She is taken in hand by her mother-if motherless, by the nearest female relative-and put under special training for a period of from four to twelve months, the difference of time depending upon the parents’ social circumstances. Thus, beginning at an early age, a child was given an outline of what she was to go through later.Īrriving at puberty, the Indian girl is obliged to cast off every thing pertaining to childhood, and become more reserved in manner, as is befitting her years. If a child wanted to earn something she would give part of her stores to a brother or uncle, who would pay twice the value for encouragement. I remember how proud I used to be to give to an aged aunt foods that I had prepared. During the food-preparing seasons they were taken along and allowed to put up what they wanted in little packets for their own special use and in the winter-time some of these a child would give to an aged relative. Besides play, hand work of a simple form was taught them. Little girls were told to play quietly with their dolls if they made more noise than was necessary their playthings were taken from them as punishment. Such punishments as she was promised however, were very rarely inflicted. If a child exhibited rough manners, she was rebuked by her elder thus: ” Are you a boy, that you should be rough?” Sometimes, to make a stronger impression on her mind, she was led to believe that she would meet with severe corporeal punishment from her big brother or her uncle, never from her father. So while the girl was yet quite young the mother taught her quietness even her cries were repressed. With girls, this habit was entirely forbidden.Ī young woman reserved in manners, neat in her work and appearance, not talkative or indulging in too much laughter, was said to be well bred and was respected accordingly. One important thing against which they were daily cautioned was a too free use of the tongue. 85.-Model of the central part of the Chilkat village at Klukwan, Alaska.īesides helping with the daily duties of the home, little boys and girls were given careful oral instructions along their individual lines on morals, on religion, on social and other matters. So just as soon as he became a youth he was taken by his uncle to be trained by him. It was believed that if a boy were brought up at home where he is apt to be petted and spoiled more than is good for him, he would not make a strong man. In the majority of cases, however, a boy was given to his uncle to bring up.

This natural system was the only one employed. The Indians considered it a natural thing for a child to do what it was told to do. With the Chilkats, as with all the peoples of Southeastern Alaska, the training of a child was not a difficult problem.

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