Also Known As:
Blackfoot, Piikani, Pikuni, Blackfeet, Siksika, Siksika Cluster, Niitsi'powahsin, ᓱᖽᐧᖿ, ブラックフット語
Dialects & Varieties
- Siksika (Blackfoot)
- Kainai (Many Chiefs or Blood)
- Aapatohsipikani (Northern Peigan in Canada)
- Aamsskaapipikani (Blackfeet or Southern Piegan in the United States)
Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages
Moseley, Christopher. 2007. Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, 1 edn. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 070071197X
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~6,700
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 4
Less than half of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing at an accelerated pace.
4
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 3
Used mainly in the home and/or with family, but remains the primary language of these domains for many community members.
3
Transmission
Transmission 3
Some adults in the community are speakers, but the language is not spoken by children.
3
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
28,000
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
All of the schools on the three reserves in Canada have Blackfoot language classes, and the Blood Tribe has an extensive language program that includes immersion based instruction. In Montana, the Piegan Institute, a non-profit group, operates successful immersion schools on the Blackfeet Reservation.
Location and Context
Countries
Southern Alberta and northwestern Montana
Location Description
Spoken on the Blackfoot, Peigan and Blood Reserves in Alberta and on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
A standard orthography for Blackfoot was adopted in 1975 by the education committees of the three Canadian Bands, and was subsequently used in a full dictionary of the language.
Recent Resources
Contains people, names, history, tribal community websites, books on sale, Siksika lifestyle, Siksik
News article with 3 videos
Blackfoot Language Lessons