42-585: The Angoon Bombardment was the destruction of the Tlingit village of Angoon , Alaska , by US Naval forces under Commander Edgar C. Merriman and Michael A. Healy in October 1882. A Tlingit shaman was accidentally killed while working on a whaling ship. Tlingit villagers demanded two hundred blankets in compensation from the North West Trading Company . The Tlingit allegedly took two hostages to secure
84-462: A Tlingit can inherit one but they can also pass it down to someone they trust, who becomes responsible for caring for it but does not rightfully own it. Like other Northwest Coast native peoples, the Tlingit did practice hereditary slavery . Tlingit thought and belief, although never formally codified, was historically a fairly well organized philosophical and religious system whose basic axioms shaped
126-567: A United States officer, judge, jury and sheriff, fulfilled his threat and shelled the Indian village." In 1973, the Indian Claims Commission awarded the Angoon clans $ 90,000 in compensation for clan property destroyed in 1882 value. Federal law limited the value of the compensation to the value of the physical damage done to the village without regard for inflation or interest. $ 90,000 in 1882
168-606: A harpoon gun exploded on the deck of a whaling ship operated by the Northwest Trading Company. Several crew members were injured, and a Tlingit shaman by the name of Til'tlein was killed. The day after his death J.M. Vanderbilt, superintendent of the company station at Killisnoo, reported to the navy station in Sitka. He stated Angoon natives had taken the Killisnoo facilities, including holding two white employees, and demanded
210-461: A payment of 200 blankets in compensation for the death of Til'tlein. In 1949 and 1950, anthropologist Frederica de Laguna collected the story of Billy Jones, an Angoon resident who was 13 at the time of the attack. According to his account, villagers did not have warning of the coming of the American Ship, and every structure was destroyed. Angoon elders have stated that Jones's account should be
252-403: Is considered contemptible among the Tlingit and a sign of poverty. Indeed, shamans and their families were required to abstain from all food gathered from the beach, and men might avoid eating beach food before battles or strenuous activities in the belief that it would weaken them spiritually and perhaps physically as well. Thus for both spiritual reasons as well as to add some variety to the diet,
294-672: Is equivalent to $ 444,667 in 1973 when the award was paid out. The village of Angoon accepted the settlement from the government as a tacit acknowledgment that the Navy was wrong to shell Angoon. Governor of Alaska Jay Hammond declared the 100th anniversary as "Tlingit Remembrance Day". In 2024, the US Navy announced that there would be two apologies for wrongful military action, in Kake and in Angoon. Navy Environmental Public Affairs Specialist Julianne Leinenveber stated, “The pain and suffering inflicted upon
336-504: Is the Tlingit language ( Łingít , pronounced [ɬɪ̀nkɪ́tʰ] ), Tlingit people today belong to several federally recognized Alaska Native tribes including the Angoon Community Association, Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, Chilkat Indian Village , Chilkoot Indian Association, Craig Tribal Association, Hoonah Indian Association, Ketchikan Indian Corporation, Klawock Cooperative Association,
378-784: The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) established regional corporations throughout Alaska with complex portfolios of land ownership rather than bounded reservations administered by Tribal Governments. The corporation in the Tlingit region is Sealaska Corporation , which serves the Tlingit, Haida , and Tsimshian in Alaska. Tlingit people participate in the commercial economy of Alaska, and typically live in privately owned housing and land. Many also possess land allotments from Sealaska or from earlier distributions predating ANCSA. Their current residences are within their historical homelands. Land around Yakutat , south through
420-640: The Alaska Purchase , the United States Army came to Alaska to serve as the civil administering entity of the Department of Alaska . Administration of the department was transferred to the United States Navy in 1879. The U.S. authorities used common law , while the Tlingit people used indigenous law. Americans generally characterized the Tlingit legal framework as based on "revenge"; in actuality it
462-586: The Alaskan Panhandle , to the lakes in interior Yukon, as being Lingít Aaní , the Land of the Tlingit. The extant Tlingit territory can be roughly divided into four major sections, paralleling ecological, linguistic, and cultural divisions: These categories reflect differents in cultures, food harvesting, and dialects. Tlingit groups trade among themselves with neighboring communities. These academic classifications are supported by similar self-identification among
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#1732869869696504-666: The Taku River Tlingit First Nation in Canada. The Tlingit have a matrilineal kinship system , with children born into the mother's clan , and property and hereditary roles passing through the mother's line. Their culture and society developed in the temperate rainforest of the southeast Alaskan coast and the Alexander Archipelago . The Tlingit have maintained a complex hunter-gatherer culture based on semi-sedentary management of fisheries. Hereditary slavery
546-665: The Taku Tlingit ( Tʼaaḵu Ḵwáan: ) along the Taku River . Inland, the Tlingit occupied areas along the major rivers that pierce the Coast Mountains and Saint Elias Mountains and flow into the Pacific , including the Alsek , Tatshenshini , Chilkat , Taku , and Stikine rivers. With regular travel up these rivers, the Tlingit developed extensive trade networks with Athabascan tribes of
588-741: The Tlingit language (Lingít [ɬɪ̀nkítʰ] ), which is a branch of the Na-Dené language family . Lingít has a complex grammar and sound system and also uses certain phonemes unheard in almost any other language. Tlingit has an estimated 200 to 400 native speakers in the United States and 100 speakers in Canada. The speakers are bilingual or near-bilingual in English. Tribes, institutions, and linguists are expending extensive effort into revitalization programs in Southeast Alaska to revive and preserve
630-502: The Alaska territory for thousands of years, leading to the Tlingit. Human culture with elements related to the Tlingit originated around 10,000 years ago near the mouths of the Skeena and Nass Rivers . The historic Tlingit's first contact with Europeans came in 1741 with Russian explorers. Spanish explorers followed in 1775. Tlingits maintained their independence but suffered from epidemics of smallpox and other infectious diseases brought by
672-602: The Europeans. The 1862 Pacific Northwest smallpox epidemic killed about 60% of the Mainland Tlingit and 37% of the Island Tlingit. Food is a central part of Tlingit culture, and the land is an abundant provider. Most of the richness of intertidal life found on the beaches of Southeast Alaska can be harvested for food. Though eating off the beach could provide a fairly healthy and varied diet, eating nothing but "beach food"
714-465: The First Organic Act placed Alaska under civilian control. In the debate leading up to the act, Representative James Budd of California referenced Commander Merriman's role, stating "The Indians did not comply with this pre-emptory order of this royal dictator. I understand that they did not have the blankets. The commander of this United States vessel was a law unto himself, and in the morning he,
756-850: The Organized Village of Kasaan, the Organized Village of Kake, the Organized Village of Saxman, Petersburg Indian Association, Skagway Village, the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe , and the Wrangell Cooperative Association. Some citizens of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation in Yukon and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska are of Tlingit heritage. Taku Tlingit are enrolled in the Douglas Indian Association in Alaska and
798-739: The Tlingit harvest many other resources for food besides those they easily find outside their front doors. No other food resource receives as much emphasis as salmon ; however, seal and game are both close seconds. Halibut , shellfish , and seaweed traditionally provided food in the spring, while late spring and summer bring seal and salmon . Summer is a time for gathering wild and tame berries, such as salmonberry , soap berry , and currants . In fall, sea otters are hunted. Herring and eulachon are also important staples, that can be eaten fresh or dried and stored for later use. Fish provide meat, oil, and eggs. Sea mammals, such as sea lions and sea otters, are used for food and clothing materials. In
840-520: The Tlingit language and its culture. Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Institute and the University of Alaska Southeast have Tlingit language programs, and community classes are held in Klukwan and Angoon . Tlingit tribes historically built plank houses made from cedar and today call them clanhouses; these houses were built with a foundation such that they could store their belongings under
882-409: The Tlingit people warrants this long overdue apology,” and “The Navy will be issuing this apology because it is the right thing to do, regardless of how much time has passed since these tragic events transpired.” Rear Admiral Mark Sucato delivered the Navy's formal apology on October 26, 2024—the 142nd anniversary of the bombardment—at a ku.éex’ ( potlach ) ceremony in Angoon. This gathering marked
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#1732869869696924-420: The Tlingit released the white hostages and captured property. Merriman, demanded four hundred blankets from the Tlingit as a "punishment and guarantee of future good behavior" to be delivered by noon the next day. The villagers were only able to collect 81 blankets for the tribute payment. Jones's account and official documents agree that Merriman brought his ship to anchor outside the lagoon, and proceeded to shell
966-628: The Tlingit. The Tlingit culture is multifaceted and complex, a characteristic of Northwest Pacific Coast people with access to easily exploited rich resources. In Tlingit culture a heavy emphasis is placed upon family and kinship, and on a rich oratory tradition. Wealth and economic power are important indicators of rank, but so is generosity and proper behavior, all signs of "good breeding" and ties to aristocracy. 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 beliefs of
1008-672: The Tlingits. Tlingit society is divided into two moieties , the Raven and the Eagle. These in turn are divided into numerous clans , which are subdivided into lineages or house groups. They have a matrilineal kinship system, with descent and inheritance passed through the mother's line. These groups have heraldic crests, which are displayed on totem poles , canoes , feast dishes, house posts, weavings, jewelry, and other art forms. The Tlingits pass down at.oow (s) or blankets that represented trust. Only
1050-418: The basis of the Angoon story. Tlingit oral tradition disputes that there were white hostages involved. In the '70s, the Tlingit and Haida Central Council hired anthropologist Philip Drucker to research the case. Drucker noted that in the official documents, despite the captive white men being the primary mission that brought the ships to Angoon, neither Merriman or Morris "even mentions what should have been
1092-612: The beaver's rediscovery, it was repatriated to Angoon. The carving was present at the ku.éex’ for the Navy's apology in 2024. Tlingit The Tlingit or Lingít ( English: / ˈ t l ɪ ŋ k ɪ t , ˈ k l ɪ ŋ k ɪ t / TLING -kit, KLING -kit ) are Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America and constitute two of the 231 (As of 2022) federally recognized Tribes of Alaska . Most Tlingit are Alaska Natives ; however, some are First Nations in Canada . Their language
1134-568: The climax of the expedition's achievements, the rescue of the white captives, if there actually was such a rescue." As the USS Adams was thought to be too large to navigate in the shallow waters of the bay, Merriman tendered the company tug Favorite and the USRC ; Thomas Corwin under the command of Michael A. Healy , upon which he placed a company of marines, a Gatling gun , and a howitzer. Merriman's force arrived at Angoon on 25 October, and
1176-602: The compensation, and the US Navy went to Angoon to rescue them. The hostages were released upon the arrival of the naval expedition. Commander Merriman demanded four hundred blankets from the Tlingit in tribute. When the Tlingit delivered just eighty-one blankets, Merriman's forces destroyed the village. Public reaction to the bombardment was instrumental to the passage of the First Organic Act of 1884 which transferred Alaska from military to civilian control. The Navy did not apologize for its actions until 2024. Following
1218-467: The end of the Angoon community's period of mourning for the attack. The ceremony was attended by community members, Navy representatives, and US Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan , who had helped advocate for the apology. The only canoe known to have survived the bombardment was away from the village at the time. The canoe was used extensively that winter for hunting, fishing, and gathering supplies. The canoe holds special importance, as many of
1260-416: The face of their shamans' inability to treat Old World diseases including smallpox , many Tlingit people converted to Orthodox Christianity . Russian Orthodox missionaries had translated their liturgy into the Tlingit language. It has been argued that they saw Eastern Orthodox Christianity as a way of resisting assimilation to the "American way of life", which was associated with Presbyterianism . After
1302-583: The floors. It is said that these plank houses had no adhesive, nails, or any other sort of fastening devices. Clan houses were usually square or rectangular in shape and had front facing designs and totem poles to represent to which clan and moiety the makers belonged. Many Tlingit men work in the fishing industry while women are employed at canneries or in the local handicraft industry. These handicrafts include items like wood carvings and woven baskets which are sold for practical or tourist consumption. Various cultures of indigenous people have continuously occupied
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1344-619: The forests near their homes, Tlingit hunted deer, bear, mountain goats and other small mammals. Genetic analyses of HLA I and HLA II genes as well as HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 gene frequencies links the Ainu people of Japan to some Indigenous peoples of the Americas , especially to populations on the Pacific Northwest Coast such as Tlingit. The scientists suggest that the main ancestor of the Ainu and of
1386-516: The interior, and commonly intermarried with them. From this regular travel and trade, a few relatively large populations of Tlingit settled around Atlin , Teslin , and Tagish Lakes , whose headwaters flow from areas near the headwaters of the Taku River. Delineating the current territory of the Tlingit is complicated because they live in both Canada and the United States, they lack designated reservations, other complex legal and political concerns make
1428-415: The introduction of Christianity , the Tlingit belief system began to erode. Today, some young Tlingits look back towards their traditional tribal religions and worldview for inspiration, security, and a sense of identity. While many elders converted to Christianity, contemporary Tlingit "reconcile Christianity and the 'traditional culture.'" The Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska and Western Canada speak
1470-523: The people in older historical literature, such as Grigory Shelikhov 's 1796 map of Russian America . The greatest territory historically occupied by the Tlingit extended from the Portland Canal along the present border between Alaska and British Columbia , north to the coast just southeast of the Copper River delta in Alaska. The Tlingit occupied almost all of the Alexander Archipelago , except
1512-511: The people who survived the ordeal would not have survived without it. When the canoe was no longer seaworthy, the vessel was ceremonially cremated, but the beaver carving from the prow was kept as a reminder. Sometime around 1911, the beaver carving was lost. In 2011, a Tlingit delegation visiting the American Museum of Natural History discovered the carving in the museum's collection, with very little documentation as to how it got there. After
1554-600: The situation confusing, and their population is highly mobile. They also share territory with Athabascan peoples such as the Tahltan , Kaska , and Tagish . In Canada, the Interior Tlingit communities, such as Atlin, British Columbia (Taku River Tlingit), Teslin, Yukon ( Teslin Tlingit Council ), and Carcross, Yukon ( Carcross/Tagish First Nation ) have reserves . Tlingits in Alaska lack Indian reservations because
1596-658: The southernmost end of Prince of Wales Island and its surroundings, where the Kaigani Haida moved just before the first encounters with European explorers. The Coastal Tlingit tribes controlled one of the mountain passes into the Yukon interior; they were divided into three tribes: the Chilkat Tlingit ( Jilḵáat Ḵwáan ) along the Chilkat River and on Chilkat Peninsula , the Chilkoot Tlingit ( Jilḵoot Ḵwáan ) and
1638-450: The town. Under the cover of the bombardment, marines landed and proceeded to destroy the houses of the village, forty canoes, and food stores. Naval records state a few houses survived, Tlingit oral tradition holds that none did. While most of the inhabitants survived after fleeing the village, six children died of smoke inhalation. An unknown number of Tlingit died during the winter due to the loss of winter supplies and shelter. In 1884,
1680-444: The way Tlingit people viewed and interacted with the world around them. Tlingits were traditionally animists , and hunters ritually purified themselves before hunting animals. Shamans , primarily men, cured diseases, influenced weather, aided in hunting, predicted the future, and protected people against witchcraft. A central tenet of the Tlingit belief system is the reincarnation of both humans and animals. Between 1886 and 1895, in
1722-414: Was more complex and involved "peace ceremonies" which included compensation in either goods or human lives. In 1869, two major conflicts took place between the army and Tlingit groups following retribution killings by the Tlingit against whites: In 1878, the North West Trading Company established a trading post and fish processing plan at Killisnoo, Alaska , near Angoon, Alaska . On 22 October 1882,
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1764-580: Was practiced extensively until it was outlawed by the United States Government. The Inland Tlingit live in the far northwestern part of the province of British Columbia and the southern Yukon in Canada. Their autonym, Łingít, means "People of the Tides". The Russian name Koloshi ( Колоши , from a Sugpiaq-Alutiiq term kulut'ruaq for the labret worn by women) or the related German name Koulischen may be encountered referring to
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