Alaska Cruise Advisor

Visitors to the towns along the Alaskan Inside Passage have long been impressed by the richness and complexity of the local Tlingit culture.  The Tlingit people are an indigenous group whose original territory encompassed large sections of coastal Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The multifaceted culture and compelling artistic traditions of the Tlingit are, in fact, characteristic of indigenous groups in this area, where easy access to an abundance of natural resources enabled the development of complex cultural institutions.  In Tlingit culture, a strong emphasis is placed on both family relationships and wider kinship associations.  Individual Tlingit societies are, in fact, very much like large extended families.

Visitors to the island town of Ketchikan can experience remarkably talented Tlingit artisans at work at the Saxman Native Village, where daily Totem carving exhibitions are conducted by local artisans, including some of the most talented and renowned totem artists in the world.  Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, these artisans and their apprentices can be viewed sculpting not only poles but also canoes, paddles and intricate and colorful masks.

Additional examples of Tlingit artwork are on display at Totem Bight State Park and the Totem Heritage Center, both also a short drive from downtown Ketchikan.