Clan, language, and migration history has shaped genetic diversity in Haida and Tlingit populations from Southeast Alaska

TLDR

The linguistically distinctive Haida and Tlingit tribes of Southeast Alaska are known for their rich material culture, complex social organization, and elaborate ritual practices, yet little is known about them from a population genetic perspective. We analyzed mtDNA and Y‑chromosome variation in Haida and Tlingit populations to elucidate their genetic relationships to other indigenous groups, the link between language and genetics, the influence of matrilineal clan structure, and the impact of European contact. We examined mitochondrial DNA and Y‑chromosome markers across Haida and Tlingit individuals, comparing them with other Alaskan and Canadian indigenous groups. The study found that Haida and Tlingit share a northern genetic profile but are distinct from each other; Tlingit groups vary geographically due to interactions with Athapaskan and Eyak peoples; maternal clan identity strongly shapes mtDNA variation, while non‑native males influence Y‑chromosome diversity, providing new insights into their histories. Am J Phys Anthropol 148:422–435, 2012; © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Abstract

Abstract The linguistically distinctive Haida and Tlingit tribes of Southeast Alaska are known for their rich material culture, complex social organization, and elaborate ritual practices. However, much less is known about these tribes from a population genetic perspective. For this reason, we analyzed mtDNA and Y‐chromosome variation in Haida and Tlingit populations to elucidate several key issues pertaining to the history of this region. These included the genetic relationships of Haida and Tlingit to other indigenous groups in Alaska and Canada; the relationship between linguistic and genetic data for populations assigned to the Na‐Dene linguistic family, specifically, the inclusion of Haida with Athapaskan, Eyak, and Tlingit in the language family; the possible influence of matrilineal clan structure on patterns of genetic variation in Haida and Tlingit populations; and the impact of European entry into the region on the genetic diversity of these indigenous communities. Our analysis indicates that, while sharing a “northern” genetic profile, the Haida and the Tlingit are genetically distinctive from each other. In addition, Tlingit groups themselves differ across their geographic range, in part due to interactions of Tlingit tribes with Athapaskan and Eyak groups to the north. The data also reveal a strong influence of maternal clan identity on mtDNA variation in these groups, as well as the significant influence of non‐native males on Y‐chromosome diversity. These results yield new details about the histories of the Haida and Tlingit tribes in this region. Am J Phys Anthropol 148:422–435, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.