Territory and Population

The Tlingit, like the Athabaskans, are descendants of the migration of Na-Dene speakers, who came to North America 10,000 to 14,000 years ago in the second large migration to Alaska.  The Tlingit people moved to Southeast Alaska from interior Canada.  Although the Tlingit spoke a language related to that of the Athabaskans, they lived in a very different environment.  Because of this, they developed a culture distinct from that of the Athabaskans.

The Tlingit territory in Alaska (brown on the map above) includes almost all of the Southeast region, extending from Icy Bay in the north to the Dixon Entrance in the south, which separates Alaska from Canada.  The Tlingit have occupied this territory for a very long time.  Archaeological evidence shows Tlingit peoples may have lived in the region as early as 10,000 years ago, or in the words of Tlingit traditions, “since time immemorial.”  Tlingit people also occupy an area to the east inside the Canadian border. This group is known as the “Inland Tlingit”.

Southeast Alaska is a land rich in resources.  The ocean, tidal areas, and rivers are teeming with fish, shellfish, and marine mammals.  On the land, the moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall create a temperate rainforest, one of Earth's most unique and productive ecosystems.  This rainforest offered plentiful resources of large game, edible vegetation, and wood. The area's abundance allowed the Tlingit to support large populations and develop a complex society.  At the time of Russian discovery, it is estimated that 15,000 Tlingit lived in Southeast Alaska, making it one of the largest Native populations in Alaska (along with Aleut and Yupik).

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