Also Known As:
Halkomelem, Hul'q'umi'num', Halq'eméylem, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm, Hul’q’umin’um’, Holkomelem
Dialects & Varieties
- Island
- Nanaimo
- Cowichan
- Upriver
- Chehalis
- Tait
- Chilliwack
- Downriver
- Katzie
- Kwantlen
- Musqueam
North America
Golla, Victor. 2007. "North America." In Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, edited by C. Moseley. 1-96. London & New York: Routledge.
Critically Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~120
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 5
A small percentage of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing very rapidly.
5
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 5
Used only in a few very specific domains, such as in ceremonies, songs, prayer, proverbs, or certain limited domestic activities.
5
Transmission
Transmission 5
There are only a few elderly speakers.
5
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
10-20
Semi-speakers or rememberers
~100
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
6700
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
The language is being revived on the Musqueam Reserve through a program based at the (closely adjacent) University of British Columbia. On the Tsawwassen Reserve language courses are offered for adults through Simon Fraser University; the Katzie Reserve has a program for elementary school children; and both the Tsawwassen and Katzie Bands have summer immersion camps in language and culture for children.
Location and Context
Countries
USA; Canada
Location Description
Spoken in southwestern British Columbia in a number of small communities along the lower Fraser River and on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
None
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:
literacy is restricted to language class settings.
Recent Resources
News article on new funding for Indigenous languages in British Columbia
This is an animated film created by Veselin Jungic (SFU), Mark MacLean (UBC), Simon Roy (Victoria),
This is an animated film created by Veselin Jungic (SFU), Mark MacLean (UBC), Simon Roy (Victoria),