Tlingit
The Tlingit are an Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, primarily located in southeastern Alaska. Their name translates to "the people," and they speak the Lingít language, which belongs to the Na-Dene language family. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Tlingit have inhabited this region for thousands of years, dating back to around 6000 to 5000 BCE. The community is known for its strong cultural heritage, which includes a population of over 15,000 individuals as of 2010, reflecting their resilience through historical challenges such as the smallpox outbreak in the 19th century.
Tlingit society is structured around two primary kinship divisions, the Raven and the Eagle, which are further divided into clans. Their social structure emphasizes wealth and status, often demonstrated through the potlatch ceremony, a tradition of gift-giving that reinforces social ties and hierarchy. Spirituality plays a significant role in Tlingit culture, characterized by beliefs in animal spirits and shamanistic practices, with a particular focus on dreams and their interpretations.
Artistic expression is another vital aspect of Tlingit culture, distinguished by intricate wood carvings, woven textiles like the Chilkat blankets, and detailed basketry. The Tlingit also have rich mythological narratives, prominently featuring Raven, who is regarded as a cultural hero and the progenitor of the people. Overall, the Tlingit embody a vibrant cultural identity deeply intertwined with their history, spirituality, and artistic traditions.
Subject Terms
Tlingit
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Na-Dene
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Northern California to southern Alaska coast
- POPULATION SIZE: 7,617 in the United States (2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates American Indian and Alaska Native Detailed Tables: Tlingit Alone; 2,110) in Canada (2019: The Canadian Encyclopedia)
Tlingit literally means “the people.” Their language is Lingít. The Tlingit are part of the Na-Dene language family.
It is probable that the Tlingit people began to occupy roughly their present southeastern coastal Alaska locale soon after the last Ice Age, or roughly 6000 to 5000 BCE. In this area, where the modern Alaskan city of Sitka also celebrates its Tlingit heritage, the weather is much more moderate than inland because of the prevailing currents from Asia, which bring milder temperatures. Population estimates for 1740 were roughly 10,000 Tlingit. Into the mid-2020s, population estimates for the Tlingit people in the United States and Canada were in the thousands. This represents an impressive endurance, particularly given the devastation of smallpox in 1836, brought by Russian settlers and tradespeople.
In 1741, Russian ships first made contact with the Tlingit peoples. The Russians were attracted by the mild temperatures and the presence of otter and seals. Quickly following the Russian tradesmen were Russian missionaries, and Russian Orthodoxy remains a widely professed form of Christianity among the Tlingit as well as among other peoples from Alaska and the Northwest Coast culture area.
Kinship and Social Status
There are two important kinship divisions (“moieties”) of the Tlingit: the Raven (sometimes called Crow) and the Eagle (sometimes called Wolf). Each of these divisions is divided into a number of clans or sibs. In Tlingit tradition, an Eagle should marry a Raven, although in modern practice, this is not always observed. The political organization of the Tlingit people is based not on the larger moieties but rather on the clans. Sib identity is permanent, and there is a recognized sib/clan leader; there is no recognized leader for the two main groupings of Raven and Eagle. These clans, in turn, are divided into “house groups.” Identity is passed through the mother, so children must spend time with the mother’s male relatives in order to learn about their identity.
Wealth and social status are singularly important in Tlingit society, but status is determined as much by distribution and generosity in distribution as it is by one’s inherent wealth. The most widely known example of this is the ceremony of the potlatch (based on the Chinook/Salish term patshatl), forms of which are found among many Northwest Coastal Indians along the Alaskan, Washington, and Canadian coasts.
The Tlingit, as did other Northwest Coast peoples, practiced the slavery of Indigenous Americans. Enslaved peoples were normally prisoners of war or their descendants. It was possible for an enslaved person to become a free person and even to marry into the lower levels of Tlingit society, but mixing too widely across the caste-like status boundaries was not encouraged.
Religion and Expressive Culture
Tlingit spirituality is evident in an elaborate mythology of the powers of animal spirits in the maintenance of life. All animals have spirits that can communicate with humans, and there is an element of reincarnation in some Tlingit spirituality. Shamanism is an important practice among the Tlingit, as protection from “Kushtaka” (evil spirits) is an important consideration for families and individuals. While elaborate, Tlingit religion is largely non-ideological in content and is concerned primarily with the maintenance of order, nature, and life. One of the most important aspects of Tlingit spirituality is the great significance attached to the interpretation of dreams and the communication with animal spirits that takes place through dreams. In Tlingit mythology, there is an elaborate cycle of stories about Raven, the most important character in Tlingit mythology, who is also considered the progenitor of the people themselves.
Tlingit culture is notable for its elaborate and strikingly beautiful artwork, which can be found both in the wood carvings that decorated boats and homes and in woven clothing such as the famous “Chilkat” blankets. Basketry is also a well-developed art form among the Tlingit. Elements of Tlingit art motifs can be found with variations in other coastal peoples, such as the Haida.
Bibliography
Dauenhauer, Nora M., and Richard D. Dauenhauer, editors. Haa shuka, Our Ancestors: Tlingit Oral Narratives. University of Washington Press, 1987.
Dauenhauer, Nora M., and Richard D. Dauenhauer, editors. Haa Tuwunaagu yis, for Healing Our Spirit: Tlingit Oratory. University of Washington Press, 1990.
Graeme, Mike. “'Not Our Border': How a Colonial Line Shapes Tlingit Lands — and my Own Ancestor's Role in It.” IndigiNews, 26 Sept. 2024, indiginews.com/features/not-our-border-colonial-line-tlingit-lands. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Krause, Aurel. The Tlingit Indians. University of Washington Press, 1956.
McClellan, Catharine. “Tlingit.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 1 Nov. 2019, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inland-tlingit. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Pelton, Mary Helen, and Jacqueline DiGennaro. Images of a People: Tlingit Myths and Legends. Libraries Unlimited, 1992.
“2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates American Indian and Alaska Native Detailed Tables: Tlingit Alone.” US Census Bureau, data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5YAIAN2021.B01003?q=tlingit. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.