The Tlingit traditionally occupied lands between The Alaska/BC boarder north to the Copper River area. Their occupation extended inland along the major rivers including the Stikine, Taku and Tatshenshini Rivers where they fished  the many and heavy salmon runs.

Their struggle for recognition and for lands and rights are complicated because of the divided negotiations with both US and Canadian authorities.

The Tlingit, like many Northwest native groups, were able to fish for the salmon and without to much effort, supply themselves with food, and other fish by products throughout the year. They were a cultured society which place great emphasis on family, manners and generosity. They also respected the accumulation of wealth.

As with other native groups that had a rich oratory tradition which told the stories of their origins, the gods and their past. They were skilled in carving cedar and produced many utensils, tools and displays for their longhouses which were richly adorned with the carvings.

The two families of the Tlingit were the Eagle and the Raven which were subdivided into several other clans, each of which had their own symbols ad identifying marks.

Their language was a version of the Na-Dene tongue but today only has about 500-600 members who still speak the language.