Tlingit

Linguists consider the Tlingit languages as isolates because they are definitely not related to any other language. Tlingit dialects are Tagish, Teslin, Tahitan, and Tsetsaut. Speakers of these languages occupy the northern coastal region of British Columbia.

The social system of Tlingit speakers was divided into two groups and then broken down into fourteen different clans. One clan occupied a village, which was presided over by a hereditary chief. The facades of houses were decorated with the religious symbols of the clan. The totem depicted stories of ancestors and their relations with the supernatural spirit world. Traditions of storytelling were well established and each village appointed its own storyteller. Myths and legends were primarily adventures, moral teachings, or love stories. These stories of love were centred on magic, charms, and love incantations. Mythological stories involved Ganook who was the god and foundation of the earth but also the trickster figure. A trickster is a teacher by his actions. He exposes human weaknesses by his own foolishness as a lesson to the listener.

The Tlingit also participated in vision quests. An individual isolated himself or herself and fasted for a given period of time. The participant ate only the bark of a devil club tree and drank salt water. A trance occurred and when the individual awoke from it, he or she relayed the vision to the shaman who translated the meaning of the vision or story.

Potlatches were held primarily to honour the dead. Carved masks, representing animal-spirits or mythological characters, were worn during dances that depicted the clan ancestors' encounters with spirits. The dances were accompanied by ancient rattles shaped as birds and ceremonial drums. Dances and songs were clan property and were bequeathed to younger members of the family.