Blackfoot

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A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
bla
Alternate Names
Blackfeet, Niitsipowahsin, Pied Noir
Autonym
Siksiká
User Population

2,820 in Canada (2016 census), decreasing. Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 15,000. Total users in all countries: 2,920.

Location

Alberta province: Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan reserves.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Blood, Piikani, Siksika.

Classification
Algic, Algonquian
Dialects

Pikanii (Peigan, Piegan), Kainai (Blood), Siksika (Siksikaipowahsin).

Typology

Animate/inanimate nouns; polysynthetic language; fairly free word order; inalienable/alienable possession.

Language Use

Some traditional ceremonies. Adults only. Positive attitudes. Shifting to English [eng]. Also use Plains Cree [crk].

Language Development

Efforts in some reserve schools to promote knowledge and use of Blackfoot. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1890–1980.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Blackfoot
Writing

Latin script [Latn]. Unified Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics script [Cans], no longer in use.

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