TheTlingit are aNative American group from thePacific Northwest. They live in theUnited States (in the state ofAlaska) and inCanada (British Columbia andYukon). They speak theTlingit language. In their language, Tlingit means "people of the tides."
The Tlingit get their food through hunting, gathering, and fishing. They are a matrilineal society. That means property is passed down from a mother to her children.
The Tlingit practiced slavery extensively until it was outlawed by the United States.[1]
The Tlingit organized themselves into tribes, which they calledḴwáan.
| Tlingit tribe | Translation | Village or Community location | English names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G̱alyáx̱ Ḵwáan | Salmon Stream Tribe | Yakataga-Controller Bay area | Kaliakh |
| Xunaa Ḵáawu | Tribe or People from the Direction of the North Wind | Hoonah | Hoonah people |
| S'awdáan Ḵwáan | From S'oow (jade) daa (around), aan (land/country/village) because the bay is the color of jade all around. | Sumdum | Sumdum |
| Tʼaḵjik.aan Ḵwáan: | Coast Town Tribe | northern Prince of Wales Island | Tuxekan |
| Laax̱aayík Kwáan: | Inside the Glacier People | Yakutat area | Yakutat |
| Tʼaaḵu Ḵwáan: | Geese Flood Upriver Tribe | Taku | Taku Tlingit, Taku people |
| Xutsnoowú (a.k.a. Xudzidaa) Ḵwáan | Brown Bear Fort a.k.a. Burnt Wood Tribe | Angoon | Hootchenoo people, Hoochenoo, Kootznahoo |
| Hinyaa Ḵwáan | Tribe From Across The Water | Klawock | Henya |
| G̱unaax̱oo Ḵwáan | Among The Athabascans Tribe | Dry Bay | Gunahoo people, Dry Bay people |
| Deisleen Ḵwáan: | Big Sinew Tribe | Teslin | Teslin Tlingit, Teslin people, Inland Tlinkit |
| Shee Tʼiká (a.k.a. Sheetʼká) Ḵwáan | Outside Edge of a Branch Tribe | Sitka | Sitka, Shee Atika |
| Shtaxʼhéen Ḵwáan | Bitter Water Tribe | Wrangell | Stikine people, Stikine Tlingit |
| Jilḵáat Ḵwáan | From Chaal (food cache) xhaat (salmon) khwaan (dwellers): "Salmon Cache Tribe" | Klukwan | Chilkat people |
| Áa Tlein Ḵwáan | Big Lake Tribe | Atlin | Taku River Tlingit, Inland Tlinkit |
| Ḵéex̱ʼ Kwáan | The Opening of the Day (Dawn) Tribe a.k.a. The Town That Never Sleeps | Kake | Kake people |
| Taantʼa Ḵwáan | Sea Lion Tribe | Fort Tongass (formerly) & Ketchikan (today) | Tongass people |
| Jilḵoot Ḵwáan | Chilkoot Tribe | Haines | Chilkoot people |
| Áakʼw Ḵwáan | Small Lake Tribe | Auke Bay | Auke people |
| Kooyu Ḵwáan | Stomach Tribe | Kuiu Island | Kuiu people |
| Saanyaa Ḵwáan | Southward Tribe | Cape Fox Village (formerly) & Saxman (today) | Saanya Kwaan, owns Saxman Corporation, which owns Cape Fox Corporation |
The Tlingit have a very rich culture. They are famous for their totem poles. They incorporate art in every part of their lives. Their art has deep spiritual meaning.
The Tlingit didn't write down their beliefs, but they do have a very complex philosophy on how they view the world.
They wereanimists. Theirshamans did many things, such as curing diseases, helping hunters, and protecting people from evil.
In the 1880s, many Tlingit began to convert to Orthodox Christianity, which was introduced by the Russians. They clung to the Orthodox religion as Americans and Canadians came onto their land.
Today, young Tlingit are turning back to their traditional beliefs in order to regain a sense of identity as Tlingit.
The Tlingit have their own language, the Tlingit language. Their language has a very complex grammar and uses sounds that almost no other languages use.
However, most of them now speak English.
The Tlingit made their houses from cedar wood.
The Tlingit harvest food from the sea.
They also enjoy eating berries and meat from land animals.
