Tsimshian
Tsimshian has been spoken at Metlakatla on Annette Island in the southeastern tip
of the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Panhandle since the people moved there from Canada in 1887 under the
leadership of missionary William Duncan.
Currently, of the 1,300 Tsimshian people living in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥, not more than 70 of the
most elderly speak the language.
Franz Boas did extensive research on the language in the early 1900s, and in 1977
the Metlakatlans adopted a standard practical orthography for use also by the Canadian
Coast Tsimshians.
Common Expressions
| way dankoo | thank you |
Links and Resources
- - Restoring Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian languages is a priority.
Learn More:
ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ is home to at least twenty distinct indigenous languages. More than just dialectal variants, these different languages reflect the cultural heritage of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥'s Native peoples. For more information about particular languages, click below.