Tlingit
description
Transcript of Tlingit
TlingitPronounced: “Tlin-git,” “Klin-git” or
“Klin-kit”
Heather Pitcher and Carolyn Murray
History• Originated about 800 years ago in
the Pacific Northwest• First contact with Europeans was in
1741• Maintained their independence and
control of trade routes for years• Many died from small pox and other
diseases brought by European explores
History
Geography
• Occupy the Pacific Northwest (Southeast Alaska)– Coastline– Mountainous
Mainland– Glacial in the north– Abundant resources
• Occupy British Columbia
language• Today, the majority of Tlingit people speak English• Some Tlingit people, though, speak Native Tlingit
Language– More common among elders– Tone language– Has 32 consonants and 8 vowels– Has 24 sounds not found in English
s'èekgundas'ajée
Traditions and Culture• Men hunt and fish• Women gather and tend to the children • Wear basketry hats to display family connections• Storytelling and legends are an important part of their culture• Songs are very important and are used for many occasions• Potlatches are a very important tradition
— Show respect, display wealth, or pay debt at a giant feast
Clothing• Traditionally, wore loincloths and cedar bark
skirts• Today, dress like contemporary Americans• However, still wear clothing or jewelry that displays clan or family emblem
RELIGION• Believed in creator called Kah-shu-goon-yah who
created all living things• Believed Raven organized the world• Believed spirits inhabited people, animals, and things
– Must respect everything • Believed a mortal and immortal spirit inhabited each Tlingit• Believed spirit doctors could cure and protect people
ART• Best example of the Tlingit people’s
workmanship is their carving– Most often carved from wood
• Use different degrees of realism to portray creatures
• Ceremonial art was very important– Masks and rattles
Food
• Lived off of the sea• Men fished and hunted deer, goats, and birds• Women gathered shellfish, seaweed, roots,
and berries
Habitat• Coastal tribe• Lived in the Pacific northwest• Cold, rainy climate
Famous Tlingit•Charlie Jones: Arrested in 1922 for voting. Native Americans were not automatically considered citizens at that time. Jones was acquitted and Native Americans were given the right to vote.•William Paul (Shkundee): Tlingit attorney who represented Jones.
References• Benson, D. E. (n.d.). Tlingit. Retrieved from
http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Sr-Z/Tlingit.html • California Academy of Sciences. (n.d.). Russia’s great voyages. Retrieved from
http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/science_under_sail/people.html• Denali Incorporated. (1999). More about Tlingit Native American art. Retrieved
from http://www.denaliincorporated.com/Pages/tart.htm• Denali Incorporated. (1999). More about Tlignit Native American culture.
Retrieved from http://www.denaliincorporated.com/Pages/tculture.htm• Native Languages of the Americas. (1998). Tlingit Indian fact sheet. Retrieved
from http://www.bigorrin.org/tlingit_kids.htm• Price, W. G. (n.d.). Art prints. Retrieved from http://silvercloudart.com/artprints • Tlingit-religion and expressive culture. Retrieved from
http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Tlingit-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html