



Nuxalk
Nuxalk D is spoken by the people of the Nuxalk Nation who live primary in the Bella Coola valley on the central coast. The Nuxalk Nation territory is made up of an amalgamation of four main territorial divisions; Taliyuumc, Sutslhmc, Kwalhnmc and Nuxalkmc. Each group spoke the same language but had its own dialect. In the early 1900’s after the devastation of European influences the people of Taliyuumc, Sutslhmc, Kwalhnmc, moved to the Nuxalk village of Q’umk’uts’. From this event all of these ancestral divisions now use the designation of Nuxalkmc (Nuxalk people) as their nation’s name.1
State of the Language
Population:
14832 3
Fluent speakers: 401 Though the number of fluent speakers has not increased, the language is now taught in both the Provincial school system and the Nuxalk Nation's school, Acwsalcta (which means "a place of learning). Nuxalk language classes, if taken to at least the Grade 11 level, are considered adequate second language qualifications for entry to the major B.C. universities.
Footnotes / References
1. Tallio, C. (2008, June 4). Interview with Clyde Tallio. 2. This does not include people with Nuxalk ancestry who are registered with other First Nations. 3. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2008). First Nation Registered Population. 4. Language Data from Wuikinuxv Kitasoo Nuxalk Tribal Council (2014), Language Needs Assessment #3255 Audio Clip References A. axw ku kwmanu! - Nelson, Chris (2008). Nuxalk Language Archive. B. stutwiniitscw - Tallio, Clyde (2008). Nuxalk Language Archive. C. yaw smatmc - Nelson, Chris (2008). Nuxalk Language Archive. D. Nuxalk - Nelson, Chris (2008). Nuxalk Language Archive. |
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