Page Type: languageBlackfoot | Ethnologue

BLA ISO 639-3

Blackfoot

Siksiká Autonym

A language of Canada

ISO 639
bla
Alternate Names
Blackfeet, Niitsipowahsin, Pied Noir
Autonym
Siksiká
Population
2,820 in Canada (2016 census), decreasing. Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 15,000. Total users in all countries: 2,920.
Location:
Alberta province: Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan reserves.
Language Status
7 (Shifting). Language of recognized indigenous peoples: Blood, Piikani, Siksika.
Classification
Algic, Algonquian
Dialects
Pikanii (Peigan, Piegan), Kainai (Blood), Siksika (Siksikaipowahsin).
Typology
Animate/inanimate nouns; polysynthetic language; fairly free word order; inalienable/alienable possession.
Language Use
Some traditional ceremonies. Adults only. Positive attitudes. Shifting to English [eng]. Also use Plains Cree [crk].
Language Development
Efforts in some reserve schools to promote knowledge and use of Blackfoot. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1890–1980.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Blackfoot
Writing
Latin script [Latn]. Unified Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics script [Cans], no longer in use.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Blackfoot
User Population
100 in United States (2001 I. Goddard), decreasing. Ethnic population: 1,970 (2010 census).
Location
Montana: Blackfeet Reservation.
Dialects
Pikanii (Peigan, Piegan).
Language Status
8a (Moribund)
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: Alberta province: Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan reserves.