Gwich’in

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A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
gwi
Alternate Names
Kutchin, Loucheux, Takudh, Tukkuthkutchin, Tukudh
Autonym
Dinju Zhuh K’yuu
User Population

260 in Canada (2016 census). Ethnic population: 1,900 (Krauss 2007). Total users in all countries: 560.

Location

Northwest Territories: Aklavik, Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson; Yukon Territory: Old Crow.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Statutory language of provincial identity in NWT (1988, NWT Official Languages Act, Chapter 56 (Supplemented), Section 4). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Gwichya Gwich’in, Inuvik Native, Tetlit Gwich’in, Vuntut Gwitchin.

Classification
Eyak-Athabaskan, Athabaskan, Northern Athabaskan
Dialects

Fort Yukon Gwich’in, Arctic Village Gwich’in, Western Canada Gwich’in (Loucheux, Takudh, Tukudh), Arctic Red River.

Language Use

Still vigorous in a few communities. Taught in school at Old Crow since 1970s (Golla 2007). Adults only. All shifting to English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Literature. Dictionary. Bible: 1898.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gwich’in
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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