Tlingit
indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.[1]
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Territory
The Tlingit organized themselves into tribes, which they called Ḵwáan.
Tribes or Ḵwáan
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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
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References
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