NORTH AMERICA

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  Canada Algonquin 2,275 (1998 Statistics Canada). Less than 10% monolinguals. Ethnic population: 5,000. Southwestern Quebec, northwest of Ottawa and in adjacent areas of Maniwaki and Golden Lake, Ontario. Some usage in religious services. Only used in administration and commerce at local community level. Some use of Algonquin as a teaching medium in kindergarten. In the east, Algonquin is the principal means of communication, and spoken by the majority of all ages. In the west, most adults speak Algonquin, young adults may prefer the national language, and children prefer the national language, although some may speak Algonquin. Positive language attitude. Most are bilingual with many (over 25%) multilingual. Speakers use English, French, or Southern East Cree. Literacy rate in first language: 30% to 60%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. Taught in primary schools. Spoken and written forms are studied some in secondary school. Roman script. NT: 1998. Hills, plains. Boreal forest. Hunters; guides; community workers; miners; loggers; agriculturalists. Christian.
    Tukudh 430 in Canada (1998 Statistics Canada). Population includes 300 in Northwest Territories, and 100 in Yukon. 300 in the USA, Northeastern Alaska on Yukon River and tributaries. 5 villages: Fort Yukon, Chalkyitsik, Birch Creek, Venetie, and Arctic Village. Vigorous in a few communities. Most adults speak the language. In a few communities used by all ages. Elsewhere younger tend to prefer English.
    Copper Eskimo 4,000 speakers in Central Canadian Arctic, and west to the Mackenzie Delta and coastal area, including Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic coast north of Inuvik (but not Inuvik and Aklavik, and coastal area). Vigorous in Caribou and Netsilik. In Commer and farther west, parent and grandparent generations speak the language. Literacy rate in first language: 25% to 50%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. NT: 1983.
    Cree James Bay 7,306 speakers in Quebec, southeastward from James Bay, inland to the height of land (watershed) east of Lake Mistissini. Coastal communities of Waskaganish, some speakers in Eastmain. Inland, in Mistissini, Waswanipi, Nemaska, and Ouje-Bougoumo. Palatalized y-dialect within Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi language complex or dialect cluster. Sometimes classified as Montagnais. Vigorous. All domains. Speakers also use English. Literacy rate in first language: 15% to 20%. Literacy rate in second language: 50%. Language of instruction in lower grades, taught as a subject in upper grades. Cree syllabary, eastern finals. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2001.
    Cree Moose 4,500 speakers Southern tip of James Bay, Moosonee, Ontario. This community and surrounding area (Moose Factory, Ontario). Has speakers of Moose Cree, East Cree, and Swampy Cree in it. Vigorous. Speakers also use English. Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. Cree syllabary, eastern finals. Grammar. NT: 1876.
    Cree Western 34,000 speakers in Canada, North central Manitoba westward across Saskatchewan and central Alberta to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Vigorous in many communities mainly in the north. All ages. Speakers also use English. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. Cree syllabary. Grammar. Bible: 1861–1908.
    Dogrib 2,110 (2001 SIL). Ethnic population: 3,220. Between Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, 6 communities (Rae-Edzo, Whati (formerly Lac la Martre), Rae Lakes, Snare Lake, Detah and Ndilo (a subcommunity of Yellowknife)). Rae is the center. Adults prefer to use Dogrib in most contexts. All ages. Monolinguals include children and older adults. 16% speak a little English; 37% speak both Dogrib and English, but speak Dogrib better; 14% speak both languages equally; 9% speak both, but speak English better; 7% speak English and a little Dogrib; 3% are monolingual in English (children), 12% are monolingual in Dogrib. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2003. SOV. Canadian shield. 100 meters. Hunters; trappers.
    Inuktitut : Arctic 14,000 speakers. Ethnic population: 17,500. West of Hudson Bay and east through Baffin Island, Quebec, and Labrador. Vigorous except in Labrador, where less than half are speakers. In Labrador the youngest speakers average over 20 years old, except for possibly a few children at Nain. Literacy rate in first language: 10% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. Bible: 1826–1871. In Northern Quebec and the Northwest Territories to the Central Arctic, it is spoken by over 90% of the population. Inuit is the name of the people, Inuktitut of the language.
    Micmac 7,310 speakers in Canada, Central and northern Nova Scotia. The mainland has 6 major villages: Afton, Picto, Truro, Shubanakati, Bear River, and Yarmouth, and some small communities; Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia with 5 major villages: Memberto, Eskasoni, Chapel Island, Wakmatkug, and Waikoqomaq; and one small village: Prince Edward Island; the east coast of New Brunswick: Fort Folly, Big Cove, Indian Island, Burnt Church, Eel Ground, Red Bank, Pabino Falls, and Eel River Bar; and eastern Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, with 3 villages: Gespe'q, Gesgapeqiaq, and Listuguj; and Newfoundland with 1 major village: Conn River.1,200 in the USA, Northern Maine near Fort Fairfield, Boston, Massachusetts. There are some communities where only older adults speak Micmac. In 5 communities the language has virtually ceased being used, 4 in English areas (Shubenagadie, Truro, Eel River Bar, Pabineo) and the fifth in Gaspe, Quebec where the second language is French. In larger areas children tend to begin speaking some Micmac, except in Listuguj, where some families are educating their children in French. In some communities, such as Gesgapegiaq, usage is more vigorous. Used in prayers, songs, and readings. Most adults speak Micmac. Many adults below 35 do not speak it. Younger ones may prefer English. Most children learn English first, but there is an effort in many communities to teach children Micmac. The people express the desire to maintain Micmac. There are no monolinguals. In Gesgapegiaq a good number speak Micmac, English, and French. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. 800 or more readers, 200 who can write it. Oral and written courses exist in most schools in the primary grades. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1874–1998. Forest. Fishermen; lumbermen. Christian, traditional religion.
    Ojibwe-Saulteaux 10,000 speakers (2002 Poser). Ethnic population: 60,000. Westward from Lake Winnipeg into Saskatchewan with outlying groups as far west as British Colombia. Vigorous in most areas. In some areas young people and children prefer English. All ages in many areas. Literacy rate in first language: 30% to 60%.
         
  USA Navajo 148,530 speakers including 7,616 monolinguals (1990 census) out of 219,198 ethnic Navaho Vigorous in some families. First-language speakers among first graders are 30% versus 90% in 1968 (1998). Bible: 1985–2000. The people prefer the name 'Din้'.
    Choctaw 17,890 speakers including 11,140 in Oklahoma (1998), 6,750 fluent speakers in Mississippi Recent reports indicate that Choctaw speakers find Chickasaw to be unintelligible. 24 years old and older in Oklahoma. Children are being raised speaking Choctaw in Mississippi. Vigorous in Mississippi, but some children prefer English. The Houma are 12,000 racially mixed descendents of a Choctaw subgroup in southern Louisiana who speak a dialect of Cajun French, and no longer speak Choctaw. More Choctaw are registering with the BIA now than previously (R.S. Williams). Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. NT 1848.
    Inupiaq Ethnic population: 8,000.Norton Sound and Point Hope, Alaska. Also spoken in Canada, Mackenzie delta region including Aklavik and Inuvik. Most speakers older than 40 years. Younger speakers prefer English. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1968.
         
  Haiti Haitian 6,964,549 speakers in Haiti Official language. Vigorous. Speakers also use French. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1985. In 1961 it was granted legal and educational status in Haiti. A growing literature, including poetry. Lower social status than Standard French. SVO; prepositions; articles after noun heads.