Interior Salish languages facts for kids

The Interior Salish languages are one of the two main branches of the Salishan language family, the other being Coast Salish. It can be further divided into Northern and Southern subbranches. The first Salishan people encountered by American explorers were the Flathead people (Selish or seliš), among the most easternly of the group.

Languages

• Northern
  • Shuswap (also known as Secwepemctsín, səxwəpməxcín)
  • Lillooet (also known as Lillooet, Sttt'tcets)
  • Thompson River Salish (also known as Nlakaʼpamux, Ntlakapmuk, nɬeʔkepmxcín, Thompson River, Thompson Salish, Thompson, known in frontier
• Southern
  • Coeur d’Alene (also known as Snchitsuʼumshtsn, snčícuʔumšcn)
  • Columbia-Moses (also known as Columbia, Nxaʔamxcín)
  • Colville-Okanagan (also known as Okanagan, Nxsəlxcin, Nsilxcín, Nsíylxcən, ta nukunaqínxcən)
  • Montana Salish (Spokane-Kalispel-Flathead, Kalispel–Pend d'Oreille language, Spokane–Kalispel–Bitterroot Salish–Upper Pend d'Oreille)

The Southern Interior Salish languages share many common phonemic values but are separated by both vowel and consonant shifts (for example k k̓ x > č č' š).

Peoples speaking an Interior Salish language

Northern

• Secwepemc, also known as Shuswap, Secwepemctsín, səxwəpməxcín (ʃəxwəpməxtʃín)
• St̓át̓imc, also known as Lillooet, Stlʼatlʼimx, Stlʼatlʼimc, Sƛ’aƛ’imxǝc (St̓át̓imcets, also known as Úcwalmicwts)
• Nlaka'pamux, also known as Thompson River Salish, Ntlakapmuk, Ntleʼkepmxcín, Thompson River, Thompson Salish, Thompson, known in frontier times as the Hakamaugh, Klackarpun, Couteau or Knife Indians

Central

• Colville, Sinixt (Senjextee, Sin Aikst, or Lakes Band), Sanpoil, Okanagan, and Methow, all of whom speak Nxsəlxcin.

Eastern

• Spokane, Kalispel, and the Flathead, including the Bitterroot, all of whom speak Montana Salish.

Southern

• Sinkiuse-Columbia, Entiat, Wenatchi, and Chelan, all of whom speak Columbia-Moses, also known as Nxaảmxcín, Sinkiuse-Columbia, Sinkiuse, Columbia.
• Coeur d'Alene people, also known as Schitsu'umsh or Skitswish (Coeur d'Alene language).

Western

• Coastal Salish has been given is own section at Coast_Salish which has been divided farther into 30+ other Salishan speaking populations of the PNW.

Many speakers and students of these languages live near the city of Spokane and for the past three years have gathered at the Celebrating Salish Conference which is hosted by the Kalispel Tribe at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

See also

In Spanish: Lenguas salish del interior para niños

• Coast Salish languages