Tlingit Oral Histories, Oratory, & Events Recordings Collection, 1910-2006 | Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives

By Alyssa Peterson, UAS Intern, and Zach Jones, Archivist

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Collection Overview

Title: Tlingit Oral Histories, Oratory, & Events Recordings Collection, 1910-2006

ID: MC/022

Primary Creator: Tlingit Indians.

Extent: 12.0 Boxes

Subjects: Tlingit Indians--History., Tlingit language.

Languages: Tlingit, English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains recordings dating from circa 1910 to 2007, and primarily consisting of oral history recordings, Tlingit oratory, and recordings of Tlingit events, such as cultural gatherings. These recordings have been obtained by SHI from various donors, and the collection will continue to grow as more recordings are obtained.

The vast bulk of the recordings in this collection are audio only, with a few audiovisual. Many of the recordings are entirely in the Tlingit language, and most with no English translations. The various speakers on these recordings provide information on many topics, including life histories and family genealogies; clan and crest histories; Tlingit political and social systems and customs; gathering and harvesting practices; art forms such as basketry, carving, weaving; legends and stories; songs; and the Tlingit language. Many Tlingit clans are represented in this collection. Overall, this collection provides a wealth of information on various subjects relative to Tlingit culture, oratory, history, and language.

Subject/Index Terms

Tlingit Indians--History.
Tlingit language.

Administrative Information

Repository: Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives

Use Restrictions: Intellectual Properties Note: Since SHI adheres to the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials, and since we desire to honor Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian traditional cultural belief that clans retain the intellectual property rights to clan stories or songs, patrons who use or study clan songs or stories are asked to credit clan ownership to stories and songs.

Acquisition Source: Sealaska Heritage Institute

Acquisition Method: Items 1-95 in the collection were transferred from SHI’s Culture Department on 9/15/2010 to SHI; Item 94 was donated by Clarence Jackson to on 3/27/2008; Items 96-97 were transferred from SHI’s Media & Publications Department on 11/30/2011; Items 98-101 were obtained by SHI prior to Oct. 2007; Items 102-03 were donated by Lawrence J. Jackson to SHI on 7/14/2003 (Acc.#2003.002); Items 104-05 were deposited with permission of the Indian University Archives of Traditional Music (Acc. # 2011.040); Item 106 was obtained by SHI prior to Oct. 2007; Item 107 was donated to SHI by Donald Gregory on 1/6/2012; Items 108-111 were obtained by SHI prior to Oct. 2007; Item 112 was generated by SHI and a copy was placed in SHI’s archival collection on 1/20/2012; Item 113 was donated by Byron Mallott 12/11/2011 (Acc. #2011.041); items 114-119 were obtained by SHI prior to Oct. 2007; Items 120-122 were obtained by SHI prior to Oct. 2007; Item 124 was donated to SHI by Ishmael Hope on April 11, 2012; Items 125-139 were received by SHI prior to Oct. 2007; Items 140-141 were generated by SHI and transferred to archives on July 12, 2012; Items 142-43 were copied from originals in the Rosita Worl collection and added to this collection on August 27, 2012; Items 144-183 were obtained prior to Oct. 2007; Item 184 was donated by Roy Peratrovich Jr. in 2008; Items 185-189 were obtained prior to Oct. 2007; Items 193-198 were donated by the Sealaska Corporation on 2/19/2013; Item 199 was generated by SHI and placed in archives on 2/21/2013; Item 200 was donated by Rosita Worl on 5/15/2013; Item 201 was received prior to Oct. 2007; Item 202 was donated by Tim Lindoff on 5/22/2013; Item 203 was received prior to Oct. 2007; Item 204 was donated by the Sealaska Corporation on 10/15/2013; Item 205 was donated by Jackie Kookesh on 12/29/13; Item 207 was donated by Paul Marks on 4/9/14; Item 208 was generated by SHI and donated to SHI by Sorrel Goodwin on 1/10/2011; Item 209 was generated by SHI in 2000 and 2002;

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Items 1-37],
[Box 2: Items 38-107.],
[Box 3: Items 108-122.],
[Box 4: Items 123-137.],
[Box 5: Items 138-150.],
[Box 6: Items 151-161.],
[Box 7: Items 162-172.],
[Box 8: Items 173-177.],
[Box 9: Items 178-192.],
[Box 10: Items 193-209.],
[Box 11: Items 209-],
[All]

Box 1: Items 1-37

Item 1: Sound recording, disc ‘Cassette Tape 116’, titled ‘Lecture on Halibut Hooks’. Recorded January 25, 1979. Length 21 minutes 11 seconds. Speaker Frank Johnson and unidentified female reading off hand written document(s) by Frank Johnson. Provides information on how halibut hooks are made and used and how to catch and kill halibut. Discussion of harvesting fibers from nettles to make fishing lines, and also using spruce roots. Brief explanation of WWII plane engines, and how parts were made, and making halibut hooks in same machines with hard wood. Mention of Claude Morrison from Hydaburg. Story about former sandbar in front of Hydaburg.
Item 2: Sound recording, disc ‘Cassette Tape 115’, titled ‘Lecture on Halibut Hooks’. Recorded January 25, 1979. Length 31 minutes 25 seconds. Speaker Frank Johnson, possibly talking to students in a school. Tells of women harvesting and preparing spruce roots for weaving. Mention of good halibut fishing spot in Kake. Provides information for where halibut are in different seasons and best time of day to catch them. Briefly discusses decorative carvings on halibut hooks. Provides two Tlingit words used in halibut fishing terminology. Discusses bait used for halibut fishing. Provides information on how and where to catch octopus. Discusses different methods for drying halibut.
Item 3: Sound recording, disc ‘Cassette Tape 119’. Recorded March 16, 1978 at the Heritage House in Ketchikan, Alaska. Length 29 minutes 55 seconds. Speaker Dr. Walter Soboleff. Speech about Southeast Alaska Native politics. Provides information about Tlingit famous “Peace Party”, and other peace ceremonies. Discusses Tlingit social and political systems. Mentions Kaagwaantaan clan and man from Sitka, named Yak’waan.
Item 4: Sound recording, disc ‘Cassette Tape 120’. Recorded March 16, 1978 at the Heritage House in Ketchikan, Alaska. Length 37 minutes 2 seconds. Speaker Dr. Walter Soboleff. Speech about Southeast Alaska Native politics. Discusses importance of speech making in traditional Tlingit political systems and the Tlingit philosophy of keeping the balance. Discusses caste systems and importance of respect. Provides information on political history for Southeast Alaska Natives.
Item 5: Sound recording of Herb Bradley of Wrangell labeled ‘Uncle & Jane Campbell Side A’. Length 44 minutes 26 seconds. Discusses family history and genealogy and personal life history. Speaking primarily in English. Transcription available in MC 1.
Item 6: Sound recording of Herb Bradley labeled ‘Uncle & Jane Campbell Side B’. Length 46 minutes 43 seconds. Discusses life history. Provides information on clan relations and clan house names. Mentions a Kaach.adi chief, John Bradley. Transcription available in MC 1.
Item 7: Sound recording, disc “Tape 42 A&B”. Recorded 1973 in Sitka, Alaska. Length 69 minutes 25 seconds. Speakers Bill Davis, Henry Davis, A.P. Johnson, and Ray Neilson. Recording of ANB meeting. Speakers discuss Raven and cultures. Tlingit and English spoken, the bulk in English.
Item 8: Sound recording, disc ‘Tape 40’, titled ‘Sitka Salmon Legend’. Recorded in Sitka, Alaska. Length 3 minutes. Speaker A.P. Johnson. Story belongs to the Kiks.ádi people. Provides information on salmon fishing practices.
Item 9: Sound recording, disc ‘Tape 30’. Recorded 1974 in Ketchikan, Alaska at high school auditorium. Recorded by Vesta Johnson. Speaker Cy Peck, Jr. Length 31 minutes 5 seconds. Audio of Angoon and Yakutat dancers performing. Songs in Tlingit.
Item 10: Sound recording, disc ‘Tape 25’, titled ‘ANB History – Land Claims’. Recorded March 10, 1975 in Ketchikan, Alaska. Recorded by Vesta Johnson. Length 51 minutes 10 seconds. Speaker Frank Johnson. Discusses history of ANB and the people involved; mentions several names, including Andrew Hope.
Item 11: Sound recording, labeled ‘Esther Littlefield, [Kiks.ádi Clan, Strong House] Wrangell Kiks.ádi Names’. Recorded in Sitka, Alaska. Length 42 minutes 2 seconds. Speaker Esther Littlefield. Discusses Kiks.ádi history in Sitka, Alaska. Provides information on Kiks.ádi clan houses and crests. Discusses family history and genealogy.
Item 12: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Herb Bradley #1, Side B’. Length 46 minutes 5 seconds. Speaker Herb Bradley. Provides information on Tlingit place names and landmarks. Discusses Tlingit history after the flood and relations amongst various clans and villages. 2 copies.
Item 13: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Names & Stories, Side A’. Recorded October 17, 1979. Length 44 minutes 5 seconds. Speaker Herb Bradley. Provides information on peoples’ Tlingit names and the clans the names belonged to. Discusses storytellers and the stories they told; importance of Raven stories. 2 copies.
Item 14: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Names & Stories, Side B’. Recorded October 17, 1979. Length 44 minutes 16 seconds. Speaker Herb Bradley. Discusses family history and genealogy. Provides Tlingit names for family members. Discusses changing social customs. Mentions halibut hooks.
Item 15: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Names & Stories’. Recorded October 17, 1979. Length 19 minutes 1 second. Provides information on peoples’ Tlingit names. Provides information on Tlingit place names and landmarks. Tells stories that went with names and places discussed.
Item 16: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Matilda Pane [but is actually Matilda Jones Paul], Wrangell Kiks.ádi’. Length 42 minutes 2 seconds. Provides information on peoples’ Tlingit names. Discusses family history and personal life history. Tells about experience with breaking traditional Tlingit marriage customs. Discusses various Tlingit social customs.
Item 17: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Chilkoot Party’. Disc 1 of 2. Recorded August 23, 1980 at the ANB Hall in Haines, Alaska. Speakers Jessie Dalton, George Davis, and Gunaana Wanaashaa – Women of the Navy [Kaagwaantaan]. Length 48 minutes 33 seconds. Speeches in Tlingit for peace ceremony taking place. Provides information on strength training and Tlingit customs for battle. Provides information about peace ceremonies. [Disk damaged beyond repair]
Item 18: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Chilkoot Party’. Disc 2 of 2. Recorded August 23, 1980 at the ANB Hall in Haines, Alaska. Speakers Jessie Dalton, George Davis, and Gunaana Wanaashaa – Women of the Navy [Kaagwaantaan]. Length 48 minutes and 9 seconds. Drumming and songs in Tlingit. Introductions of songs in Tlingit and English.
Item 19: Sound recording of Katherine Mills, disc labeled ‘Chookaneidi Clan’. Length 60 minutes and 40 seconds. Tlingit elder Katherine Mills from Hoonah provides information on Chookaneidí clan history. Tells the story of Glacier Bay, discusses Tlingit social customs for young women, then speaks about the history of Hoonah, including the story of Ch'eet. 2 CD copies, 1 cassette.
Item 20: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘C. Jackson, Legend Interp.’ Recorded February 26 and 28, 2003 at Sealaska in Juneau, Alaska. Speaker Clarence Jackson. Length 46 minutes 57 seconds. Tells story in Tlingit and then in English. Story about traditional Tlingit social customs in regards to guests and ways in which items can become clan property. Story about Prince Rupert area.
Item 21: Recording is not present.
Item 22: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Táax’aa, Mosquito’. Length 14 minutes 13 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story told by Robert Zuboff (Shaadaax’). Story about how the mosquito came from the ashes of a cannibal. Told in Tlingit and English. 2 copies.
Item 23: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Kak’w, Basket Bay History’. Length 16 minutes 0 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story told by Robert Zuboff (Shaadaax’). Told in Tlingit and English.
Item 24: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Naatsilanéi’ [Naatsilanei]. Length 26 minutes 36 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story by Frank G. Fawcett. Story about how the killer whale was created, Naatsilanei. Told in Tlingit and English. 2 copies.
Item 25: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Gus’k’ikwáan, The Coming of the First White Man’. Length 12 minutes 37 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story told by George R. Betts. Story about the first ship of white men seen by the Tlingit. Told in Tlingit and English. 2 copies.
Item 26: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Raven’s Story’. Length 12 minutes 25 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story told by Charlie Joseph, Sr. Story of the origin of traditional Tlingit dancing practices. Told in Tlingit and English.
Item 27: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Raven and the Tides Woman’. Recorded July 9, 2006. Length 19 minutes 14 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a Shangukeidí story. Story about how low tide was created. Told in Tlingit and English. 2 copies.
Item 28: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Strong Man’. Length 38 minutes 11 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story told by Frank Johnson. Story about the strength gained by a boy who was always mocked for being lazy and weak. Told in Tlingit and English. 3 copies.
Item 29: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘The Woman Who Married the Bear’. Length 51 minutes 19 seconds. Speaker David G. Katzeek. Reading of a story told by Tom Peters. Story about a woman who insults the brown bear and then is taken as the bear’s wife. Told in Tlingit and English.
Item 30: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Tongass Texts, Frank & Emma Williams’. Length is over 12 hours. Recorded in Ketchikan, Alaska. Speakers Frank Williams and Emma Williams and unidentified female interviewer. Tlingit language sessions. Tlingit words and phrases.
Item 31: Sound recording of Lucy Wren speaking in Tlingit, CD labeled ‘Box of Daylight’, recorded February 18, 1998 at Carcross, Yukon Territory. English introduction states she will tell the story about the crow and a chief’s daughter. 7:55 minutes.
Item 32: Sound recording, disc titled ‘Clan and Crest Histories’. Recorded March 20, 2003. Length 49 minutes 12 seconds. Speaker Agnes Bellinger. Discussion of clan property; provides information on the “use of military uniforms as crests by Shangukeidí and Kaagwaantaan clans.” [Notice: disc functionally levels vary due to pealing disc label.]
Item 33: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Dog Point Fish Camp, [Cradle] Songs’. Length 28 minutes 29 seconds. Tlingit songs and lullabies for children. English translation of Tlingit songs.
Item 34: Video recording, disc labeled “Interview w/ Jennie Thinntut [Thlunaut] by Nora”. Recorded April 14, 1986. Length 48 minutes 40 seconds. Nora Dauenhauer discusses what she learned from Jennie Thlunaut about Chilkat weaving and designs. Chilkat blankets shown; discussion one belonging to the Wolf House of the Kaagwaantaan people. Provides information on clan property.
Item 35: Sound recording, labeled ‘Hoonah History’. Length 28 minutes 51 seconds. Speaker Katherine Mills. Provides information on locations and place names. Discusses the history and stories of the Hoonah people. Tells the story of Glacier Bay.
Item 36: Sound recording, disc labeled ‘Kaagwaantaan Clan History’. Recorded December 2005. Speaker Herman Kitka. Length 33 minutes 7 seconds. Discusses the history and stories of the Kaagwaantaan people. Tells the story of the Woman Who Married the Bear.
Item 37: Sound recording of Frank Dick, Sr. telling The Woman Who Married the Bea story, recorded June 10, 1984. Luknaax.ádi Clan. Length 25 minutes 35 seconds. All in Tlingit. 2 copies on CD, 1 cassette copy. Label on cassette states this version was translated and published in Haa Shuka (Dauenhauer and Dauenhauer).