Klukwan Native Cultural Experience

Experience the native culture of the Tlingit people at Klukwan, the mother village of the Tlingit Nation and the only remaining village of the Chilkat people. For centuries, the Tlingits have lived off the bounty of this special place and today you can still see them fishing and smoking their catch at the river’s edge. As the guide walks you through the traditional knowledge camp, you will learn about the tribal culture and history. Other highlights include stopping to see a 37-foot dug-out canoe and pausing at the smokehouse, where fish are processed using ancient traditional methods. Your visit to the knowledge camp culminates with storytelling and a rousing dance performance in the totemic clan house. You will also watch Chilkat artists practice their crafts in a museum-quality heritage center and see the invaluable Whale House Collection, which a Tlingit master artist created hundreds of years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Delve into the complexity of the Tlingit culture at the tribe’s mother village.
• Admire the Tlingit way of life by watching tribal artisans ply their crafts.
• Watch a storytelling and dance performance in a totemic clan house.
• Drive through Fort William Seward, a National Historic Landmark.
• Enjoy a picnic while overlooking the unspoiled Chilkat River.
• Shop for Chilkat arts and crafts.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress warmly in weather-appropriate layered clothing, a sun cap and sunglasses.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.