For the Tlingits, there is little conflict between Christian beliefs and traditional Tlingit beliefs. This is partly because in the traditional Tlingit culture, there is no worshipping of anyone or anything.

In her experience, the missionaries who visited the Tlingits were primarily Presbyterian, though the Russian Orthodox church was also a very strong influence. From her personal experiences and from conversations with others, she sees the effects of the missionaries as being much positive. However, one of the main negative things was the treatment of Indian students at the school the Presbyterian church built in Sitka, called Sheldon Jackson School- where the Native students were punished for speaking their native language.

On the positive side, the church did lots of good things too. The setting up of the Sheldon Jackson School educated many Native children, and was the foundation for Sheldon Jackson College, which is what the school later became. Mabel's great-uncle attended the school and two of Mabel's children attended the college. Mabel remembers on one occassion when the church asked Mabel's grandmother if she would like to send her and her siblings to the school and she said no, but she could use some food because the church then gave some staples like flour, sugar,....

One point of misunderstanding between the Tlingits and some people in the church is the issue of worshipping totem poles. The Tlingits view the totem poles only as a method of telling a story, but for some reason, there are some who seem to have it stuck in their mind that the totem poles are worshipped. Missionaries made a mistake in misunderstanding the Tlingit culture. But Mabel's faith relies on her relationship with God not on mistakes that mere humans have made on earth. This relationship with God is the foundation of her life.