Across the Shaman’s River: John Muir the Tlingit Stronghold and the Opening of the North

Across the Shamans River is the story of one of Alaskas last Native American strongholds a Tlingit community closed off for a century until a fateful encounter between a shaman a preacher and John Muir. Tucked in the corner of Southeast Alaska the Tlingits had successfully warded off the Anglo influences that had swept into other corners of the territory. This tribe was viewed by European and American outsiders as the last wild tribe and a frustrating impediment to access. Missionaries and prospectors alike had widely failed to bring the Tlingit into their power. Yet when John Muir arrived in 1879 accompanied by a fiery preacher it only took a speech about brotherhoodand some encouragement from the revered local shaman Skandoooto finally transform these hostile heathens. Using Muirs original journal entries as well as historic writings of explorers juxtaposed with insights from contemporary tribal descendants Across the Shamans River reveals how Muirs famous canoe journey changed the course of history and had profound consequences on the regions Native Americans.