The Tlingits live in an area with gray-green islands, misty fjords, and spruce and cedar rain forests of Alaska's Southeastern Panhandle. The ocean provided not only food, but also a transportation corridor. Highly skilled navigators with seaworthy canoes, the Tlingits thought nothing of paddling for days in any direction. The area the Tlingits live in is blessed with a mild maritime climate and plentiful food. Abundant salmon made possible a life of wealth and leisure. At one time obtaining fish was central to the Tlingit Indians winter survival.

Salmon was the chief part of their diet, but also important were the halibut, eulachon, and herring. They lavished great care on the fishing equipment and techniques, which were very superior to those imported by the first Europeans. Only one innovation as readily adopted by the Tlingit fishermen: the replacement of bone and stone points with iron. Various traditional means were used by the Tlingit people for catching and using locally abundant fish. The eulachon has always been prized by the Tlingits. Their rendered oil was used for seasoning and preserving. Herring, especially their eggs, has been considered a delicacy by the Tlingits. In April and May great schools of herring make their way into shallow bays. They were often caught with the same rake used to catch the eulachon, then were dried or eaten fresh.

The economy of the Tlingit is based mainly on fishing, and they are especially noted for their skill in wood carving. They also make ceremonial masks, house posts, totem poles, canoes,woven hats, baskets, and blankets. In both appearance and social customs, they closely resemble the neighboring Haida. The tribes include the Sitka, Auk, Huna and Tonga. Potlach, was an elaborate ceremonial feast involving dancing, storytelling, and gift-giving by hosts They were celebrated because of major life events and to validate the social status of the hosts.

The Tlingits were often referred to as the Chilkats. Actually, the Chilkats are the the people who lived along the Chilkat River. The origin of the Tlingits is not certain. It is possible, the people came from the coast of Asia and Japan migrating north and east across the Aleutians,the Gulf of Alaska, to Southeast Alaska. Art forms and physical features of the Tlingit are similar to some Pacific groups. The Tlingits often fought frequently with the Russians who settled in Alaska.

The Chilkats and Chilkoots also had overland trade routes to the interior. A great trade empire was established from the interior, Alaska/Canada south to north of California. In the Americas, this trade empire was rivaled in size only by the Incas.

Klukwan is the only original which remains an active community today. It is considered to be the citadel of Tlingit art and culture. The Tlingit people traditionally embellished their lives with art. Even ordinary objects were decorated in highly sophisticated and stylized art forms. Skilled craftsmen of the Chilkat people developed many blanket weaves, spruce root baskets. They were very beautiful carvers. Animals were important in their legends, and were used as clan symbols.