The Tlingits used a body armour made from Chinese cash coins, these coins were introduced by Russian traders from Qing China between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries who traded them for animal skins which were in turn traded with the Chinese for tea, silk, and porcelain by these European traders. The culture of the Tlingit, an Indigenous people from Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon, is multifaceted, a characteristic of Northwest Coast peoples with access to easily exploited rich resources. Wealth and economic power are important indicators of status, but so is generosity and proper behavior, all signs of "good breeding" and ties to aristocracy. The Tlingit clans of Southeast Alaska, in the United States, are one of the indigenous cultures within Alaska. Raven cannot marry Raven, and Eagle cannot marry Eagle. Eagles must marry ravens and vice versa. The Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska have two moieties (otherwise known as descent groups) in their society, each of which is divided into a number of clans. The existence of a "chief" for every house lineage in a village confused many early European explorers and traders who expected a single autocratic "chief" in a given village or region. 1, Classics of Tlingit Oral Literature, University of Washington Press, 1987, 532 pp., illustrations, notes, bio… Learn more about the Huna Tribal House and Tlingit culture on this page. Tlingit Noun Dictionary. Also, some names are 'stolen' from a different clan to make good on an unpaid obligation or debt, and returned when the debt is paid or else passed down through the new clan until it can make a stable claim to ownership of the name. The Tlingit clan functions as the main property owner in the culture, thus almost all formal property amongst the Tlingit belongs to clans, not to individuals. Each clan has its own history, songs, and totems, and each forms a social network of extended families which functions as a political unit in Tlingit society. The first and foremost is unavoidably that of the American and Canadian cultures, and is rooted in European law. One Russian account from a battle with the Tlingits in 1792 states "bullets were useless against the Tlingit armour",[citation needed] however this would have more likely be attributed to the inaccuracy of contemporary Russian smoothbore muskets than the body armour[citation needed] and the Chinese coins might have played a more important role in psychological warfare than have any practical application on the battlefield. You still give honor to your fatherís people. The idea of copyright applied to Tlingit art is inappropriate, since copyright is generally restrictive to particular works or designs. [2][3][4][5][6], Learn how and when to remove this template message, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, "Alaskan Tlingit Body Armor Made of Coins", "Ancient Chinese Coin Brought Good Luck in Yukon", "17th-century Chinese coin found in Yukon - Russian traders linked China with First Nations", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_the_Tlingit&oldid=1002323120, Articles needing additional references from July 2007, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 January 2021, at 21:59. ... Raven was white before that time, but the smoke made him of the color you find him today. In the list below the Tlingit name of the clan is given with its primary crest in parentheses, followed by the various kwáan (region or village) in which they are found. Under each of the moieties are numerous clans. Two stories are also represented by the Friendship Pole: “Raven Feeding the People” and “Hawk Brings Fire.” This includes names, stories, speeches, songs, dances, landscape features (e.g., mountains), and artistic designs. Although clan ownership of places is nearly complete in the Tlingit world, with the entirety of Southeast Alaska being divided up into a patchwork of bays, inlets, and rivers belonging to particular clans, this does not in practice provide much of an obstacle to food harvest and travel. The clans are usually referred to in English by the name of their primary crest, such as Deisheetaan being called "Beaver Clan". The subsequent potlatches are occasions where the clan honors its ancestors and compensates the opposite clans for their assistance and support during trying times. Raven Eagle Gifts & Gallery is committed to selling artwork made by Alaska Natives, so you’ll see totem poles and yellow cedar masks made by Juneau Tlingits, ivory carvings from Inuits, antler carvings made by natives from the Arctic, and yellow-cedar masks crafted by local Tlingit artists. Tlingit society is divided into two halves, or moities, named the Ravens and the Eagles. His father's clan is not obliged to help him, but the familial connection can be strong enough to alienate two clans in the same moiety. Reverence for ancestors and for today’s youth were recurring messages heard throughout the day. Every Tlingit person is either Eagle or Raven, and tradition dictates that one always marries into the … The hít s'aatí is usually the caretaker and administrator of house property, as well as some or most clan property in his region. It is Estimated the Tlingit Natives Arrived in Alaska 11,000 Years Ago. So when you see Raven and Eagle depicted together, they are called Love Birds. Clans of opposite moieties occasionally claim the same crest, but such irregular ownership is usually due to a debt owed by some other clan; until the debt is paid, the clan holding the debt claims the crest of the clan which owes the debt, as a means of shaming it. ANCHORAGE — When a Tlingit elder dies, leaders from the Alaska Native tribe’s two houses, the Raven and Eagle clans, typically come together along … Their moieties, Raven and the Eagle, equated with the Tlingit Raven and Eagle/Wolf and with the Ahtna Crow and Sea Gull moieties. The funds for these potlatches may come primarily from the hít s'aatí, and as such the regalia that represent his ancestors can be seen as spending his money for him. Haida and Tlingit Indians have two main clans, the Eagles and the Ravens. Most names are inherited, that is they are taken from a deceased relative and applied to a living member of the same clan. Twitchell, Lance. These notions of property are similar to those described by modern intellectual property law. His own clan is incapable of these tasks due to grief and spiritual pollution. 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. This constituted an ideal marriage in traditional Tlingit society, where the children were of the same clan as their paternal grandfather and could thus inherit his wealth, prestige, names, occupation, and personal possessions. Edited by Nora Marks Dauenhauer and Richard Dauenhauer (left). The Tlingit people also live in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada, and in the southern Yukon Territory. This vintage sterling bracelet by late Tlingit clan chief and artist Bill J. Wilson features a pair of “lovebirds” - an eagle and a raven. Favorite Add to Tlingit Birds Face Mask EssentiallyShannon. The Tlingit have long felt powerless to defend their cultural properties against depredation by opportunists, but have in recent years become aware of the power of American and Canadian law in defending their property rights and have begun to prosecute people for willful theft of such things as clan designs. Raven and Eagle totems were completed and installed in 2017 as well as the Healing Pole in August 2018. The totem poles carved normally tell a story, and Tlingit artists carve subjects like animals into the totem poles. Clan names, crests and political structure, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Traditional Tlingit Country – Map and Tribal List, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tlingit_clans&oldid=997242363, First Nations history in British Columbia, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2011, Articles lacking in-text citations from May 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Ishkeetaan/Ishkahítaan (Ganaxteidee) (Hibernation Frog) same as Ganaxteidee (di), Kiks.ádi (Frog/Herring, Rock)* Teeyhíttaan, HeHL -non Tlinget Indigenous Peoples(Raven Moieties- Bear/Badger/Wolf/Sea Monster), This page was last edited on 30 December 2020, at 16:55. Vol. https://greenglobaltravel.com/tlingit-art-culture-history-alaska Some Tlingit body armours are completely covered in Qing dynasty era cash coins while others have them sewn in chevron patterns. Still he did not drop the water. These pictures are aligned in a column down the pole, in order from top to bottom. Dances are also considered to be clan property, along the same lines as songs. In Tlingit culture a heavy emphasis is placed upon family and kinship, and on a rich tradition of oratory. The latter has two names because its primary crest differs between the north and the south regions of Tlingit territory, probably due to influence from the neighboring tribes of Haida, Tsimshian and Nisga'a. Because often the grandparents, particularly grandfathers, had a minimal role in the upbringing of their own children, they took an active interest in the upbringing of their grandchildren, and are noted for doting upon them beyond reason. Instead individuals identify with their matrilineal clan (naa), a large group of people related by shared genealogy, history, and possessory rights. The cash coins used by the Tlingit are all from the Qing dynasty are bear inscriptions of the Shunzhi, Kangxi, and Yongzheng Emperors. Eagle and Raven, when linked Tlingit voices and song mingled with the sounds of loons, thrushes, and children playing along the shore as an honored speaker from each clan represented on the pole described the significance of their crest. Some groups within the Eagle/Wolf clan also use animal crests, including the wolf, eagle, bear, petrel, killer whale, halibut, thunderbird, shark, and many others. The Tlingit clans have names whose meaning typically reflects the foundation story of the clan. Not all the clans are independent, since clans formed in a long and fluid process. The man moved into the woman's house and became a member of that household. In the TlingÌt society in the olden days, the fathers were of the opposite clans. Because of the heavy emphasis on clan and matrilineal descent, the father played a relatively minor role in the lives of his children. The Eagle and The Raven - 2009 The Tlingit peoples of Alaska bear one of two matrilineal kinship signs. If the deceased was an important member of the community, like a chief or a shaman for example, at the memorial potlatch his successor would be chosen. It is important to note that in modern Tlingit society two forms of property are extant. The hít s'aatí is also responsible for seeing the clan regalia brought out regularly at potlatches where the value and history of these items may be reconfirmed through ceremonial use and payments to the opposite clans. This, of course, contradicts European legal interpretation, under which property reverts to the state in the absence of legal heirs. The two are contradictory in terms of rightful ownership, inheritance, permanence, and even in the very idea of what can be owned. Some members claim that they are a "house" within the Deisheetaan clan; others claim that they are a small but fully independent clan. RAVEN MOIETY Gaanax.ádi Koosk’eidí Kwáashk’i Kwáan Tukyeidí WOLF/EAGLE MOIETY Kaagwaantaan Jishkweidí GALYÁX KWÁAN: YAKATAGA-CONTROLLER BAY AREA SALMON STREAM TRIBE This list of Tlingit tribes, clans and clan houses was compiled and reconstructed by Andrew Hope, III. In Tlingit culture, the ideas behind artistic designs are themselves property, and their representation in art by someone who cannot prove ownership is an infringement upon the property rights of the proprietor. This situation is well documented in oral history, where two clans of opposite moieties are opposed in war—one clan may call upon a related clan of the same moiety for assistance only to be refused because of a father's child among its enemies. The memorial potlatch is a major feature of Tlingit culture. Carved by Jim Watson, a Raven originally from Klukwan, and commissioned by the Eagle Moiety also of Klukwan, the pole is unique for its time in that both Raven and Eagle appear on it. There are two main Tlingit lineages or moieties within Alaska, which are subdivided into a number of clans and houses. Tlingit society is divided into two groups called moieties (from the French word moitié, meaning half)—each Tlingit person is either a Raven or an Eagle (in the northeastern area the moieties are called Crow and Wolf). The "Love Birds" motif, featuring an eagle and a raven, is common in Tlingit jewelry because these creatures represent the two halves, or moieties, of Tlingit society. The physical house itself would be first and foremost property of the clan, but the householders would be keepers of the house and all material and non-material goods associated with it. Raven Eagle Gifts & Gallery isn't your typical gift shop - it's also part museum and gallery. It is a work in progress. However in todayís culture we have changed and adapted, we now have double eagle marriages, or double raven marriages. Clan sizes vary widely, and some clans are found throughout all the Tlingit lands whereas others are found only in one small cluster of villages. A high stature hít s'aatí could convince unrelated villagers to behave a certain way, but if he lost significant status the community would begin to ignore him, much to the dismay of Europeans who were depending on his authority. The stamp, designed by Tlingit and Athabascan artist Rico Lanáat’ Worl, features the raven as a trickster-spirit within a field of gold stars, holding the sun in his beak. Certain stories are however essentially felt to be in the public domain, such as many of the humorous tales in the Raven cycle. Hít s'aatí who were recognized as being of particularly high stature in the community, to the point of being major community leaders, were called aan s'aatí or more often aankháawu, "village master" or "village leader". These precious cultural elements impart spiritual value to the Tribal House and its surroundings, but as importantly, their design and completion has expanded the circle of tribal members who share in cultural knowledge. Raven A Tlingit Legend. Within each moiety, there are many clans. Each moiety is further subdivided into clans, and each clan is subdivided into houses. Clan allegiance is governed through a matrilineal system; children are born to the mother's clan and gain their status within her family, including what was traditionally hereditary leadership positions. The situation of death can be problematic however since Tlingit law dictates that any personal property reverts to clan ownership in the absence of any clan descendants who can serve as caretakers. Art and spirituality are incorporated in nearly all areas of Tlingit culture, with even everyday objects such as spoons and storage boxes decorated and imbued with spiritual power and historical associations. I took it a step further and designed them as a heart. The society is wholly divided into two distinct moieties, termed Raven (Yéil) and Eagle/Wolf (Ch'aak'/Ghooch). Some stories are shared freely but are felt to belong to a particular clan, other stories are clearly felt to be restricted property and may not be shared without a clan member's permission. Yéil Kootéeya, (Raven Totem Pole) honors all of the Raven clans and Ch’áak’ Kootéeya (Eagle Totem Pole) honors all the Eagle clans with ties to Hoonah, the native village where the Huna Tlingit live today. This is usually exemplified by the story of Raven stealing daylight from his putative grandfather, who gave him the moon and the stars, and despite losing both of them to Raven's treachery, gave him the sun as well simply because he was a favored grandchild. The relationship between father and child is warm and loving, and this relationship has a strong influence on the relation between the two clans. The moieties are Raven and Eagle, and all Tlingits are either Raven or Eagle by birthright. However, any song written with a serious intent, be it a love song or a song of mourning, is considered to be the sole property of the owner and may not be sung, recorded, or performed without that clan's permission. Instead the position is more like that of a museum curator, one who has some say in whether or not a particular item is to be used or displayed, but who does not truly own that item and who may not dispense with it, sell it, or destroy it without the consultation of other family members. In Tlingit culture, people belong to one of two houses - Raven clan or Eagle. Many Tlingits are children of another clan, the clan of their fathers. Historically, marriages among Tlingits, and occasionally between Tlingits and other tribes were arranged. The eagle and the raven symbols are pervasive in both their visual and oral art. Each clan is made up of clan houses. In Tlingit society, many things are considered property that in other societies would not be. g. Members of one moiety traditionally may only marry a person of the opposite moiety, however in the last century this system began to break down (as a result of violent suppression of Tlingit culture and traditions) and today so-called "double-eagle" and "double-raven" marriages are common, as well as marriages with non-Tlingit people. Instead, what Europeans would consider the father's primary role was filled by the mother's brother, the children's maternal uncle, who was of the same clan as the children. They migrated from Asia across the Bering Land Bridge. This is a matrilineal society, so you inherit from your mother the crests, history, privileges, songs, dances, etc. Indeed, the institution of the potlatch is largely founded on the reciprocal relationship between clans and their support during mortuary rituals. Locations are not usually clearly bounded in the Tlingit world, and although sometimes certain landmarks serve as clear boundary markers, ownership of places is usually correlated with a valuable resource in that location rather than overt physical characteristics. Accession Number NA8490A Object Raven Rattle Provenience Tlingit Date 19th Century Material Shell, Wood, Pigment, Hide Source Collected by Louis Shotridge, 1918 Measurements 10 cm H x 31 cm L x 8.5 cm W Display Deck mount required “In Tlingit culture, the sound of the rattle is a direct contact with the supernatural.”[1]… He may often refer to himself as the "slave" of clan and house valuables and regalia because his position is not one of true ownership. The society is wholly divided into two distinct moieties, termed Raven (Yéil) and Eagle/Wolf (Ch'aak'/Ghooch). Either you're an eagle or a raven. The totems replaced two Eagle and Raven poles at Gajaa Hit that had deteriorated to the point they posed safety issues. The former identifies with the raven as its primary crest, but the latter is variously identified with the wolf, the eagle, or some other dominant animal crest depending on location; occasionally this moiety is simply called the "not Raven" p… The former identifies with the raven as its primary crest, but the latter is variously identified with the wolf, the eagle, or some other dominant animal crest depending on location; occasionally this moiety is simply called the "not Raven" people. In Tlingit society, you are one or the other until death. During times of grief or trouble the Tlingit can call on his father's clan for support at least as much as he can call on his own. Some of the clans of the Raven moiety include the Frog, Goose, Owl, Raven, Salmon, and Sea Lion. 2005. A year or two following a person's death this potlatch was held to restore the balance of the community. The Tlingits believed that these cash coins would protect them from knife attacks and guns used by other indigenous American tribes and Russians. Potlaches (Tl. 1: Eleven classic stories by 13 elders. Most likely he will be from another house. 23. When a respected Tlingit dies the clan of his father is sought out to care for the body and manage the funeral. He contributed to communal food gathering and had access to his wife's clan's resources. … 99. For instance, the Kak'weidí descend from the Deisheetaan. The Tlingit apply the indigenous concept of property mostly in ceremonial circumstances, such as after the death of an individual, the construction of clan houses, erection of totem poles, etc. Known houses are listed beneath each clan. This is the cause of many disagreements both within the Tlingit and with outsiders, as both concepts can seem to be valid at the same time. Includes Naatsilanei (the origin of the killer whale), The Strong Man, The Woman Who Married the Bear, Kaats' (The Man Who Married the Bear), and two stories about the coming of the white man. Because the children were of the mother's clan, marriages were often arranged such that the man married a woman of the same clan as his father, though not a close relation.
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