By Alyssa Peterson, UAS Intern, and Zach Jones, Archivist
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.
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.
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;
Item 124: Audio recording/interview of Richard and Nora Marks Dauenhauer speaking about Tlingit elder Frank G. Johnson (1894-1982) and Tlingit leadership and humility, interviewed by Ishmael Hope, March 26, 2011. Formats; CD and cassette. 20 minutes in length.
Item 125: Audio recording of Clarence Jackson (Tsaagweidí Clan) summarizing an oral history recording he had recently conducted with John Bremner of Yakutat on the migration history of the Yakutat Tlingit, recording at Sealaska Heritage Institute, 5/19/2000. Speaking in English. Length; 21 minutes long. Format; original cassette and CD (migrated in 2012). Content; Jackson articulates that Bremner’s health was failing due to his advanced stages of cancer treatment, and the interview was difficult, and Jackson summarizes their discussion and the history of migrations in the Yakutat area. Includes an oratory on the origins of the tinaa copper; migration over the ice cap and Copper River; migration inland during a period of climate change; and group/clan from Sitka moved to Yakutat.
Item 126: Audio recording and interview of Jennie Lindoff (Aan Shéix´ of the Chookaneidí Clan) of Hoonah, interview conducted in the Hoonah Presbyterian Church by an unidentified Tlingit woman, dated 7/26/1989. Speaking in English. Length; 56 minutes long. Format; original cassette and CD (migrated in 2012). Content includes biographical information about Jennie Lindoff, her family, and her views on life and Tlingit culture.
Item 127: Audio recordings concerning Tlingit 14(h)1 sites and the history of Land Claims, dating to 1984 and 1985. Side A of the cassette recording is labeled “John Autry, Ethel McKinnon, and Vida Davis, 4/1/94” and contains speaking on their work to document 14(h)1 sites in Southeast Alaska, in conjunction with anthropologist Thomas Thornton. 21 minutes in length. Side B of recording is labeled “Harvey Marvin [speaking] about Harry Marvin [and] Land Claims,” recorded at Sealaska Heritage Institute, 1995. Recording begins with Marvin speaking about a halibut hook at Sealaska Heritage Institute, then the conversation shifts to the history and his involvement in Land Claims, ANB, and the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida. 32 minutes in length. Formats; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012].
Item 128: Short audio recording made by Tlingit elder Jim Walton (Kaagwaantaan Clan) for Ted Wright, detailing the pronunciation and words on the Tlingit Kaagwaantaan name being given to Ted Wright, 5/31/1997. 3 minutes in length. Formats; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012].
Item 129: Audio recording and interview of Byron Skinner Sr. (b. 1932) and Millie Stevens of Klawock about traditional knowledge of salmon, interviewed by anthropologist Stephen Langdon of UAA and Yarrow Varra of SHI, dated 8/5/2003, recorded at Klawock. Skinner interview is 48 minutes in length [marked Tape 1 of 2]; Stevens interview is 42 minutes in length. Formats; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012].
Item 130: Audio recording of informal discussion of Tlingit life, politics, education, and other issues of the day, recorded May 14, 1985 in Sitka by Andrew Hope III. Tape 1 of 2. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Content and content note: this recording is informal conversation over dinner, recorded by Andrew Hope III. Those speaking include Mable Milonich and Candance Burger, and Ethel Staton. Content includes; politics, Sheldon Jackson school training, missionaries, assimilation, Native corporation politics, sawmills in Saxman, and more.
Item 131: Audio recording of informal discussion of Tlingit life, politics, education, and other issues of the day, recorded May 14, 1985 in Sitka by Andrew Hope III. Tape 2 of 2. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Content and content note: this recording is informal conversation over dinner, recorded by Andrew Hope III. Those speaking include Mable Milonich and Candance Burger, and Ethel Staton. Content includes; politics, missionaries, assimilation, land claims, the Tsimshian, and Metlakatla.
Item 132: Audio recording and interview of Embert Demmert about his life and work as an educator, interviewed by Richard and Nora Marks Dauenhauer, possibly at Klawock (or Juneau), 2/23/1994. 73 minutes in length. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Content; an interview with Demmert primarily about what it was like to be educated, an educator, a Tlingit man in this position, and his life in general. Some discussion about his time serving during World War II. Note: about half of this recording is inaudible, while other parts are clear.
Item 133: Audio recording and interview of Sam Hanlon Sr. (S'tu wut it'l geh) (1926-2011) of the Wooshkeetaan and Katherine Hanlon, Hoonah, 7/25/1989. 82 minutes in length. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Content: oral history interview with the Hanlons about their lives, family history, Tlingit culture, life in Hoonah, and concerns about Glacier Bay National Park limiting Tlingit subsistence.
Item 134: Audio recording labeled “Mildred Sparks, ANB, Tape 101” but content does not appear to concern ANB, circa 1980s, location unknown, possibly Klukwan or Haines. 97 minutes in length. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Speaking in English and Tlingit. Content, Side A contains a discussion among a dance group about what songs to sing in relation to protocol and cultural practice, Side B contains song practices, then recording abruptly stops, and Rosita Worl and Andrew Hope [?] are asking Tlingit women about Sitka clan houses, Kaagwaantaan houses.
Item 135: Audio recording labeled “Tlingit party,” but is Lukaax.ádi Clan party, circa 1970, Klukwan. 34 minutes in length. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Contains oratory and singing in Tlingit, about half of the content is in English. A primary speaker includes Austin Hammond. Note; this was a Lukaax.ádi Clan party, and the Eagle clans were the guests. The audio quality of this recording is poor. Content includes; David Kadashan speaking (end of his speech is captured); then many oratory responses occur (perhaps by Cecilia Kunz and Jessie Dalton—audio quality is poor); one response mentions Stoowukháa (Louis Shotridge) and the taking of clan at.óowu. Audio quality of recording is poor and conversations are hard to hear.
Item 136: Audio recording of a Tlingit Lukaax.ádi Clan party, circa 1970, Klukwan, continued from the previous recording. 64 minutes in length. Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012]. Speaking mostly in Tlingit, with some English. Contains oratory and singing in Tlingit. A primary speaker includes Austin Hammond. Note; this was a Lukaax.ádi Clan party, and the Eagle clans were the guests. Content includes; a woman calls of names of deceased family members and speaks about coming to the party; Austin Hammond speaks about Yeil Yatee at.óow; then various songs are sung, including Lukaax.ádi, Gaanaxteidí, Kaagwaantaan; then a call for guests, their reasons for coming, and a call for money is started. Rosita Worl’s voice is heard on the recording.
Item 137: Audio recording labeled; Side A labeled “Peace Ceremony, Haines [and] Chilkoot Party, 8/23/1980.” Side B labeled “Haines Potlatch ANB Hall, Jessie Dalton, George Dalton, 8/23/1980. Women of the Navy, Kaagwaantaan.”” This may concern the peace ceremony hosted by Austin Hammond and others featured in the film Haa Shagoon. Appears to be from the Rosita Worl collection. Primarily contains Austin Hammond, George Davis, and Walter Soboleff speaking. Format; Cassette and CD. Most of the content is in the Tlingit language. Content includes; (Side A) explanation and discussion by Hammond about what a peace ceremony is and a peace maker, and why people were speaking about the situation as captured in Haa Shagoon; followed by three songs/chants; Hammond speaks about the Chilkoot/Chilkat area and its connection to his people; a Kaagwaantaan love song is performed; then oratory/speeches are given, with protocols of ravens and eagles speaking and thanking; including words from Naa Tlaa Jessie Dalton; oratory by Jessie Dalton, speaking about her people during the floods and how they lived on the tops of the mountains and how ropes were present. (Side B): Jessie Dalton continues with oratory and then a love song about the T’akdeintaaní Yatx´ee; her words are followed my many who respond with respectful and proper oratory and song; then George Davis speaks about the Tlingit relocation to the coast after the great flood; Edward Kunz speaks about the Kaagwaantaan claim to the U.S. naval uniforms, how the navy killed a Tlingit man at Haines/Klukwan and never made amends for the harm, and this is why the Kaagwaantaan claim the naval crest/uniform (how this was acknowledged at the Last Great Potlatch in Sitka in 1904); then Austin Hammond responds, followed by more oratory/responses and then gifts are given to Austin for his work as a peacemaker.
