Tlingit

Compiled by Jason Morningstar

Tlingit society is divided into two moeities - Raven and Eagle/Wolf - with complex kinship rules. Within each moiety are clans to which individuals are attached in family houses. My apologies to any Tlingit who might be reading this - I’ve made a hash of your fascinating culture.

Male 1

  1. Naawushkeitl
  2. Jánwu / mountain sheep
  3. Nóoskw / wolverine
  4. Kusaxa Kwáan / cannibal
  5. Dáa / weasel
  6. Dáanaa S’aatí / rich man
  7. Shak’únts’ / deer sprouting horns
  8. Kuts’een / rat
  9. X’eis’awáa / ptarmigan
  10. Aankáawu / rich man
  11. Kuwakaan / deer
  12. Xalak’ách’ / porcupine
  13. Xéex / owl
  14. Xaldleit / white fox
  15. Ch’ak’yéis’ / young eagle
  16. Ch’eet / murrelet
  17. Kookénaa / messenger
  18. Dagitgiyáa / hummingbird
  19. Xalt’ooch’ / black fox
  20. Wanatóox / ant

Male 2

  1. Táax’aa / mosquito
  2. Kooshtéeni / blind man
  3. X’igaa Káa / he fights
  4. K’ul’kaskéxkw / beetle
  5. At danáayi / drunkard
  6. Shyáa.awudanéiyi / he is respected
  7. Xáaw / driftwood
  8. Xóots / brown bear, grizzly bear
  9. Ayaheeyáa / curlew
  10. Ch’áak’ / bald-headed eagle
  11. Gáx / rabbit
  12. Gooch / wolf
  13. Weiha
  14. K’anashgidéi káa / poor man
  15. Koowajagi Aa / murderer
  16. K’idaaká Aa / neighbor
  17. Shaa yadaa / face of a mountain
  18. Toowú kalagé / pride
  19. Tíxwjaa / stamps his feet
  20. Kóoshdaa / land otter

Male 3

  1. Geetwein
  2. Watsíx / caribou
  3. Át Kukawu.Aagú / war leader
  4. Kanóox’ / turtle
  5. Yadák’w / young man
  6. Yadak’watsk’u / boy
  7. S’eek / black bear
  8. Shaa seiyí / shadow mountain
  9. L’ut’tláak / snake
  10. Goox / slave
  11. Táaw S’aatí / thief
  12. Kaa Sháade Háni / merchant leader
  13. Aanyádi / aristocrat
  14. Yaakw Yasatáni / boat captain
  15. Hít s’aatí / master of houses
  16. Kaa S’aatí / master
  17. Íxt’ / shaman
  18. Kín / brant (small goose)
  19. K’atxáan / coward
  20. Tlaganís / sapling

Female 1

  1. Kaa toowú lat’aa / comfort
  2. Gandaas’aají / bee
  3. Gagaan / sun
  4. Kutaan / summer
  5. Chéx’i / shade
  6. Shaatk’ / virgin fiancé
  7. Kaxéel’ / trouble
  8. Shí / song
  9. Tá / sleep
  10. Kukadlénxaa át / temptation
  11. Tután / hope
  12. Yaxté / little dipper
  13. Tínx / bearberry
  14. X’aséikw / life, breath
  15. Kaa toowú lat’aa / comfort
  16. Lk’ayáak’w x’us.eetí / milky way
  17. Séew / rain
  18. Taakw eetí / spring
  19. Xúkjaa / steam off the water
  20. Tléikw yádi / raspberry

Female 2

  1. Guwakaan yádi / fawn
  2. Kugóos’ / cloud
  3. Kaashaashxáaw / dragonfly
  4. Goox / slave
  5. Kusaxán / love
  6. K’óox dísi / venus
  7. A yayík / the sound of animals
  8. Tula.aan / kindness
  9. Kutx ayanahá / star
  10. Tanóox’ / turtle
  11. Tayashagoo / red sea anemone
  12. Atxa át / moth
  13. Gis’óok / northern lights
  14. Shannák’w / a little old
  15. T’ukanéiyi / baby
  16. Kichx anagaat / rainbow
  17. L’agakáx / west wind
  18. Ánk’w / cries easily
  19. Nukshiyáan / mink
  20. Yées ku.oo / young woman

Female 3

  1. L Kooláxji / deaf woman
  2. S’a ati shaawát / widow
  3. Kagáak / mouse
  4. Was’x’aan tléigu / salmonberry
  5. Kinle
  6. Shaatk’átsk’u / girl
  7. Ookaataalaxaach
  8. Usnea / spruce hair
  9. Ootska’a / lazy woman
  10. At k’átsk’u / child
  11. Neek shatl’ékx’u / gossip
  12. Shaan / old lady
  13. At wuskóowu / witness
  14. Kadéix’ / shame
  15. Xáats’ / distant blue sky
  16. Shaa at shí / she is singing
  17. Kayéil’ / peace, calm
  18. Latseen / power, strength
  19. Sagú / joy
  20. Wanadóo yádi / lamb

War, Magic, and Terror 1

  1. Dleit káa / white man
  2. Gunakadeit / sea monster
  3. S’áxt’ / devil’s club (plant)
  4. Jinaháa / bad luck, unknown future
  5. L’axkeit / mask
  6. Yéik / healer’s spirit
  7. Lookanáa / secret society
  8. Nakws’aatí / witch
  9. S’igeekáawu / ghost
  10. Xéen / bluebottle fly
  11. Xeitl táax’ayi / horsefly
  12. Lushk’é / sin, evil
  13. Shadaa / helmet
  14. Shak’áts’ / double-ended dagger
  15. X’áan yinaa.át / moose-hide armor
  16. Yinaaháat / breastplate
  17. Laaxw / famine
  18. Naná / death
  19. Kaa daakeidí / casket, coffin grave
  20. Dagankú / the spirit world

War, Magic, and Terror 2

  1. Héixwaa / magic
  2. Yíxch’ / frog
  3. At s’aan.axw dzáas / spear
  4. Léix’w / face paint, red
  5. Lékwaa / spirit (fighting spirit)
  6. Galsháatadi / captive
  7. Yéesh / bloodsucker
  8. Wéis’ / louse
  9. Niyaháat / breastplate
  10. Noow / fort
  11. Woon / maggot
  12. Tl’úk’x / worm
  13. Tíx / bedbug
  14. At kanas.aadí / crawling things
  15. Ts’ankwaat / spider
  16. Xáa / attacking force
  17. Xát’aa / whip
  18. Adawóotl / war
  19. At lóox’aa / bad trouble
  20. Dletgéedi / snowstorm

Keex’ Kwáan, The Dawn People (a small village)

Raven Moiety

Kaac.Houseádi Clan

  1. X’áakw Hít / Freshwater Marked Sockeye House
  2. Kutis’ Hít / Looking Out To Sea House

Sukteeneidí Clan

  1. Aanx’aak Hít / Middle Of Town House
  2. Shaa Hít / Mountain House
  3. Tax’ Hít / Snail House
  4. Wandaa Hít / Wooden Armor House
  5. Yéik Hít / Spirit House

Teeyineidí Clan

  1. Kóoshdaa Hít / Land Otter House
  2. Teey Hít / Cedar Bark House
  3. Kaats’ Hít / House of Kaats’, the Man who Married the Bear

Eagle/Wolf Moiety

Tsaagweidí Clan

  1. Aan Yakawlitseixi Hít / The House That Anchored The Village
  2. Tóos’ Hít / Shark House
  3. Xaay Hít / Yellow Cedar House

Wooshkeetaan Clan

  1. Tóos’ Hít / Shark House
  2. Noow Hít / Fort House

Shangukeidí Clan

  1. Kóok Hít / Box House

Nees.ádi Clan

  1. Kéet Gooshí Hít / Killer Whale Fin House
  2. Kéet Hít / Killer Whale House
  3. Kóon Hít / Flicker House

Was’ineidí Clan

  1. Tax’ Hít / Platform or Bench House

Sheey At’iká Kwáan, The Outside Edge of a Branch People (A large village; choose a moiety)

Raven Moiety

Kiks.ádi Clan

  1. At.uwaxiji Hít / Strong House
  2. Gagaan Hít / Sun House
  3. Kaxátjaa Hít / Jumping Herring House
  4. Noowtu Hít / Inside The Fort House
  5. Noow Daganyaa Hít / Outside The Fort House
  6. S’é Hít / Clay House
  7. Shdéen Hít / Steel House
  8. Tináa Hít / Copper Shield House
  9. X’aaká Hít / Point House

Koosk’eidí Clan

  1. Xaas Hít / Cow House

L’uknax.ádi Clan

  1. Daginaa Hít / Out In The Ocean Salmon Box House
  2. Kuta Hít / Sleep House
  3. Shgat.aayi Hít / House Named For Far-Away Creek
  4. Taan Hít / Sea Lion House
  5. Xinaa Hít / House At The Lower End Of Town
  6. Xíxch’i Hít / Frog House
  7. Yáay Hít / Whale House

T’akdeintaan Clan

  1. Danakoo Hít / Danakoo House

X’at’ka.aayí Clan

  1. Kayaashka Hít / Platform House
  2. L’ook Hít / Coho House

Eagle/Wolf Moiety

Kaagwaantaan Clan

  1. Aanyádi Hít / Nobility House
  2. Eech Hít / Reef House
  3. Ch’áak’ Kúdi Hít / Eagle’s Nest House
  4. Ch’eet Hít / Murrelet House
  5. Cháatl Hít / Halibut House
  6. Déix X’awool Hít / House With Two Doors
  7. Gayéis’ Hít / Iron House
  8. Gooch Hít / Wolf House
  9. Kutxayanahá Hít / Star House
  10. Xóots Hít / Brown Bear House
  11. Kaawagaani Hít / Burned House
  12. Kuháada Hít / Fish-Chasing Stick House

Kookhittaan Clan

  1. Tóos’ Hít / Shark House
  2. Kóok Hít / Box House
  3. Kutis’ Hít / Looking Out To Sea House
  4. Tl’aadein Hít / Standing Sideways House

Chookaneidí Clan

  1. Xaatl Hít / Iceberg House
  2. Aan Eegayaak Hít / Iceberg On The Beach House

Wooshkeetaan Clan

  1. Noow Hít / Fort House

X’ax’ahittaan Clan

  1. X’ax’a Hít / Cliff House