The Chilkat are a Tlingit tribe who have lived in and around their village of Klukwan on the Chilkat River, in southeastern Alaska since time immemorial. They lived on foods available on their lands as well as trading with other tribes on the Pacific coast and inland. Settlers came to Chilkat lands in large numbers in the early 20th century, and they dispossessed the Chilkat of most of their land. US authorities attempted to suppress Chilkat culture by prohibiting potlatches and other traditional customs. However, their efforts failed and the Chilkat people maintained many of their traditions. Today most Chilkat people live in Klukwan.

This image shows three brothers and leaders of the Kak-Von-Tons, a part of the Chilkat tribe. They are identified as Ka-sh-ak (also spelled Kaalgéi), Skan-doo (Skundoo or Sx'andu.oo), and Ind-a-yanek (Swatka or Yindayáank') and they pose together wearing their ceremonial clothing. Two of the brothers have elaborately patterned Chilkat blankets, and the third wears a shirt decorated with deer hoofs. The man in the center also displays a carved wooden bird helmet with feathers attached. Each man holds a carved and painted bird-shaped rattle.

Caption on image: "Three brothers, old head-men of the Kak-von-tons of the Chilkat Tribe. Ka-Sh-Ak, the Monkey-Man; Skan-Doo, notorious old medicene [sic] man; Ind-A-Yanek (Swatka) the famous Indian guide" ; "Copyright 1907 by Case & Draper."
SHS category: Alaska - Indians

Caption information source: "History," Chilkat Indian Village, retrieved from https://chilkat-nsn.gov/history/
Caption information source: "Ka-Sh-Ak, the Monkeyman. Skan-Doo [Skundoo], notorious old medicene [medicine] man. Ind-A-Yanek (Swatka), the famous Indian guide." Alaska State Library, retrieved from https://vilda.alaska.edu/digital/collection/cdmg21/id/6749/