Tlingit believed that everything was of equal value. Things like a tree or rock were equal to a deer or bear. Each clan had identifying crests. There are two main clans the Eagles and Ravens which are then divided into smaller numerous clans. Each clan is very proud of their crest even if it's a snail or squirrel. Neither clan is considered to be superior. These people will not tolerate misuse or disrespect of their crest, songs, stories, and dances that come with it. If they beileve they have been disrespected or offended they demand payment. They believe in "an eye for an eye" but within a legal means now a days because of the influence of Americans. In the past the ravens wer only allowed to marry into the eagles and vice versa. Now a day's people of the tribe are allowed to marry within the tribe and even to people who aren't part of the Tlingit.
The Tlingit believed in, Kah-shu-gooh-yah who is the creator. They also believed in Raven who organized the world and its customs. The Tlingit believed that the world was filled with spirits who could manifest their powers through anything like animals. The Tlingit were taught to respect everything because of the spirits power and if they didn’t respect everything around them it would result in a loss of food. A common tradition of the Tlingit is a Potlaches, which is a large gathering and also means “to give”. During these gatherings it was common for the clans to serve each other. Each clan would bring offerings of food and entertainment like dances and games. These Potlaches were often held for marriages, death, births, raising of a Totem pole, celebration of wealth, or honoring the dead.
Each person also had their own guardian spirit known as a tu-na-jek. When a person died it was believed that their spirit would go to an afterlife based on the morality of life. There are two afterlives that were called Kiwa-wa and Ketl-kiwa. If you were good you would go to kiwa-wa which is like heaven and if you were bad you went to ketl-kiwa which is like hell. Both of these afterlives were not eternal though they only lasted for a short time because the spirits would be reincarnated.
The Tlingit also believe strongly in family, kinship and a tradition of oratory. Wealth and economic power are indicators of rank. Generosity and good behavior are also heavily embedded in the Tlingit culture. Art and spirituality are everywhere in the Tlingit culture, even the spoons and boxes are decorated with spiritual power and historical beliefs.
N.p., n.d. "Religion and Traditions." The Tlingit People. Retrieved September 22, 2015
N.p., n.d.. "Religions in World Cultures." Religions in World Cultures Native Alaskan Tribe Religion Begins to Die While Traditions Continue: Comments. Retrieved October 27, 2015
Glacier Bay: Home to the Tlingit
The Tlinglit are located in the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. The Tlingit claim the land around the Yukatan south through the Alaskan Panhandle and the lakes of the Canadian interior. The Tlingit are a matrilineal society that developed in the temperate rainforest of the southeast Alaska coast and the Alexander Archipelago. An inland group, known as the Inland Tlingit, inhabits the far northwestern part of the province of British Columbia and the southern Yukon Territory in Canada.
The Tlingit people are people who really emphasize the importance of family and everything around them. because of these peoples religious values they aren't judgmental of other people like most Christians who will chastise you if you are doing wrong. They don't define things good and evil instead they look at the overall cause and effects. They also don't view anything as superior, everything is considered of equal value.
ReplyDeleteThe Tlingit also never let things go to waste. When they kill an animal they use every part of it in some way. They also have tremendous respect for each other and expect the same for them.
As I am a American and have grown up a Christian I was taught to view everything as good and evil theres no in between. I wasn't taught to look at the overall cause and effect. say if someone robs a bank which is bad but uses that money to give to the homeless or people who actually need it that would be considered evil. in the eyes of the Tlingit this would be considered good because of the overall cause. Also Americans as i am are very wasteful, like when killing an animals we eat the desired parts like the meat but the rest of it like the intestines or bones are discarded. Americans also don't consider everything equal for example we believe a bear to be more superior and more respected than a squirrel. In the Tlingit culture both the squirrel and bear would be equal and respected the same.