BLACKFOOT: a language of Canada

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: BLC

ISO 639-2: bla

Population	4,745 mother tongue speakers in Canada (1998 Statistics Canada) out of 15,000 population including USA (1977 SIL). Population total both countries 5,800.
Region	Blackfoot, Piegan, and Blood Reserves in southern Alberta. Also spoken in USA.
Alternate names	PIKANII, BLACKFEET
Dialects	PIEGAN, BLOOD.
Classification	Algic, Algonquian, Plains.
Comments	In some places Blackfoot is the principal language for older adults. Children and young adults tend to prefer English. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions 1890-1980.

Also spoken in:

USA

Language name	BLACKFOOT
Population	1,062 speakers in USA including 4 monolinguals (1990 census).
Alternate names	PIKANII, BLACKFEET
Dialects	PIEGAN, BLOOD.
Comments	Bilingualism in English. In USA most or all speakers are middle-aged or older. In Missoula, Montana, summer language classes are offered in Blackfoot. Bible portions 1890-1980. See main entry under Canada.