Languages of the Washington  Indigenous People

The Columbia Plateau is a region of rich linguistic diversity, home to numerous Indigenous peoples who speak a variety of languages. These languages are primarily grouped into several major families. Here's a breakdown of the tribes and the languages they speak on the Columbia Plateau:

Sahaptian Language Family

The Sahaptian languages are spoken by tribes located in the southern part of the Columbia Plateau, encompassing areas in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 * Nez Perce: They speak the Nez Perce language.

 * Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation: This confederation includes the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes. They speak Southern Sahaptin dialects.

 * Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation: This is a confederation of 14 tribes and bands, including the Yakama, Klickitat, Palouse, and others. They speak dialects of Sahaptin, with the Yakama dialect being one of the most prominent.

 * Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs: This confederation includes the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes. The Warm Springs bands speak a dialect of Sahaptin.

Interior Salish Language Family

The Interior Salish languages are spoken by a large number of tribes in the northern part of the Columbia Plateau, extending from the interior of British Columbia down into Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

 * Coeur d'Alene Tribe: They speak the Coeur d'Alene language, also known as Snchitsu'umshtsn.

 * Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: This confederation is comprised of 12 bands, including the Colville, Nespelem, Sanpoil, and Okanagan people. They speak a dialect of the Okanagan language known as Colville-Okinawa.

 * Spokane Tribe of Indians: They speak the Spokane dialect of the larger Spokane-Kalispel-Flathead language.

 * Kalispel Tribe of Indians: This tribe includes the Kalispel and Pend d'Oreille people. They speak dialects of the Spokane-Kalispel-Flathead language.

 * Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation: This confederation includes the Bitterroot Salish (Flathead) and the Pend d'Oreille. They speak dialects of the Spokane-Kalispel-Flathead language.

 * Okanagan Nation Alliance: This alliance includes several First Nations in British Columbia and the Colville Tribes in Washington. They speak dialects of the Okanagan language.

 * Other Interior Salish speaking peoples include the Shuswap (Secwepemc), Lillooet (St'at'imc), and Thompson (Nlaka'pamux) First Nations primarily in British Columbia.

Chinookan Language Family

The Chinookan languages were historically spoken along the lower and middle Columbia River. While many of these languages are now extinct or have very few speakers, they are culturally significant.

 * Wasco-Wishram: These two closely related tribes traditionally lived along the Columbia River Gorge. They are part of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Yakama Nation. Their language is known as Kiksht.

 * Other Chinookan-speaking peoples historically included the Cathlamet, Clackamas, and Multnomah.

Kutenai (Ktunaxa) Language

The Kutenai language is a language isolate, meaning it is not related to any other known language.

 * Kootenai Tribe of Idaho: Located in Idaho.

 * Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation: The Kootenai people are part of this confederation in Montana.

 * Ktunaxa Nation Council: Represents several Ktunaxa First Nations in southeastern British Columbia.

It is important to note that many of these languages are critically endangered, with a small number of fluent speakers. However, the tribes are actively engaged in language revitalization efforts to pass their linguistic heritage on to future generations. 

Chinook Jargon

What is Chinook Jargon?

Chinook Jargon is a pidgin language, which means it's a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between groups that do not have a common language. It's not the native tongue of any single group but rather a hybrid created for a specific purpose—in this case, trade and inter-tribal communication.

Its vocabulary is primarily a mix of several languages:

 * Lower Chinookan: The foundational vocabulary comes from the language of the Chinookan peoples who lived near the mouth of the Columbia River.

 * Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka): A significant number of words were contributed by this Indigenous group from the west coast of Vancouver Island.

 * French: Introduced by French-Canadian fur traders (voyageurs).

 * English: Became more prominent after the arrival of American and British traders and settlers.

 * Other Indigenous Languages: Words from Salish and Sahaptian languages were also incorporated.

Chinook Jargon has a relatively simple grammatical structure and a small vocabulary of a few hundred words, making it easy to learn and use for practical, everyday communication.

Who Used It and Why?

Originally developed among Indigenous tribes for trade along the lower Columbia River, the use of Chinook Jargon exploded with the arrival of European and American fur traders in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

It became the primary language of communication for:

 * Traders and Trappers: Fur companies like the Hudson's Bay Company adopted it as the official language of trade.

 * Indigenous Peoples: Members of dozens of different tribes with mutually unintelligible languages used it to communicate with each other and with non-Natives. For the diverse peoples of the Columbia Plateau and coastal regions, it was an essential tool.

 * Pioneers and Settlers: Newcomers to the region learned Chinook Jargon to interact with local tribes and conduct business.

 * Missionaries: Used the jargon to communicate and preach to various Indigenous groups.

At its peak in the late 19th century, it's estimated that as many as 100,000 people spoke Chinook Jargon, from Alaska down to Oregon and from the Pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains.

Legacy and Current Status

The use of Chinook Jargon declined as English became more widespread and the traditional trading networks and social structures were disrupted. However, it has left a lasting legacy:

 * Place Names: Many places in the Pacific Northwest have names derived from Chinook Jargon, such as Cultus Lake ("cultus" meaning worthless or bad) and Tillamook (a tribal name adapted through the jargon).

 * Regional Slang: Some words have entered the English vocabulary of the region, like "skookum" (strong, powerful, or good) and "cheechako" (a newcomer or tenderfoot).

Today, Chinook Jargon is not widely spoken, but it is not entirely gone. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Oregon have an active language revitalization program, teaching it to a new generation to preserve this unique and important part of their cultural heritage. It stands as a powerful testament to the complex interactions and adaptability of the people who shaped the history of the Pacific Northwest.