Tsimshian
Tsimshian has been spoken at Metlakatla on Annette Island in the southeastern tip
of the Alaska 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 Alaska, 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:
Alaska is home to at least twenty distinct indigenous languages. More than just dialectal variants, these different languages reflect the diverse cultural heritage of Alaska's Native peoples. For more information about particular languages, click below.