Our story begins
over 10,000 years ago…
…long before written records of Sit’ Eeti Geeyi, now called Glacier Bay. In those times, our ancestors, the Xunaa Káawu, were shaped by this land—where towering mountains and dense forests meet wild seas. The land was not always kind, but it taught us resilience and respect. From these lessons, we became strong. We became warriors. The love for our land, our people, and our way of life became our greatest strength—fueling our self-determination in a world that tried to take everything from us.
When the glaciers advanced, we did not surrender. We persevered. Our people moved to Hoonah, where we rebuilt. In the 1700s, Russian colonizers brought new diseases that devastated our villages. And yet, we endured. Then came the Alaska Purchase in 1867, and with it, a land grab across the new United States territory. Our ancestral homelands were divided among non-Natives, using alien concepts of ownership and conservation. And yet, we remained resilient.
Throughout the 1900s, we defended our way of life, our language, and our lands.
As time went on, the battles moved from our lands to their courtrooms, where our warriors fought with words, not weapons. We sent our children to law schools and business schools, arming them for one of the greatest battles in our history.
In 1971, we won back
our ancestral lands.
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) awarded 44 million acres to all Alaska Native peoples throughout the state—the largest aboriginal land claim settlement in the world. This victory led to the creation of 13 Alaska Native Corporations, who were given for-profit designations in order to use their land to provide compensation and support to their shareholders. Of that, Huna Totem Corporation was awarded 23,042.85 acres of our ancestral land in Southeast Alaska which would lay the foundation for a future of prosperity and the perpetuation of Tlingit culture.
Today, Huna Totem Corporation upholds the legacy of the Xunaa Káawu…
with an unwavering mission to preserve, protect, and advance the economic aspirations and culture of the Xunaa Káawu through business excellence, sustainable economic growth, leadership, and education.
We are guided by the values of our ancestors, rooted in Woosh Jee Een—balance, reciprocity, and respect—as we honor Haa Shuká, the connection between our past, present, and future.
Woosh-Jee-Een
[wo͞o-sh jee een]
Working together in harmony, emphasizing balance, reciprocity, and mutual respect within the community and across generations.
Haa Shuká
[hah shoo-kah]
The deep connection between past, present, and future generations, emphasizing the continuity of heritage, culture, and responsibility across time.
Preserving the Language, Tradition, and Wisdom of the Xunaa Káawu
In 1990, we established the Huna Heritage Foundation, an independent nonprofit dedicated to preserving the Xúna culture and supporting the Hoonah community. Through scholarships, heritage study grants, and a growing digital archive, the foundation ensures that the heart of our Tlingit identity continues to beat. Huna Totem Corporation’s financial support keeps these efforts alive, ensuring that cultural values remain central to our future.
We proudly uplift Alaska Native culture.
From the very beginning, the Tlingit people have shared their history through rich oral traditions, a practice that continues today through programs like Alaska Native Voices. Together with other Alaska Native communities, we help share the stories of Alaska’s Indigenous people. Our Native Cultural Heritage Guides, descendants of the Huna Tlingit, offer rich interpretations of our history—whether on board cruise ships or gathered by firesides—ensuring that our warrior spirit and our connection between land, culture, and people is carried forward for generations to come.
Meet our Heritage Guides
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