The Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian The Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian share a common and similar Northwest Coast Culture with important differences in language and clan system. Anthropologists use the term "Northwest Coast Culture" to define the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures, as well as that of other peoples indigenous to the Pacific coast, extending as far as northern Oregon. The Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian have a complex social system consisting of moieties, phratries and clans. Eyak, Tlingit and Haida divide themselves into moieties, while the Tsimshian divide into phratries. The region from the Copper River Delta to the Southeast Panhandle is a temperate rainforest with precipitation ranging from 112 inches per year to almost 200 inches per year. Here the people depended upon the ocean and rivers for their food and travel. Excerpt from the Alaska Native Heritage Center (Learn more here)
Children's Literature Featuring the Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, and Tlingit Cultures
Katasse, Frank Henry Kaash. Am'ala. Illustrator David Long. Sealaska, 2017. Unp, Everyone Summary: In this traditional Tsimshian story, a young man who is teased by his brothers for being lazy and dirty trains secretly with a spirit and gains superhuman strength. He takes on warriors, animals, and even a mountain before facing his greatest challenge - the world itself.
Sleator, William. The Angry Moon. Illustrator Blair Lent. Little, Brown and Company, 1970, 48, Primary, Intermediate Summary: From Tlingit legends came the retelling of this folktale of a young girl, Lapowinsa, who insults the appearance of the moon. Her friend, Lupan, warns her to have more respect, but she is captured by the angry moon. With the help from a boy and his grandmother in the sky Lupan is able to rescue Lapowinsa and return safely to their Native village. Narrated in the third person perspective, The Angry Moon has a cold style and dark tone with aggressive illustrations that caution readers to be respectful.
Challenger, Robert James. Eagle’s Reflection and Other Northwest Coast Stories. Heritage House Publishing Company, 1995, 48, Everyone Summary: In this wonderful collection of short stories Challenger dedicates the pages to animal pictures and legends that help the reader understand the animal and what it can teach us. Filled with traditional values this book is sure to spark self-reflection and foster an appreciation of the animals and the land in nature.
Summary: Frogs have been stolen, an earthquake rumbles, a village is in peril. To restore calm to her land, a girl must delve beneath the surface of a lake, deep into a spirit world. What she finds will thrill readers and introduce them to a classic hero's journey.
Worl, Miranda Rose Kaagweil Worl. How Devil's Club Came to Be. Illustrator Michaela Goade. Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2017. Unp, Primary, Intermediate Summary: With its vibrant and whimsical illustrations that depict the landscape and the Tlingit culture of Southeast Alaska, How Devil’s Club Came to Be tells the story of how Raven’s niece defeats a giant with the help of the Thunderbird people. After she shatters the Giant’s club its spikes turn into spiked plants that we know to be Devil’s Club which heal her people from their ailments.
Lindoff, Hannah. Let's go! A harvest story. Illustrated by Michaela Goade. Sealaska, 2017, Unp, Primary, Intermediate
Summary: “Let's Go!” is a children's story that teaches about subsistence harvesting activities of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska. The story is by local Juneau author Hannah Lindoff and illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade.
Lindoff, Hannah. Picking Berries. Illustrator David Lang. Sealaska, 2017. Unp, Primary, Intermediate Summary: Picking Berries is a children's story that teaches the English and Tlingit words for berries of Southeast Alaska. The story was written by local Juneau author Hannah Lindoff and illustrated by Tsimshian artist David Lang. This book is part of Baby Raven Reads, a Sealaska Heritage program for Alaska Native families with children up to age 5 that promotes language development and school readiness.
Marks, Johnny et al. Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy. Illustrator Michaela Goade. Sealaska, 2017. Unp, Everyone Summary: “Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy" is a children's story that teaches about respect for nature, animals and culture. It comes from an ancient Tlingit story that was edited by Johnny Marks, Hans Chester, David Katzeek, and Nora and Richard Dauenhauer. Illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade. This book is part of the award-winning Baby Raven Reads, a Sealaska Heritage program for Alaska Native families with children up to age 5 that promotes language development and school readiness.
Summary: After a violent seastorm, a Haida prince washes ashore in the supernatural realm of the strange and colossal killer whale people. There his spiritual journey begins. Powerful illustrations make stunning use of northwest coast Native American motifs to create a compelling atmosphere of mystery and displacement.
The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales. Illustrator Janine Gibbons. Seaalaska, 2017, Unp, Everyone Summary: When a woman is carried off by killer whales, her husband embarks on a journey to get her back. Aided by friends he meets along the way, the man follows her trail across the bottom of the sea to the Killer Whale House. Find out what happens to Nanasimgit and K’uljáad in this ancient Haida story. Illustrated by Haida artist Janine Gibbons.
Katasse, Frank Henry Kaash. The Woman Who Married the Bear. Illustrator Janine Gibbons. Sealaska, 2017, Unp, Everyone Summary: In this ancient Tlingit story, a woman who has insulted the bears while out berry picking meets a bear in human form. They fall in love and get married. Soon, the woman’s brothers come looking for her and the woman learns her husband is not what he appears to be. Text adapted by Tlingit writer Frank Henry Kaash Kataase. Illustrated by Haida artist Janine Gibbons.