An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If a language loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct": Vulnerable Definitely endangered Severely endangered Critically endangered Table of Languages: LanguageStatusNumber of Native SpeakersLanguage FamilyProvince(s) / Territories SpokenAlgonquin/Anishinàbemiwin Vulnerable3,320 (2016)Algonquian languagesOntario, QuebecAivilingmiutut/AivilikVulnerableEskaleut languagesNunavutAssiniboineCritically endangered150 (2007)Siouan languagesSaskatchewan; Montana (United States)AtikamekwVulnerable6,200 (2016)Algonquian languagesQuebecBlackfoot/SiksikáDefinitely endangered2,900 (2016)Algonquian languagesAlberta; Montana (United States)BungeeCritically endangered< 200 (1993)Indo-European languages (Germanic languages)ManitobaCayuga (Canada)Critically endangered< 55 (2015)Iroquoian languagesOntario; New York (United States)Central OjibwaVulnerable8,000 (2007)Algonquian languagesOntarioChilcotin/Tsilhqotʹin Severely endangered860 (2014)Athabaskan languagesBritish ColumbiaChinook JargonCritically endangered1 (2013)Wakashan languagesBritish Columbia, Yukon; Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington (United States)Chipewyan/Dene/Dënesųłiné Vulnerable11,325 (2016)Athabaskan languagesAlberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, SaskatchewanComox-Sliammon/ʔayajuθəm Critically endangered~47 (2018)Salishan languagesBritish ColumbiaDakotaCritically endangered290 (2016)Siouan languagesManitoba, Saskatchewan; Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota (United States)Dane-zaa/Beaver Definitely endangered270 (2021)Dene–Yeniseian languagesAlberta, British ColumbiaDogrib/Tłı̨chǫ Definitely Endangered1,735 (2016)Athabaskan languagesNorthwest TerritoriesEastern Cree/James Bay CreeVulnerable400 (2016)Algonquian languagesQuebecEastern Ojibwe/OjibwaSeverely endangered26,000 (1998)Algonquian languagesOntarioGitxsanSeverely endangered1,020 (2016)Tsimshianic languagesBritish ColumbiaGwich'inSeverely endangered~560 (2007–2016)Athabaskan languagesNorthwest Territories, Yukon; Alaska (United States)HaislaCritically endangered240 (2014)Wakashan languagesBritish ColumbiaHalkomelem/Hul'qumi'num Severely endangered100–260 (2014)Salishan languagesBritish Columbia; Washington (United States)Hän/Han Critically endangered6 (2020)Athabaskan languagesYukon; Alaska (United States)Heiltsuk/Bella BellaCritically endangered220 (2016)Wakashan languagesBritish ColumbiaInnu/Eastern MontagnaisVulnerable10,075 (2016)Algonquian languagesLabrador, QuebecInuinnaqtunDefinitely endangered1,310 (2016)Eskaleut languagesNorthwest Territories, NunavutInuit Sign Language/InuiuukCritically endangered47 (2000)Language isolateNunavutInupiaq/Alaskan Inuit (Canada)Severely endangered1,250 (2023)Eskaleut languagesNorthwest Territories; Alaska (United States)KaskaSeverely endangered240 (2016)Athabaskan languagesBritish Columbia, Northwest Territories, YukonKivallirmiutut/KivalliqVulnerableEskaleut languagesNunavutKutenaiSeverely endangered345 (2010–2016)Language isolateBritish Columbia; Idaho, Montana (United States)Kwak'walaCritically endangered150 (2021)Wakashan languagesBritish ColumbiaLillooet/St̓át̓imcetsSeverely endangered120Salishan languagesBritish ColumbiaMalecite-PassamaquoddyDefinitely endangered310 (2021)Algonquian languagesNew Brunswick; Maine (United States)Maritime Sign LanguageCritically endangered90 (2009)BANZSLNew Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward IslandManiwaki Algonquin/Southern AnishinàbemiwinSeverely endangered3,330 (2016)Algonquian languagesOntario, QuebecMichifCritically endangered1,800 (2021)Plains Cree and Métis FrenchAlberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan; North Dakota (United States)Mi'kmaq/Migmaw(Canada)Vulnerable7,140 (2016)Algonquian languagesNew Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island; Maine (United States)Mohawk/Kanienʼkéha (Canada)Definitely endangered3,875 (2011–2016)Iroquoian languagesOntario, Quebec; New York (United States)Moose Cree/IlilîmowinVulnerable3,000 (2007)Algonquian languagesOntarioMunsee/Munsee Lenape/Ontario Delaware (Canada)Critically endangered1 (2022)Algonquian languagesOntarioNaskapi/Iyuw IyimuunVulnerable1,230 (2016)Algonquian languagesNewfoundland and Labrador, QuebecNatsilingmiutut/NetsilikVulnerableEskaleut languagesNunavutNisga'aSeverely endangered470 (2016)Tsimshianic languagesBritish ColumbiaNootka/Nuu-chah-nulth Severely endangered945 (2021)Wakashan languagesBritish ColumbiaNorth SlaveyDefinitely endangeredAthabaskan languagesNorthwest TerritoriesNorthern HaidaCritically endangeredLanguage isolateBritish Columbia; Alaska (United States)Northern TutchoneDefinitely endangered360 (2016)Athabaskan languagesYukonNorthwestern OjibweVulnerable20,000 (2000)Algonquian languagesManitoba, OntarioInuttitut/Nunatsiavummiutut/Nunatsiavut VulnerableEskaleut languagesNewfoundland and LabradorNuxalk/Bella CoolaCritically endangered17 (2014)Salishan languagesBritish ColumbiaOji-Cree/Severn OjibwaVulnerable13,630 (2016)Algonquian languagesManitoba, OntarioOkanaganDefinitely endangered125 (2007–2014)Salishan languagesBritish Columbia; Washington (United States)OneidaCritically endangered210 (2021)Iroquoian languagesOntario; New York, Wisconsin (United States)OnondagaCritically endangered40 (2007)Iroquoian languagesOntario; New York (United States)OdawaSeverely endangered5,108Algonquian languagesOntario; Michigan, Oklahoma (United States)Plains CreeVulnerable3,200 (2001–2016)Algonquian languagesAlberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan; Montana (United States)Potawatomi Critically endangered5 (2018)Algonquian languagesOntario; Indiana, Kansas Michigan, Oklahoma, Wisconsin (United States)Qikiqtaaluk Nigiani/South Baffin dialectVulnerableEskaleut languagesNunavutQikiqtaaluk Uannangani/North Baffin dialectVulnerableEskaleut languagesNunavutRigolet InuktitutCritically endangeredEskaleut languagesNunavutSarcee/TsuutʼinaCritically endangered80 (2016)Athabaskan languagesAlbertaSaulteaux/Nakawēmowin Vulnerable10,000 (2002)Algonquian languagesManitoba, SaskatchewanSecheltCritically endangered2 (2019)Salishan languagesBritish ColumbiaSekaniCritically endangered35 (2021)Athabaskan languagesBritish ColumbiaSeneca Critically endangered100 (2007)Iroquoian languagesOntario; New York (United States)Shuswap /SecwepemctsínDefinitely endangered200 (2014)Salishan languagesBritish ColumbiaSallirmiutunSeverely endangeredEskaleut languagesNorthwest TerritoriesSouth SlaveyDefinitely endangeredAthabaskan languagesNorthwest TerritoriesSouthern HaidaCritically endangeredLanguage isolateBritish Columbia; Alaska (United States)Southern TutchoneCritically endangered360 (2016)Athabaskan languagesYukonSquamish/Sḵwx̱wú7meshCritically endangered25 (2021)Salishan languagesBritish ColumbiaStoney/Nakota/NakodaVulnerable3,025 (2016)Siouan languagesAlbertaNorth Straits SalishSeverely endangered105 (2016)Salishan languagesBritish Columbia; Washington (United States)Swampy Cree/Maskekon/OmaškêkowakVulnerable1,805 (2016)Algonquian languagesOntarioTahltanCritically endangered235 (2021)Athabaskan languagesBritish ColumbiaThompson/Nlaka'pamuctsinSeverely endangered105 (2022)Salishan languagesBritish Columbia; Washington (United States)TlingitCritically endangered170 (2016–2020)Dene–Yeniseian languagesBritish Columbia, Yukon; Alaska, Washington (United States)Coast Tsimshian/Sm'álgyax Critically endangered278 (2020)Tsimshianic languagesBritish Columbia; Alaska (United States)Upper Tanana/NabesnaCritically endangered110 (1997–2007)Athabaskan languagesYukon; Alaska (United States)Western Abenaki/Aln8ba8dwaw8ganCritically endangered14 (2007–2012)Algonquian languagesQuebecWoods Cree/Bush CreeVulnerable1,800 (2016)Algonquian languagesManitoba, Saskatchewan
Changes in Canadian Endangered Languages Oneida Critically Endangered There is a "phonological process" in the Oneida language that has been passed down for generations. This process is described as the loss of voicing in the vowel of the last syllable of a word. It is vital to the preservation of the language, and has been changing among the speakers, such that some speakers have introduced a degree of voiced vowels in these final forms, which poses additional stress on the small population of speakers. The introduction of voicing the last syllable in words that typically are unvoiced changes the traditional morphology of the language, pushing the original dialect towards language death, especially since the majority of speakers are older in age. It is part of the Iroquoian language family.
Blackfoot Definitely Endangered The Blackfoot language features the loss of voicing in the last syllable of a word, which is typically inaudible. Certain inflections and the use of inaudible vowels has been identified as "old Blackfoot" (traditional), and are not in frequent use by younger speakers. Similarly, a minority of Blackfoot speakers use the "soundless" suffixes, which is pushing the traditional language towards more extreme language endangerment and potentially language death. It is part of the Algonquian language family.
Chipewyan Definitely Endangered The Chipewyan language exhibits morphological characteristics that are far more complex than the majority of European languages. This includes conditioning of tone and morphology of phonemes, as well as frequent contractions, elisions, metatheses, and consonantal substitutions. Chipewyan is mainly endangered due to its complex structure, which makes it difficult to decipher the morphological code, as well as the fact that the majority of the speakers are in their mid-late adulthood. It is part of the Athapaskan language family.
Assiniboine Also called Nakoda or Hohe Critically Endangered Assinibone is one of the language divisions out of five main language divisions within the Dakotan group of the Siouan family. The sound of this language differs from the other languages in the group because it merges voiceless stops with voiced stops. There are reports that syllabaries have been used by Assinibone speakers. The Assiniboine language is spread over 2 communities in Canada, and is mainly used by older adults.
Central Ojibwe Also called Anishinaabemowin, Ojibway, and Chippewa Definitely Endangered There are about 8,000 speakers of the Central Ojibwe language, and it is spread over 16 communities in Canada. The language is spoken from Ontario to Manitoba. It is also spoken in places from Michigan to Montana next to the Great Lakes which is the home of the Ojibwe people. The language today is spoken by people over the age of 70. The people of the Ojibwe language note that double vowels in their language are treated as standing for unit sounds, therefore they are alphabetized after corresponding single values.
Lakota Critically Endangered There are about 6,000 speakers in the Northern Plain States of North Dakota and South Dakota. Most native speakers are in their mid-50s. There is a growing interest to revitalize the language. At the Red Cloud Indian school, there are immersion classes for children to teach the language. However, at the moment, there are no children on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation that are fluent in the language. Within the next ten years, it is expected that there will be children fluent in Lakota. It is mutually intelligible with Dakota and part of the Siouan language family.
Dakota Definitely Endangered