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Many people around the world are aware that Canada has two official languages: English and French. However, what is lesser known is the fact that these are not the only official languages in the country, nor are they the only languages that are locally spoken. There are various Indigenous languages spoken by the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples on the land that is now known as Canada. When visiting or living in Canada, it is not uncommon, therefore, to see or hear about such languages in everyday life, such as on surrounding street signs, art installations, buildings, or even on local television broadcasts.

While immersed in Canadian culture, you might come across some of the following Indigenous languages; these are the most spoken in each Canadian region (listed geographically from left to right, according to a 2021 census).

YUKON

Nestled next to the American state of Alaska in the Canadian territory of Yukon, lives an Indigenous population that makes up 22.3% of its land’s residents. Among these residents, three Indigenous languages stand out as the most spoken: Kaska (otherwise known as Nahani), Northern Tutchone, and Tlingit.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Doubling its neighbour, Yukon, the northwest Canadian territory, aptly named Northwest Territories, is home to a population of peoples whose Indigenous community makes up 49.6% of its residents. While it may be comparatively close in proximity to the Indigenous groups in Yukon, its three most spoken Indigenous languages are different: Tlicho (also known as Dogrib), Slavey, and Dene.

NUNAVUT

In the youngest Canadian territory–though its Indigenous history goes back millennia–Nunavut has the highest percentage of Indigenous peoples living on its land: 85.8%. Among the Nunavummiut, two Indigenous languages remain most widely spoken: Inuktitut and INuinnAQtun.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Drastically decreasing in population size, the percentage of Indigenous peoples living in the westcoast province of British Columbia is 5.9%. Within this statistic lives lively cultures of people, such as those that speak Dakelh (also referred to as Carrier), Halkomelem and Gitxsan (or Gitsan).

ALBERTA

To the right of BC lies the bordered land of Alberta, where 6.8% of its population is Indigenous, and where Cree, Blackfoot and nehiYAwewin (Plains Cree) are the most spoken Indigenous languages.

SASKATCHEWAN

Rising in residency, 17% of Saskatchewan’s population is Indigenous, and among these residents, Indigenous languages such as Cree and Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree) share in Alberta’s most spoken category, including Dene, one of the most spoken Indigenous tongues of the Northwest Territories.

MANITOBA

Not far from Saskatchewan, the largest groups of Indigenous language speakers start to shift as Cree, Oji-Cree and Ojibway contribute to Manitoba’s 18.1% Indigenous population.

ONTARIO

But then numbers take a dramatic dip in Ontario, where 2.9% of the population is Indigenous. There, the most commonly spoken Indigenous tongues incude Ojibway and Oji-Cree (like in Manitoba), and Cree (like in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta). Despite these languages being the most popular of Ontario, one would be remiss not to mention the Indigenous language of Anishinaabemowin (otherwise known as Chippewa), which is beginning to see a consistent representation in Ontarian affairs, when compared to other Indigenous people groups.

QUEBEC

Making our way up north again, Quebec reaches into the waters of Nunavut, sharing in the territory’s most spoken language of Inuktitut–though its Indigenous population is lower at 2.5%. This should be expected, however, as the land now known as Quebec borders that of Ontario, additionally bringing with it Cree as a standout language among Indigenous people there, not to mention Innu (otherwise known as Montagnais).

NEW BRUNSWICK

Entering the Maritimes, we see 4.4% of the population of New Brunswick to be Indigenous. Among the Indigenous groups there, Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqewi (also known as Malecite) and Inuktitut are spoken, including a language that serves much historical prominence in both Indigenous and colonial education throughout the land now called Canada: Michif.

NOVA SCOTIA

Moving farther east, Nova Scotia sees a 5.5% population of Indigenous people, who speak, in the majority at least, Mi’kmaq, Inuktitut and Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree).

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Crossing waters, we see a 2.2% Indigenous population in the province of Prince Edward Island. There, Mi’kmaq and Inuktitut also make the top spoken Indigenous languages.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Lastly, the easternmost Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador shows an Indigenous population of 9.3%, and within this Innu (Montagnais), Inuktitut and Mi’kmaq chart in the top three Indigenous languages spoken.

Which of these Indigenous languages had you heard of before reading this blog post? What are the names of some of the languages that are indigenous to the land where you live? Practice your English by letting me know in the comments below.

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ATTRIBUTION

Thumbnail image (replica totem pole of Kwakwaka’wakw artist Charlie James (early 1900s), Brockton Point, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia) courtesy of Peter Graham, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

SOURCES

The Most Spoken Indigenous Languages In Canada