Hän language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hän
Häł gołan
Native to	Canada, United States
Region	Yukon, Alaska
Ethnicity	Hän people
Native speakers	5 in Alaska, 1 in Yukon  (2020)
Language family	Dené–Yeniseian? Na-Dené Athabaskan Northern Athabaskan Hän
Writing system	Latin (Dené alphabet)
Official status
Official language in	Alaska
Han is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
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The Hän language, sometimes spelled Haen, is a special language spoken by the Hän Hwëch'in people. Their name means "people who live along the river". Hän is part of a larger group of languages called Northern Athabaskan, which are spoken across parts of Canada and Alaska.

Where Hän is Spoken

Today, only a few people speak Hän as their first language. Most of them are elders. You can find Hän speakers in places like Eagle, Alaska in the United States and Dawson City in Canada. Some speakers also live in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Long ago, many more people spoke Hän in Dawson City. But when gold miners arrived in the mid-1800s, the number of Hän speakers there went down.

Hän Language Family

Hän belongs to the Na-Dené language family. It is part of the Northern Athabaskan group within this family. Hän is very similar to the Gwich'in and Upper Tanana languages.

Bringing the Language Back

The Hän language is in danger of disappearing because very few people speak it fluently. Most fluent speakers are elders. However, more and more people are learning Hän as a second language.

The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, a First Nation group in the Yukon, are working hard to save and bring back the Hän language. They want to make sure the language stays alive for future generations.

Language Programs and Resources

Since 1991, the Robert Service School in Dawson City has offered a Hän Language program. The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in also supports classes for adults who want to learn Hän. They even hold cultural gatherings twice a year to celebrate the language and traditions.

There are also many online tools to help people learn Hän. Websites like FirstVoices and Yukon Native Learning Centre teach the language. They also share the rich history and culture of the Hän people. These efforts help keep the Hän language strong and alive.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma hän para niños