After the first contact with the outside world the Tlingit life change dramatically, the once hunter gather filled tribe now became a more industrialized tribe. First contact was made by the Russians in 1741. The Tlingit were not greatly affected by the Russian's contact. The most prevalent contact came in the mid 1800's by American miners and loggers. As more and more Americans came to take the natural resources of the Tlingit, disease hit the tribe hard and wiped out half of the Tlingit population. The tribe was on the verge of being completely wiped out until the Alaska Native brotherhood was founded in 1912, which united the many villages of the Tlingit and saved its tribe. As time passed more and more modern ideas were being passed through the Tlingit generations, education was now pushed to the Tlingit children.
The early 2000's was a big milestone for the Tlingit. Education was pushed to an extent until, more and more young adults of the Tlingit tribe began to go to college. Today, like in America, higher education is pushed in all Tlingit households. There is now America style schools throughout the Tlingit land. While many have adopted modern lifestyles some still attempt to subsists(live) off of the Alaskan land. Today Many jobs are still the same as they were thousands of years ago, but in today's growing world many Tlingit work in logging, forestry, tourism, and with the growing number of Tlingit going to college many have become healthcare workers, lawyers, and educators. Even with all of the good that have come with new modern ideas there are many bad things that happen with them. Many Tlingit that cant find work are now only living off of welfare from the government. Alcoholism has become the leading disease among the Tlingit people, but all while having lower suicide rates than other tribes in the United States.
As the old ways of the Tlingit begin to fade away, some still believe in more tribal aspects, such as the Spirit doctor or "IXT" also known as a "medicine man". Such men are still needed in the Tlingit land because of the Tlingit susceptibility to influenza, arthritis, hepatitis, diabetes and many other diseases. Storytelling, creative art, and music are all ways the Tlingit preserve their culture. While most Tlingit villages are modernized many still hold old traditions as they did back thousands of years ago.
Benson, Diane. 2015. Tlingit Early history, First contact with Europeans, The land claims period
The Tlingit people are a very hardworking and kind people, many in today's world struggle to make an ends meet for their families. Times have changed dramatically in the past few hundred years for the Tlingit. The once hunter gatherer tribe has been completely transformed into a whole new modern aged tribe. While many view this as a good thing, some argue that the tribe should go back to their ancestral ways.
ReplyDeleteThe many downsides to the new modern way of life is the currency that comes with it, the Tlingit were not used to current (paper money) when they were introduced to it. it has been adopted but at a high cost. many Tlingit cant find work and have to rely on welfare to get by, but in some cases Tlingit people find steady work and even go to college to get degrees for high paying jobs.
I do believe that the modernized change is good for the Tlingit people, i also believe that it is bad for them. Like many Indians the Tlingit are treated unfairly in our world. A once strong tribe is now in some cases like most Indians has been put down by many years of government control.