The Lords Of Alaska

The Tlingit (pronounced KLIN-kit) are an Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, with ancestral homelands stretching from the southern coast of Alaska through the Alexander Archipelago and into parts of British Columbia. Their history is one of resilience, adaptation, and cultural depth—shaped by the rugged coastline, dense rainforests, and rich marine ecosystems of their territory.

For thousands of years, the Tlingit lived in highly organized, complex societies. Their communities were centered around coastal villages made up of large, elaborately carved plank houses, each home to an extended matrilineal family. Tlingit society was divided into two moieties—Raven and Eagle (or Wolf, depending on the region)—and further subdivided into clans. Marriage between members of the same moiety was forbidden, ensuring inter-clan alliance and cohesion. Clan identity was central to Tlingit life and was expressed through totem poles, ceremonial regalia, and oral history.

The Tlingit economy was based on fishing, trade, and craftsmanship. Salmon was a dietary staple, supplemented by halibut, seal, herring, and shellfish. Inland, the Tlingit traded with Athabaskan groups for furs and meat, exchanging coastal goods like dried fish, seaweed, and ooligan (candlefish) oil. They built large dugout canoes from red cedar, allowing for long-distance travel and trade throughout the Northwest Coast, including commerce with the Haida, Tsimshian, and even Russian traders.

Tlingit culture placed great emphasis on ceremony, oral tradition, and status. Potlatches—grand ceremonial feasts involving gift-giving, storytelling, and dance—were a key expression of social hierarchy and wealth redistribution. At these events, clan leaders recited át.oow (sacred clan stories), affirmed ancestral rights, and honored the spirits of the dead.

The first European contact came in the 18th century. Russian explorers and fur traders, seeking sea otter pelts, began arriving in the region in the 1740s. The Tlingit initially engaged in trade but resisted colonization. When the Russians established Redoubt Saint Michael (later Sitka) in 1799 on Tlingit land without permission, tensions escalated. In 1802, the Tlingit destroyed the Russian settlement in a well-coordinated assault. Two years later, the Russians retaliated in the Battle of Sitka (1804), eventually establishing a permanent post—but only after significant resistance.

Despite Russian occupation, the Tlingit maintained cultural and territorial independence. They strategically controlled trade routes and remained cautious of missionary influence and foreign disease. Smallpox and influenza outbreaks in the 19th century devastated Tlingit populations, but communities survived through adaptation and unity.

When Alaska was sold to the United States in 1867, the Tlingit faced new pressures. Mission schools, forced assimilation, and land dispossession threatened traditional life. Yet the Tlingit continued to advocate for sovereignty. In the 20th century, they played a major role in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (1971), which granted land and compensation to Alaska Natives.

Today, the Tlingit people continue to preserve and revitalize their language, art, and traditions. Totem carving, ceremonial dances, and clan stories remain vital. Modern Tlingit leaders balance cultural heritage with contemporary life, ensuring that their rich history endures along the misty coasts of Alaska.

To learn more about the lives of the Tlingit, as well as their greatest battles, check out the HOKC video linked below. Brought to you only by History At The OK Corral: Home Of History’s Greatest Shootouts & Showdowns!