Honoring Lingít Aaní

People of the Tides

Close-up of tree branches with catkins hanging, blurred beach with logs and a person in an orange jacket in the background.

The Tlingit, meaning “People of the Tides,” have called this land and these waters home since time immemorial. Lingít Aaní, the Tlingit homeland, encompasses the lands and waters around Sitka and throughout Southeast Alaska. Their history, culture, traditions, and stories are deeply rooted in this place. We are guests here, on their ancestral homeland, and we strive to always travel with care.

For more information about the Native cultures and history we encourage you to learn directly from Native organizations and cultural institutions.

Sitka Tribe of Alaska

Sealaska Heritage Institute

Sitka National Historical Park

Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum

Sealaska Heritage Online Collections

Our Stewardship Practices

Elysium Expeditions follows eco-tourism standards, Leave No Trace principles, and ethical wildlife-viewing guidelines. We minimize our impact, respect natural and cultural sites, and give all wildlife the space they need to live and move freely. Protecting this place is part of how we show our gratitude for being guests here.

A tall, twisted pine tree with a small, rounded canopy of green foliage, located in a mountainous landscape with dense forested hills in the background.
A forested landscape with a shallow, rocky stream covered with yellow moss or algae, surrounded by tall green trees and distant mountains, under an overcast sky.
A person with a backpack walking through a mossy, forested trail surrounded by tall trees, with sunlight filtering through the branches.
Overcast sky over a body of water with small tree-covered islands and distant mountains.
Underwater scene of rocks with a starfish, a black and orange sea cucumber, small purple sea urchin, and numerous small shellfish on the rocks.
Two children, one in a beige coat and the other in a pink coat, walking on a moss-covered fallen tree in a dense, green forest with tall trees and lush undergrowth.
View from inside a boat looking out over a body of water, surrounded by dense forest, with snow-capped mountains in the background.
Waterfall cascading down a rocky mountain face surrounded by trees and greenery.
Four people in rain gear with hoods walking through a forest with moss-covered ground and fallen logs.
Person wearing an orange jacket and a dark beanie exploring dense forest with green foliage and budding branches.
Overcast coastal scene with rocky shoreline, driftwood, water, and distant mountains.
Two people walk on a narrow wooden dock extending into a calm lake, surrounded by dense green forest and towering trees under an overcast sky.
Three hikers walking through a lush, green forest with moss-covered fallen trees, surrounded by tall pine trees and dense foliage.
A small stream with clear water flowing over rocks and pebbles, including some red sea urchins visible underwater.
View of a mountain landscape seen through tall evergreen trees, with distant mountains and a body of water visible in the background.
Two hikers, one male and one female, walking through a foggy forest with sparse, tall, windswept trees and low shrubbery on the ground.