In the United States in this 3rd Millenium CE (Common Era) we continue to see and hear approximately 200 of our original First Nations languages spoken.  In Canada, there are approximately 60 Native languages that continue to be used, and in Central America, about 125 indigenous languages are commonly used.

 

As an expression of the many languages that we use under sovereign right, in spite of the violent histories of the mission, reservation and federal boarding schools, we know that our traditional cultural and spiritual roles are expressed in the names that remain unextinguished in our languages, along with our ceremonial roles and identities. 

 

Some of our names have been documented by Will Roscoe, PhD in one of his books, entitled:  Changing Ones.  What follows is a small representation.

St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, NY 1998

ISBN  0-312-17539-6

 

 

Inupiaq                             Sipiniq 

 

Aleut                                 Aijahnhuk        

 

Yupik                                aranu:tiq

 

Arapaho                            haxu’xan

 

Blackfoot                           Ake:śkassi

 

Cheyenne                          he’eman

 

Cree                                  a:yahkwew

 

Fox-sauk                           i-coo-coo-a

 

Miami                               waupeengwoatar

 

Miqmaq                            geenumu gesallagee

 

Ojibwa                              okitcitakwe

 

Apache                              Ńa-yėnnas-ganne

 

Santee/Dakota                   winktah

 

Crow                                 bate’

 

Hidatsa                             miati

 

Mandan                            Mih-dacka

 

Hoçak                               shiángge

 

Mohave                             alyha

 

Tewa                                 kwidő

 

Tlingit                              w″citc

 

Klamath                            tw!inna’ek

 

Tsimshian                         Kanâ’ts

 

Quinault                           keknatsa’nxwix″

 

Hopi                                 ho’vo

 

Luiseno                            cuit

 

N. Paiute                          t’ūbás

 

Pima-Papago                     wi:k’ovat

 

W. Shoshone                     tangwuwaip

 

Gosiute                            tuvasa

 

Ute                                  tuwásawits

 

Yuki                                 í-wa-musp

 

Acoma-Laguna                   qoqoymo

 

Kutenai                            kupalhke:tek

 

Zuni                                 lhamana