Saanich dialect

Saanich
SENĆOŦEN, Sənčáθən
Pronunciation[sənˈt͡ʃɑs̪ən]
Native toCanada, United States
RegionBritish Columbia, Washington
Native speakers
ca. 5 (2014)[1]
SENĆOŦEN
Sometimes NAPA
Official status
Official language in
Pauquachin
Tsawout
Tsartlip
Tseycum
Language codes
ISO 639-3(covered in [str] Straits Salish)
Glottologsaan1246
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PeopleW̱SÁNEĆ
LanguageSENĆOŦEN
CountryÁLEṈENEȻ (TŦE W̱SÁNEĆ)[2][3][4]

Saanich (also Sənčáθən, written as SENĆOŦEN in Saanich orthography and pronounced [sənˈt͡ʃɑs̪ən]) is the language of the First Nations Saanich people in the Pacific Northwest region of northwestern North America. Saanich is a Coast Salishan language in the Northern Straits dialect continuum, the varieties of which are closely related to the Klallam language.

  1. ^ There were 6 speakers of North Straits Salish in 8 of the 10 communities in 2014,[1] and 3 speakers of the only other surviving dialect in 2011.[2]
  2. ^ "Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE – Our Homeland". W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. W̱SÁNEĆ Nation. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  3. ^ "SENĆOŦEN Survival School". W̱SÁNEĆ School Board. W̱SÁNEĆ Nation. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  4. ^ W̱SÁNEĆ School Board; Swallow, Tye (30 November 2018). "Chapter 9 – Learning from the Homeland: An Emerging Process for Indigenizing Education". In Williams, Wanosts'a7 Lorna; Snively, Gloria (eds.). Knowing Home: Braiding Indigenous Science with Western Science, Book 2. ePublishing Services, University of Victoria Libraries. ÁLEṈENEȻ means "homeland" in the SENĆOŦEN language.