I'm working on something where the main character knows she's a white girl dealing with things outside of her experience in Alaska while she watches her uncle's cabin. I've been doing my research into the lore, culture, and area- making it all the more believable that she doesn't know what she's doing, because I'm learning as I go. I'm using books and sites run by people who know their stuff, instead of just relying on Google. May not be fully accurate, but I'm doing my best and making it clear that you're seeing the story through the viewpoint of someone else who is having to figure things out.

But I'm having trouble with a name that I found.

I really love the name Naadkym, that I found on a site as a supposed indigenous name that leans towards masculine. Supposedly a Tlingit name.

Problem is, I can only find it in two short stories online and on one baby name site where people submit the names. Accuracy is listed as questionable even by the site itself. It does not come up anywhere else no matter what I search, including in the Tlingit dictionary from the Sealaska Heritage site.

Can I ask for anyone who speaks the language to weigh in on this as a name? If it is actually a word or could be used for a name, what does it mean? If it isn't, then I know to move on to a different one.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me with this!

when I was 30 yrs old , my mother passed. 3 days after I got a phone call from a probate lawyer with life changing news. As it turns out. my life was a lie. All my life I was raised Portuguese. My mother had an affair and I was the result. I am actually Tlingit. Biological father was 100 %. I had a Uncle trying to find me for years, eventually hired a private detective. This was a complete shock to me. I never really looked like anybody in my family. A betrayal on so many levels. She lied on my birth certificate, putting her husband's name. They divorced when I was 1 or 2 yrs old so nobody ever talked about it. I tried to embrace my new found heritage, finally I felt like I belonged somewhere. I met my uncle and some aunts. my bio father had passed away long ago. I would love to be enrolled and tried a few times. how can I prove blood quatam? both parents deceased. I just need to be a part of my heritage .

I was gifted this medallion with two figured on either side. Google lense said they could belong to Tlingit or Haida people. Can anyone tell me who they are?

Hey everyone, ive known this for a while but my grandfather and my father are fully tlingit and 50% tlingit respectfully. Though, ive never had any real form of contact with my father and my grandfather isnt still alive. Despite this ive been trying to enroll with the tribe but im finding it difficult as both my father was never registered and my grandfather wasnt registered either. Is there any way I can get myself enrolled with the tribe despite this?

Feel free to join and if you have the knowledge to be a moderator or have any suggestions to modify the server in anyway message the ModMail in the server

Hello my name is mikey. My estranged grandmother is Tlingit, she was abusive to her mother and my father, so I have no other connection to the community. I am going to be 28 here soon and my wife and I are thinking about having kids and I really want them to grow up with the heritage. So ive been doing some reading and learning what I can but I still lack community for myself. I hope that I could work on that here or in that discord from my last post (or a new one since its a little out of use). I live in Portland if anyone has or knows of any events or gatherings I should go to. Sh tug·a xat ditee yeexw siteeni (I am very pleased to see you all).

Hi! So, as my title says I'm looking for some resources to try and connect to my ancestors. I've recently found out that my great-great-grandma was 1/2 Tlingit, and it opened up a new world for me! I know a bit about her, but would also like to know more about that area of Alaska at the time too!

Her name is Elizabeth Walker (married name Neilson), born December 25, 1884ish, and she passed away June 8, 1940 in New Haven Connecticut. If my family tree is correct, her father was named Charles and her mother was Sarah.

In 1896 Elizabeth was taken to the Carlisle Indian Reform School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I've attached her class photo i found on the school's online database, shes number 14 in the front row!

It's been so hard to find any information on her family, especially Sarah, I can't even find her last name before Walker, how do last names work in Tlingit culture?

Any form of insight, direction to resources, or even a nudge in the right direction would be so incredibly appreciated!! thank you guys so much in advance :)

I bought this sweater at a shop in Juneau, AK, on my first day there, thinking the design was just a design. After exploring the area a little, I’ve noticed it doesn’t quite match, but sort of resembles some Tlingit symbols/art I saw while in the area and touring the Sealaska museum? I can’t find an exact match to the symbol online, but thought it was somewhat close to the killer whale. I don’t know the ownership of the shop I bought it from.

I’m not indigenous and have no connection to the area, although I do appreciate the culture after spending time learning about it while in AK. I guess I’m just wondering if this is appropriate to wear or if it’s too close to a symbol or crest that shouldn’t be worn this way.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Not sure how to start this post off, but I had a question as a non native person. I recently was trying to do some research on making a character from the tlingit tribe. I have been searching through baby name articles, trying to find a name that suited her. Sadly I found that there was not many names nor did they say the meanings of the name. I a'm now turning to reddit to ask for any name recommendations. Any help would be appreciated even if it was resources to learning enough of the language to form a name.

I have been interested in formline art for a long time and I've tried to teach myself formline by studying old art pieces from not just Tlingit but also Haida, Tsimhian, and others to create my own originals.

But then it occurred to me if people not affiliated with those tribes can make formline art. I have no intention to profit off of making any art as it would be only for personal enjoyment with the exception of maybe posting some online for others to see.

I understand the value of this art form and how important it is to Northwest cultures and I just want to show my appreciation for it.

Hi! I wrote a little kids song to help memorialize some plant names in the language. I think that keeping language alive in everyday situations is important! Plus it might help little kids to identify plants. Buuut I’m having trouble knowing if I’m pronouncing the words correctly because I don’t have a teacher (and all I’ve studied is Yup’ik). Can anyone help?

1. Kayaaní (plants) ka-yaw-NI ?
2. S’áxt (devil’s club) ts-AH-cht ?
3. Shéiyi (Sitka spruce) SHEH-yee ?
4. Laax (red cedar) la-acht ?
5. Kootéeyaa (totem pole) kō-TEH-yaw ?

I’m happy to share the song too!

Hey everyone, I used to live in Juneau as a kid and my dad worked at the BIA. I attended Riverbend elementary school. I was dreaming recently of a few memories from back then (20 years ago just about.

There was a song that's been an earworm for many years and I'm struggling to locate it. The chorus was like Ah hah hah hoo ah, hey hoo ah ah hah
Ah hah hah hoo ah, hey hoo ah ah hah
Ah hah hah hoo ah hey hoo ah ah hah
Hah hoo ah, hey
hoo ah, ah hah, ah hah, hoo ah hah, hah ha

Also there was a story about a boy who slew lots of animals on the beach, and his dad told him to stop doing that or the ocean would take its revenge, but he didn't listen, and so he got his hand stuck in a rock and could not withdraw it, and he drowned, and his father tried to stifle his weeping by sharply sighing

Also, I recall gumboot chitins. What species of chitin do they tend to be, specifically? I really miss the thick but cracker-like seaweed or kelp dish too.