Tlingit, group of North American tribes of the Athapaskan language family and of the Northwest Coast culture area. They inhabited the Pacific coast of southeastern Alaska and northwestern British Columbia. All the tribes speak the same language. The economy of the Tlingit is based mainly on fishing, and they are especially noted for their skill in woodcarving. In both appearance and social customs, they closely resemble the neighboring Haida. The tribes include the Sitka, Auk, Huna, and Tonga. The Tlingit fought frequently with the early Russians who settled in Alaska.

Today, the largest concentration of Tlingit is in Alaska, where many Tlingit work in the logging and fishing industries. In 1971 the tribes received money and land as a result of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. In the 2000 U.S. census about 15,000 people identified themselves as Tlingit only; an additional 7,500 people reported being part Tlingit. See also Native American Languages; Native Americans of North America: Northwest.