respect and strength in Tlingit traditions. Art and beliefs are part of daily life, with even simple items like spoons and boxes having special meanings and stories.

Tlingit society is organized into two main groups, the Raven and the Eagle, which have many clans and family lines. These groups pass down family history and treasures through the mother's side. They have special family symbols shown on totem poles, canoes, dishes, and other crafts. The Tlingit also have special blankets that represent trust and are cared for by chosen family members.

Philosophy and religion

Main article: Philosophy and religion of the Tlingit

The Tlingit people had a rich set of beliefs and ideas that helped shape how they saw the world. They believed in many spirits and treated animals with respect before hunting them. Special leaders, often men, helped heal people, change the weather, and guide the community. They also believed that both people and animals could return in new forms after death.

In the late 1800s, many Tlingit turned to a new kind of belief called Orthodox Christianity after facing diseases that their old ways could not heal. Today, some Tlingit young people are interested in learning more about their old traditions, while many still hold Christian beliefs as well.

Language

The Tlingit people, who live in Southeast Alaska and Western Canada, speak the Tlingit language. This language is part of the Na-Dené language family and has its own special rules and sounds.

Today, only about 200 to 400 people in the United States and 100 in Canada still speak Tlingit as their first language. Most of these speakers also speak English. Many groups are working hard to keep the Tlingit language alive. Places like the Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Institute, and the University of Alaska Southeast offer classes, and communities in Klukwan and Angoon hold lessons to help preserve this important part of their heritage.

Housing

Tlingit tribes traditionally built special houses called clanhouses from cedar wood. These houses had strong floors where they could keep their things safe underneath. Amazingly, they built these houses without using any glue, nails, or other fasteners. Clan houses were usually square or rectangular and had beautiful designs and totem poles showing which clan they belonged to.

Economy

The Tlingit people traditionally relied on fishing, hunting, and gathering for their food and resources. They caught salmon, halibut, herring, and other fish, along with shellfish and marine mammals. They also hunted deer and collected berries. These resources were used for daily life, special events, and trading with other groups.

Over time, Tlingit people also began working in jobs like fishing industries and other trades, but they still kept their traditional ways of getting food. Today, Tlingit people work in many different jobs, including fishing, teaching, running businesses, and taking care of their land and culture. They are also known for their beautiful traditional arts, such as carvings and weaving.
Sealaska Corporation and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act help support the Tlingit community in many areas today.

History

Main article: History of the Tlingit

For thousands of years, many Indigenous groups have lived in the land we now call Alaska, and the Tlingit people are part of this rich history. Their way of life began around 10,000 years ago near the Skeena and Nass Rivers. In 1741, the Tlingit met European explorers for the first time—Russians were the first, followed by Spanish explorers in 1775. Even though they stayed independent, many Tlingit became very sick from diseases like smallpox that the Europeans brought with them. A big sickness in 1862 hurt many Tlingit, with many people not surviving.

Food

Food is very important in Tlingit culture. The Tlingit people get much of their food from the land and sea around them. While they can eat from the beach, they also gather many other foods to keep their diet healthy and interesting.

Salmon is the most important food for the Tlingit, but they also eat fish like halibut and shellfish. They gather berries such as salmonberry and soap berry, and in the fall, they hunt sea otters. They also eat herring and eulachon, which can be enjoyed fresh or dried for later. Animals like deer and bear are hunted in the forests near their homes.

Genetics

Scientists have studied genes from the Tlingit and the Ainu people of Japan. They found similarities that suggest both groups share ancient ancestors from Southern Siberia. These early people lived during a time called the Paleolithic and later moved to places like the Pacific Northwest Coast, where the Tlingit live today.

Notable Tlingit people

• Anna Brown Ehlers (b. 1955), Chilkat weaver
• Todd Gloria (b. 1978), politician
• Ernestine Hayes (b. 1945), poet, memorist, and professor
• Ursala Hudson, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver
• Nathan Jackson (artist) (born 1938), woodcarver
• Esther Littlefield (1906–1997), artist, cultural interpreter
• Byron Mallott (1943–2020), Lieutenant Governor of Alaska (2014–2018)
• Nora Marks Dauenhauer (1927–2017), poet, author, and scholar
• Larry McNeil (b. 1955), photographer
• Da-ka-xeen Mehner, photographer and installation artist
• Tillie Paul (1863–1952), civil rights advocate and educator
• William Paul (1885–1977), attorney
• Elizabeth Peratrovich (1911–1958), civil rights advocate
• Clarissa Rizal (1956–2016), Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver
• Dino Rossi (b. 1959), politician
• Martin Sensmeier (b. 1985), actor
• Louis Shotridge (1883–1937), a Tlingit anthropologist and curator
• Preston Singletary (b. 1963), glass artist
• Walter Soboleff (1908–2011), scholar, elder, and religious leader
• Vera Starbard, playwright and author
• Jennie Thlunaut (c. 1891–1986), Chilkat weaver
• X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell, scholar and author
• Amos Wallace (1920–2004), totem pole carver and artist
• X'unéi (unknown), a powerful Yakutat chief that went to war against Yeilxaak
• Yeilxaak (unknown–1791), the first chief of Klukwan to be encountered by Europeans