Haa Atx̲aayi Haa K̲usteeyix̲ Sitee, Our Food is Our Way of Life

In the Tlingit worldview, maintaining the delicate ecological balance in Homeland requires ongoing, respectful interaction with all its resources. Elders say, “a káx yan tudél wé tl’átgi ka at wudikeen áani aat ka éil” - we are stewards of the land, the air, and the sea. As vital components of the web of life, humans must fully participate in the seasonal rounds of gathering and harvesting to maintain balance. To receive from the land is to nurture it.

• Elder George Bennett Łingít Pronunciation- We Are Stewards of the Land, the Air, and the Sea.

  
  

  Łingít Elder George Bennett reads, “a káx yan tudél wé tl’átgi ka at wudikeen áani aat ka éil” (we are stewards of the land, the air, and the sea.)

  Credit / Author:

  George Bennett

  Audio Transcript

  “a káx yan tudél wé tl’átgi ka at wudikeen áani aat ka éil” - we are stewards of the land, the air, and the sea.

In Hoonah today, young and old, men and women alike hunt, fish and gather much as their ancestors did before them. Harvesting deer, berries, and salmon provides food for families living in the small, remote community, but more importantly, it is a cultural ritual and spiritual practice that connects people to the land and honors the traditions of grandparents, uncles and aunties. Passing on traditional methods of gathering and processing foods such as salmon, deer and seal, and sharing those harvested foods with elders, neighbors, and guests are values essential to maintaining the vibrancy of Tlingit culture. Although hunting is not permitted in Glacier Bay National Park, tribal members still travel to Glacier Bay Homeland in search of berries (tléikw), sockeye salmon (gáat) , sea gull eggs (k’wát), and the favored delicacy, “gumboots” (shaaw, black chitons). These treasured foods are shared with family and friends and used in traditional ceremonies called ku.éex’s.

Duration:

1 minute, 5 seconds

Join Julie and Denise as they head out into the bay near Hoonah, Alaska to fish for crab and shrimp; a tradition that Tlingit women have participated in for generations. NPS / American University: Producer, Sarah Gulick; Cinematographer, David Ehrenberg; Writer and Editor, Beth Ebisch

Duration:

1 minute, 2 seconds

Follow Tlingit elder Owen along the rocky shorelines in Glacier Bay National Park while he collects gumboots, a not-so-widely-known treat. NPS / American University: Producer, Sarah Gulick; Cinematographer, David Ehrenberg; Writer and Editor, Beth Ebisch

Duration:

1 minute, 1 second

Follow Paul Dybdahl as he passes along his grandmothers’ process of smoking salmon. This sweet and savory delicacy is often shared at traditional community celebrations. Credit: NPS / American University: Producer, Sarah Gulick; Cinematographer, David Ehrenberg; Writer and Editor, Nick Tucker

Duration:

1 minute, 2 seconds

Jay leads us on a hunt for Sitka black-tailed deer near Hoonah, Alaska. Continuing a long tradition, he hunts not only to feed himself but to share with his community. Credit: NPS / American University: Producer, Sarah Gulick; Cinematographer, David Ehrenberg; Writer and Editor, Nick Tucker

Duration:

4 minutes, 5 seconds

On June 1, 2020 in the midst of the corona virus pandemic, tribal members of the Hoonah Indian Association traveled to Glacier Bay National Park to harvest glaucous-winged gull eggs. This cultural tradition – long banned by western law – was authorized by Congress in 2014. Today, the Huna Łingít and the National Park Service collaboratively manage the harvest to ensure that generations of Łingít youth will be able to harvest eggs as their ancestors did.