Yakama

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A language of United States

ISO 639-3
yak
Alternate Names
Ichishkíin, Waptailmim, Yakima
User Population

25 (Golla 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 8,000 (1977 SIL).

Location

Washington: Toppenish, on Yakima Reservation, south central.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct). Language of registered tribe: Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.

Classification
Sahaptian, Sahaptin
Dialects

Klikitat.

Language Use

Elderly only. Most shifted to English [eng].

Language Development

Radio. Heritage College in Toppenish offers 2 levels of Yakama language instruction. Tribal museum offers occasional classes (Golla 2007).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Yakama
Other Comments

Together with Upper Cowlitz and Klikitat, sometimes called Northwest Sahaptin.