Immersed in rich tradition and robust artistry, the Inland Tlingit People of the North are anchored by their culture, Haa Ḵusteeyí, meaning ‘Our Way’. This culture serves as a collective tapestry, weaving together our understood sense of self, encapsulating our knowledge, language, art, history, and our delicate relationship with the environment.

For as long as memory serves, the Tlingit people have found respite in the shores of the expansive inland lakes during July, a season cherished for fostering unity and celebration. This warm period offers a brief respite from challenging living conditions, permitting us to relish in our familial bonds, to welcome the new lives added to our tribe, indulge in courtship, share riveting stories, and revel in the rich bounty of trapping season while delicately shelving away winter’s rigors. It’s during this time we magnify and fortify the threads that strengthen our Tlingit Culture, our Haa Ḵusteeyí.

Marking a historical debut, the year 2023 ushers in the Haa Ḵusteeyí Celebration, uniting the Inland and Coastal Tlingit people. Atlin BC joyfully opens its arms, welcoming worldwide visitors to partake in this vibrant celebration. With five Haa Ḵusteeyí Celebrations held at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre, it’s an honor for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation to host this year’s event. In keeping with the time-honored tradition, we’ll gather and reconnect, sharing the splendor of our traditional foods and culture, delighting in the long, sunny days symbolic of our Northern summers.

TRTFN CELEBRATION-Photos by Manu Keggenhoff