The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-08-30

UPON the discovery OF INT
northwest coast Of America
~ the Tlingit were found In pos
session Of southeastern Alas
ka, with the exception possibly Of thu
southernmost portion of Prince o.
Wales island, which had been wrestet
from them by invading Haida from
Masset on the Queen Charlotte islands
during the latter half of the eighteenth
century. From the testimony Of the
early explorers, this occupation seems
to have been of sufficient age to have
developed a racial type, speaking the
same tongue. acknowledging estab
lished laws, and bound by like con-
ventions, says an article by George T,
Emmons In the American Museum
Journal.
What knowledge we can gather OF
their origin and early life from their
family traditions, songs and geo.
graphical names. although fragmen-
tary and vague, tells consistently Of a
uniform northward migration by wa
ter, along the coast and through the In
land channels from the Tsimshian Pc
ninsula and Prince of Wales island,
which was constantly augmented by
parties Of interior people descending
the greater rivers to the sea.
The social organization Of the Tin
git is founded on matriarchy, or de-
scent through the mother, and is de-
pendent upon two parties, the men,
bers Of each of which may not marry
among themselves but the two parties
intermarry and supplement each 9TH
er upon the many ceremonial occasions
that mark-their intercourse.
The two parties are subdivided Into
fifty-six existing families or clans.
founded on blood relationship and abb
solutely independent in government,
succession, Inheritance and territory.
Within the family there is a well-de-
fined aristocracy, wholly dependent
upon birth, from which the chiefs are
chosen; an intermediate class consist
Ing of those who have forced them
selves to the front, through wealth,
character. or artistic ability; and the
poorer people. In earlier days there
were many slaves who had no recog-
nized rights.
chiIkat the Leading Tribe.
Geographically considered, there are
10 tribal divisions known as "kwans,"
a contraction Of ska" (man) and IAN"
Gland lived on or claime1). OF these
several tribes the Chilkat-kwan has
been the most prominent since our ac-
quaintanee with Alaska. The relative
importance Of a primitive people Is
measured by conditions of food supply
and other natural resources. The COM
manding position Of the Chilkat, at the
head of the inland channels controll-
ing the mountain passes to the interi- |
or, gave them the monopoly Of the fur
trade of the upper Yukon valley. and |
the placer copper fields of the White |
river region. These products, unknown |
to the coastal area, were economically |
important in primitive days, and after /
the advent of Europeans the increased
demand for furs, and their greater
value, made this trade even more lu-
crative. The Tlingit were a canoe
people and might be termed semi-no-
madic, as they were on their hunting
grounds in the early spring and late
fall, while the summer season was
spent In the fishing camps by the sal
mon streams; but Notwithstanding
these long absences, they built sub
stantial villages, where, except for so
cial activities, they spent the winter In
idleness.
AS they looked to the sea for their
principal food supply their villages
were directly on the shore just above
the high water-mark, in sheltered
coves, where they could launch their
and land in any weather and
at any stage of the tide. But the Chill
kat, differing from all the other Ting
1t, lived just beyond the open water
In rather restricted territory on riv-
ers that were veritable storehouses OF
food, bringing an abundance of fish life
to their very doors and so permitting
them to remain at home throughout
the year, except when on their trading
rips to the interior, which gave their
a more permanent charac-
.er, and contributed to the unity Of
life.
At tho Mother Town.
OF the four principal old villages, all
If which have survived the ravages
# constant strife and the still more
ieadly by-products of civilization
iquor and disease-Klukwan (mother
OWN has always held the first place
n size, wealth and the character Of
is people. 1t retained Its supremacy
ong after the more southern coast VII ,
ages had gone to decay, as its more
and isolated position and the
Independent and aggressive reputation
# It's population kept white traders
It q distance. Rukwan lies at the
'dge Of 4 gradual slope on the north