Tlingit

The Tlingit are a Native American group from the Pacific Northwest. They live in the United States (in the state of Alaska) and in Canada (British Columbia and Yukon). They speak the Tlingit 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.

 Territory 
The Tlingit organized themselves into tribes, which they called Ḵwáan.

 Tribes or Ḵwáan 
Tlingit tribeTranslationVillage or Community locationEnglish namesG̱alyáx̱ ḴwáanSalmon Stream TribeYakataga-Controller Bay areaKaliakhXunaa ḴáawuTribe or People from the Direction of the North WindHoonahHoonah peopleS'awdáan ḴwáanFrom S'oow (jade) daa (around), aan (land/country/village) because the bay is the color of jade all around.SumdumSumdumTʼaḵjik.aan Ḵwáan:Coast Town Tribenorthern Prince of Wales IslandTuxekanLaax̱aayík Kwáan:Inside the Glacier PeopleYakutat areaYakutatTʼaaḵu Ḵwáan:Geese Flood Upriver TribeTakuTaku Tlingit, Taku peopleXutsnoowú (a.k.a. Xudzidaa) ḴwáanBrown Bear Fort a.k.a. Burnt Wood TribeAngoonHootchenoo people, Hoochenoo, KootznahooHinyaa ḴwáanTribe From Across The WaterKlawockHenyaG̱unaax̱oo ḴwáanAmong The Athabascans TribeDry BayGunahoo people, Dry Bay peopleDeisleen Ḵwáan:Big Sinew TribeTeslinTeslin Tlingit, Teslin people, Inland TlinkitShee Tʼiká (a.k.a. Sheetʼká) ḴwáanOutside Edge of a Branch TribeSitkaSitka, Shee AtikaShtaxʼhéen ḴwáanBitter Water TribeWrangellStikine people, Stikine TlingitJilḵáat ḴwáanFrom Chaal (food cache) xhaat (salmon) khwaan (dwellers): "Salmon Cache Tribe"KlukwanChilkat peopleÁa Tlein ḴwáanBig Lake TribeAtlinTaku River Tlingit, Inland TlinkitḴéex̱ʼ KwáanThe Opening of the Day (Dawn) Tribe a.k.a. The Town That Never SleepsKakeKake peopleTaantʼa ḴwáanSea Lion TribeFort Tongass (formerly) & Ketchikan (today)Tongass peopleJilḵoot ḴwáanChilkoot TribeHainesChilkoot peopleÁakʼw ḴwáanSmall Lake TribeAuke BayAuke peopleKooyu ḴwáanStomach TribeKuiu IslandKuiu peopleSaanyaa ḴwáanSouthward TribeCape Fox Village (formerly) & Saxman (today)Saanya Kwaan, owns Saxman Corporation, which owns Cape Fox Corporation

 Culture 
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.

 Philosophy and religion 
The Tlingit didn't write down their beliefs, but they do have a very complex philosophy on how they view the world.

They were animists. Their shamans 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.

 Language 
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.

 Housing 
The Tlingit made their houses from cedar wood.

 Food 
The Tlingit harvest food from the sea.

They also enjoy eating berries and meat from land animals.

 Famous Tlingit people 

 Yeilxaak (unknown-1791), the first chief of Klukwan to be encountered by Europeans
 X'unéi (unknown), a powerful Yakutat chief that went to war against Yeilxaak
 Shotridge (1817–1887), a powerful chief and leader of the Chilkat Tlingits
 Louis Shotridge (1883–1937), a Tlingit nobleman and American art collector, a grandson of the chief Shotridge
 K'alyaan (1773-unknown), a chief and leader who led the Tlingits against the Russians at the Battle of Sitka
 Debra Lekanoff, member of Washington State Legislature 2018
 Nora Marks Dauenhauer (1927–2017), poet, author, and scholar
 Byron Mallott (b. 1943), Lieutenant Governor of Alaska (2014–2018)
 Larry McNeil (b. 1955), photographer
 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
 Walter Soboleff (1908–2011), scholar, elder, and religious leader
 Preston Singletary (b. 1963), glass artist
 Jennie Thlunaut (ca. 1891–1986), Chilkat weaver
 Ernestine Hayes (b. 1945), poet, memorist, and professor
 Dino Rossi (b. 1959), politician
 Martin Sensmeier (b. 1985), actor

 References 

Category:Native Americans
Category:First Nations