Coast Salish languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coast Salish |
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| Geographic distribution: |
Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia (British Columbia, Canada) and Puget Sound (Washington state) |
| Linguistic classification: | Salishan |
| Subdivisions: | |
 Distribution of Coast Salish languages in the early 19th century
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Coast Salish languages are a subgroup of the Salishan language family. These languages are spoken by First Nations or Native American peoples inhabiting the Pacific Northwest, in the territory that is now known as the southwest coast of British Columbia around the Strait of Georgia and Washington state around Puget Sound. The term "Coast Salish" also refers to the cultures in British Columbia and Washington who speak one of these languages or dialects.
Geography
The Coast Salish languages are spoken around most of the Georgia and Puget Sound Basins, an area that encompasses the sites of the modern-day cities of Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle, Washington, and others. Archeological evidence indicates that Coast Salish peoples may have inhabited the area as far back as 9000 BCE. What is now Seattle, for example, has been inhabited since the end of the last glacial period (c. 8,000 BCE—10,000 years ago).
In the past, the Nuxálk (or Bella Coola) of British Columbia's Central Coast have also been considered Coast Salish. This language shares at least one phonological change with Coast Salish (the merger of the Proto-Salish pharyngeal approximants with the uvular fricatives), but it also displays certain similarities to the Interior Salish languages. If it is indeed a member of the Coast Salish branch, it was the first to split off from the rest.
Languages
Listings are from north to south. Peoples generally inhabited the mentioned watershed and the shores if a body of water is mentioned, as well as further environs. Adjacent tribes or nations often shared adjacent resources and other practices, so boundaries were seldom distinct.
| Language Name | Variations | IPA | Community Where Spoken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comox/Island Comox (†) | ʔayʔajusəm | Comox, Island Comox (Courtenay area). | |
| Sliammon/Mainland Comox | ʔayʔajuθəm | Homalco (Xwemalhkwu), Klahoose, and Sliammon (Tla A'min). | |
| Pentlatch (†) | Puntlatch, Puntledge | ||
| Halkomelem | Hul'q'umín'um' | Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, Somena, Chemainus, Cowichan, Halalt, Lyackson, Lamalchi, and Penelakut. | |
| hǝn̓q̓ǝmin̓ǝm̓ | Musqueam, Tsleil-waututh, Kwikwetlem, Tsawwassen, Kwantlen (both Halkomelem and Halkomelem or up river and down river). | ||
| Halq'eméylem, Stó:lō, Teyt | Aitchelitz, Chawathil, Cheam, Chehalis (Sts'Ailes), Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwaw-kwaw-Apilt, Leq'a:mel, Matsqui, Peters, Popkum, Scowlitz (Skaulits), Seabird Island, Shxw'ow'hamel, Skawahlook, Skowkale, Skwah, Skway (Shxwhá:y), Soowahlie, Squiala, Sumas, Tzeachten, Union Bar, New Westminster Indian Band, and Yakweakwioose First Nations. | ||
| Sechelt | Shíshalh, Sháshíshálhem | Shishalh | |
| Squamish | Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Snichim, Sko-mesh | Squamish | |
| Nooksack | Lhéchalosem | Nooksack | |
| Saanich | Northern Straits Salish, SENĆOŦEN | Saanich, T'souke | |
| Lummi | Northern Straits Salish, xʷləmiʔčósən | Lummi or Lhaq'temish | |
| Klallam | Sklallam, Nəxʷsƛ̕áy̓emúcən | S'Klallam or Klallam | |
| Lushootseed | dxʷləšúcid or xʷləšúcid | Samish or Sʼabš, Skagit or Sqaĵət, Sauk-Suiattle or Suiʼaẋbixʷ, Snohomish or Sduhubš, Swinomish), Duwamish or Dxʷ'Dəw?Abš and Xacuabš, Smulkamish, Sammamish, Snoqualmie or Sduqʷalbixʷ, Stkehlmish or Sacakałəbš, Suquamish or Suqʷabš, Nisqually or Sqʷaliʼabš, Muckleshoot or Bəpubšł, Puyallup or Spuyaləqəlpubšut, Sahewamish or Sʼəhiwʼabš, Squaxin Island Tribe | |
| Twana | Skokomesh | Skokomish | |
| Cowlitz | Chehalis | ||
| Quinault | Quinault |
See also
In Spanish: Lenguas salish de la costa para niños
