How did tlingit people get drinking water?

Tlingit people traditionally obtained drinking water from various sources, including rivers, streams, lakes, and glaciers. Here's how they might have procured drinking water:

1. Rivers and Streams:

- The Tlingit people would collect water directly from nearby rivers and streams.

- They would use containers like wooden buckets, animal skin bags, or carved wooden boxes to carry water back to their settlements or fishing camps.

2. Glaciers:

- In areas with glaciers, the Tlingit people would access freshwater by collecting meltwater.

- They would carve out blocks or chunks of ice from the glacier and bring them back to their camps or homes. The ice would then melt, providing fresh drinking water.

3. Rainwater Collection:

- In some cases, the Tlingit people might have collected rainwater during periods of heavy rainfall.

- They would use containers like large bark containers, woven baskets, or wooden troughs to collect and store rainwater.

4. Wells:

- In certain regions, the Tlingit people dug shallow wells or pits near rivers or streams to access groundwater.

- The wells would be carefully dug to reach the water table, allowing them to retrieve freshwater.

5. Water Purification:

- The Tlingit people may have employed various techniques to purify water before consumption.

- This might have included boiling water, filtering it through rocks or sand, or using certain plants known to have water-purifying properties.

6. Snowmelt:

- In the winter months or in higher elevation areas, the Tlingit people might have obtained drinking water from melting snow.

- They would collect clean snow, melt it over an open fire, and use the resulting water for drinking.

The choice of water source and the specific techniques used for obtaining and purifying drinking water likely varied depending on the regional conditions, seasonal availability, and environmental factors that the Tlingit people encountered in their territories.