Languagegeek is dedicated to the promotion of indigenous languages – primarily those of North Ame
Also Known As:
Haida, K'iis Xaat'aay, Northern, Skidegate, Masset, Northern Haida, Haida (Northern), X̱aaydaa Kil, X̱aat Kíl, X̱aadas Kíl
Dialects & Varieties
- Skidegate
- Massett
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
50-100
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
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
~1,850
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
The language is taught at Skidegate in a community-based immersion program, and has been offered for university credit in partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia.
Location and Context
Countries
Canada; USA;
Location Description
Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska. Spoken in two Haida villages on the Queen Charlottes, each with a distinct dialect: Masset and Skidegate. Additional Haida people live in Alaska (representing an 18th century migration from Masset), in the villages of Hydaburg, Kasaan, and Craig on the southern half of Prince of Wales Island, as well as in the city of Ketchikan.
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 modern writing system was developed for the Alaska dialect in 1972.
Recent Resources
Language Revitalization, Education, and Learning
Language in the Community
Language and Technology
Language Documentation, Research, and Archiving
The alphabet of the Northern Haida Language (Xaad Kíl) is still basically that which was adopted at
"Ben Young taught students at the Sealaska Heritage Institute Family Terms and we played a game!"