Endangered Languages Project

ALSO KNOWN AS		Blackfoot, Piikani, Pikuni, Blackfeet, Siksika, Siksika Cluster, Niitsi'powahsin, ᓱᖽᐧᖿ, ブラックフット語
CLASSIFICATION		Algic, Plains Algonquian
CODE AUTHORITY		ISO 639-3
LANGUAGE CODE		bla
VARIANTS & DIALECTS		Siksika (Blackfoot) Kainai (Many Chiefs or Blood) Aapatohsipikani (Northern Peigan in Canada) Aamsskaapipikani (Blackfeet or Southern Piegan in the United States)
DOWNLOAD		As csv
MORE RESOURCES		OLAC search

Compare Sources (11)

Information from: “Final vowel devoicing in Blackfoot” . Samantha Leigh Prins (2019)

Severely endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
2,800 total: 2,750 in Canada and 50 in the US
Native speakers worldwide

DATE OF INFO: 2017

DOMAINS OF USE

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

Significant revitalization efforts are underway, including culture and language instruction at public schools and colleges: Cuts Wood School (Browning, MT), Blackfeet Community College, University of Montana, University of Lethbridge, Red Crow College. (Prins, 2019)

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

The Piegan Institute; The Blackfeet Reservation (US)

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

English

PLACES: Most speakers live on one of the four federal reservations running along the east side of the Lewis Range of the Rocky Mountains from Gleichen, AB in the north to Heart Butte, MT in the south (Kevin McManigal as quoted in Prins, 2019)

Endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~6,700
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
28,000

DOMAINS OF USE
SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
TRANSMISSION
OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS: 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.
More on Orthography: 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.

PLACES: Southern Alberta and northwestern Montana

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Spoken on the Blackfoot, Peigan and Blood Reserves in Alberta and on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
5,100
Native speakers worldwide

Endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
6,667
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
28,000
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
In Canada, 5,605 first-language speakers of Blackfoot were counted in the 1996 census, out of a total combined Band membership of over 15,000. In the United States the 1990 census counted 1,062 first-language speakers in a tribal enrollment of approximately 13,000.

DATE OF INFO: 1996 Canada, 1990 US (census reports)

DOMAINS OF USE
SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
TRANSMISSION
OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

PLACES: Alberta, Montana

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Blackfoot, Peigan, and Blood Reserves in southern Alberta, and on the Blackfeet Reservation in
northwestern Montana.

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

Endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
3350
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
15,000
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Canada: 3250 (2011 census), decreasing. Ethnic population: 15,000.

US: 100 (2001 I. Goddard), decreasing. Ethnic population: 1,600 (2000 census). 5,000 (2001 I. Goddard).

DATE OF INFO: 2011 (census), 2001 (US)

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

Mainly adults.

SPEAKER ATTITUDE

Positive

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

English
Plains Cree

PLACES: Canada, US

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Canada: Alberta: Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan reserves.
US: Montana: Blackfeet Reservation.

Severely endangered

60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
no more than 1,500
Native speakers worldwide
OLDER ADULTS
1,500

DATE OF INFO: 2019

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

"There are several efforts being made to promote use of the language. A number of schools in southern Alberta have classes at the elementary and middle school levels that meet once or twice per week. Mizuki Miyashita, a linguist at the University of Montana, is conducting several projects aimed at increasing use of the language on the Blackfeet reservation. Libraries, museums and friendship centres in community also offer language classes." (Frantz, 2019)

Endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
3300
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
3250 in Canada (Census 2011).
50 or less in US (p.c. Kipp 2009).

DATE OF INFO: 2011 (Canada), 2009 (US)

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
TRANSMISSION
OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

PLACES: Canada: Alberta. US: Montana. Spoken by 4 bands.

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
4,600
Native speakers worldwide
Ethnic population
15,000
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
There are 4,500 in Canada (2001 census). The number of speakers is decreasing. There are few monolinguals.

DATE OF INFO: 2001

PLACES: USA; Canada;

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
3,200
Native speakers worldwide

			2019	Siksikáí’powahsin: Blackfoot Language	The Canadian Encyclopedia		Last updated July 19, 2019			Historica Canada			https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/siksikai-powahsin-blackfoot-language	Frantz, Donald G.			1,500		no more than 1,500	2019	1000-9999							Severely Endangered (60 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	14	"There are several efforts being made to promote use of the language. A number of schools in southern Alberta have classes at the elementary and middle school levels that meet once or twice per week. Mizuki Miyashita, a linguist at the University of Montana, is conducting several projects aimed at increasing use of the language on the Blackfeet reservation. Libraries, museums and friendship centres in community also offer language classes." (Frantz, 2019)
0199255911			2005	The World Atlas of Language Structures				Bernard Comrie and David Gil and Martin Haspelmath and Matthew S. Dryer		Oxford University Press	New York				2005. "The World Atlas of Language Structures." edited by Bernard Comrie et al. Oxford University Press.																					50.0,-112.666666667
		16	2009	Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th Edition (2009)				M. Paul Lewis		SIL International	Dallas, TX		http://www.ethnologue.com/		Lewis, M. Paul (ed.). 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16 edn. http://www.ethnologue.com/home.asp. (15 February, 2011.)	ll_pub		15,000	4,600	2001	1000-9999	There are 4,500 in Canada (2001 census). The number of speakers is decreasing. There are few monolinguals.						Threatened (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)						USA; Canada;
			2016	Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 19th Edition (2016)				Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig	online	SIL International	Dallas, Texas		http://www.ethnologue.com		Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2016. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Nineteenth edition (2016). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com.			15,000	3350	2011 (census), 2001 (US)	1000-9999	Canada: 3250 (2011 census), decreasing. Ethnic population: 15,000. US: 100 (2001 I. Goddard), decreasing. Ethnic population: 1,600 (2000 census). 5,000 (2001 I. Goddard).		English, Plains Cree	Positive			Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	13	Mainly adults.		14	Canada: Alberta: Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan reserves. US: Montana: Blackfeet Reservation.	Canada, US
			2015	Documenting Blackfoot pitch excursion			Paper presented at the 4th International Conference of Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC), Honolulu, Hawai’i.		Paper presented at the 4th International Conference of Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC), Honolulu, Hawai’i.				https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/25290/25290.pdf?sequence=2	Miyashita, Mizuki, and Naatosi Fish.	Miyashita, Mizuki, and Naatosi Fish. 2015. Documenting Blackfoot pitch excursion. Paper presented at the 4th International Conference of Language Documentation and Conservation (ICLDC), Honolulu, Hawai’i.				3300	2011 (Canada), 2009 (US)	1000-9999	3250 in Canada (Census 2011). 50 or less in US (p.c. Kipp 2009).		English				Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	13			14		Canada: Alberta. US: Montana. Spoken by 4 bands.
		3rd	2010	Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger						UNESCO Publishing	Paris		http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas	Christopher Moseley (ed.)	Moseley, Christopher (ed.). 2010. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, 3rd edn. http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas. (03 June, 2011.)	ll_pub			3,200		1000-9999							Threatened (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)								48.5699,-113.0918
			2008	North America	Atlas of the World's Languages	7-41		Chris Moseley and Ron Asher		Routledge	London			Victor Golla and Ives Goddard and Lyle Campbell and Marianne Mithun and Mauricio Mixco	Victor Golla, Ives Goddard, Lyle Campbell, Marianne Mithun and Mauricio Mixco. 2008. "North America." In Atlas of the World's Languages, edited by Chris Moseley and Ron Asher. 7-41. Routledge.			28,000	6,667	1996 Canada, 1990 US (census reports)	1000-9999	In Canada, 5,605 first-language speakers of Blackfoot were counted in the 1996 census, out of a total combined Band membership of over 15,000. In the United States the 1990 census counted 1,062 first-language speakers in a tribal enrollment of approximately 13,000.		English				Endangered (100 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	13		13	14		Alberta, Montana	Blackfoot, Peigan, and Blood Reserves in southern Alberta, and on the Blackfeet Reservation in northwestern Montana.
		2nd edition	2010	Endangered Languages of the United States	Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing	108-130		Christopher Moseley		UNESCO	Paris			Christopher Rogers, Naomi Palosaari and Lyle Campbell	Christopher Rogers, Naomi Palosaari and Lyle Campbell. 2010. "Endangered Languages of the United States." In Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing, edited by Christopher Moseley. 108-130. UNESCO.									English												48.5699,-113.0918
				World Oral Literature Project									http://www.oralliterature.org		"World Oral Literature Project." Online: http://www.oralliterature.org.				5,100		1000-9999							Threatened (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)
070071197X	3	1	2007	Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages						Routledge	Abingdon			Christopher Moseley	Moseley, Christopher. 2007. Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, 1 edn. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 070071197X	ll_pub		28,000	~6,700		1000-9999			English		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.		Endangered (100 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	13		13	14		Southern Alberta and northwestern Montana	Spoken on the Blackfoot, Peigan and Blood Reserves in Alberta and on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.
			2019	Final vowel devoicing in Blackfoot							Missoula, Montana, USA	University of Montana	https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12428&context=etd	Samantha Leigh Prins	Prins, Samantha Leigh, "Final Vowel Devoicing in Blackfoot" (2019). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11363. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11363				2,800 total: 2,750 in Canada and 50 in the US	2017	1000-9999		1,350	English			The Piegan Institute; The Blackfeet Reservation (US)	Severely Endangered (100 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	14	Significant revitalization efforts are underway, including culture and language instruction at public schools and colleges: Cuts Wood School (Browning, MT), Blackfeet Community College, University of Montana, University of Lethbridge, Red Crow College. (Prins, 2019)	15	14		Most speakers live on one of the four federal reservations running along the east side of the Lewis Range of the Rocky Mountains from Gleichen, AB in the north to Heart Butte, MT in the south (Kevin McManigal as quoted in Prins, 2019)

Niitsipowahsin

Language metadata

Language information by source

Severely endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

2,800 total: 2,750 in Canada and 50 in the US

Endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

~6,700

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

5,100

Endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

6,667

Endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

3350

Severely endangered

60 percent certain, based on the evidence available

no more than 1,500

Endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

3300

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

4,600

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

3,200

Discussion

Niitsipowahsin

Language metadata

Language information by source

Severely endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

2,800 total: 2,750 in Canada and 50 in the US

Endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

~6,700

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

5,100

Endangered

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

6,667

Endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

3350

Severely endangered

60 percent certain, based on the evidence available

no more than 1,500

Endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

3300

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

4,600

Threatened

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

3,200

Discussion

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