enaksialak̓ala / a'’islak̓ala

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Language Family: Wakashan

Dialects: a'’islak̓ala, enaksialak̓ala

Language known as: Kitimat, Kitlope, Northern Kwakiutl, Haisla

The language that is known as both enaksialak̓ala and a'’islak̓ala and is spoken by the descendants of the Gitamaat and Kitlope bands in the Kitimat area of the northern coast of British Columbia. This language has been called "Haisla" by English speakers and is one of the Wakashan tongues, related closely to Kwak’wala."¹

For more resources see the enaksialak̓ala / a'’islak̓ala Resource Page

State of the Language

First Nation	Population	Fluent Speakers	Understand or Speak Somewhat	Learning Speakers
Haisla²	1615³	80	30	32
Kitamaat Village Council⁴	1677	242	21	81
Total	3292	322	51	113

Dialects

a'’islak̓ala

This dialect has been called: Kitamaat

The population of the village is drawn from a number of older communities, grouped loosely into those near the present site of the Kitamaat Village (Cʼimaucʼa). The families from these older communities that now reside at Kitamaat Village speak the dialect of a'’islak̓ala.⁵

enaksialak̓ala

This dialect has been called: Kitlope

The speakers of the enaksialak̓ala dialect of the Haisla language are from a group of communities along the Gardner Canal, including especially the Kitlope Valley. Accordingly the the enaksialak̓ala dialect is identified with the Kitlope area.⁵