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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: MOE
ISO 639-2: alg
| Population | 8,483 speakers (1987 Quebec Ministere de la Sante el des Services Sociaux), 5,866 in Western Montagnais, and 2,617 in Eastern Montagnais. 10,000 ethnic population (1996 D. Myers SIL). 9,070 mother tongue speakers of Montagnais and Naskapi (1998 Statistics Canada). |
| Region | 11 communities in Quebec and Labrador, from Lake St. John eastward along the Saquenay Valley to the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence eastward to St. Augustin, northward to the height of land at Schefferville and inland Labrador (Goose Bay, Lake Melville). Western Montagnais is in 4 communities: Mashteueiash (near Roberval, Quebec), Betsiamites, Uashat or Maliotenam (near Sept-Iles, Quebec), and Matimekush (near Schefferville, Quebec). The others speak Eastern Montagnais: Natashquan, Mingan, La Romaine, Pakuashipi (St. Augustine, Quebec, sometimes called Pakuashipu), and Sheshatshit (North-West River, Labrador). |
| Alternate names | INNU AIMUN, INNU |
| Dialects | WESTERN MONTAGNAIS, EASTERN MONTAGNAIS. |
| Classification | Algic, Algonquian, Central, Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi. |
| Comments | There are 2 or possibly 3 dialects based on the shifting of Proto-Algonuian /l/ (Southern Montagnais) to /n/ (Eastern Montagnais). Language complex or dialect continuum within Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi. Mashteuiatsh nearly all French-speaking. Speakers are fluent in Quebec English (Sheshatshiu) or French (other communities). All ages. Women of all ages and men over 55 are mainly not fluent in national languages: 3,000 people. Vigorous in all but 2 communities. Rapid shift occurring in communities close to national language cities. Strong use in lower north shore communities and Schefferville. The language is also called 'Innu' in northeast Quebec and Labrador. Culture was and is for the most part based on designated family hunting grounds visited seasonally. Hunting exploited a large variety of animals and fish, including extensive salt-water fishing. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75% in French or English. Standardized Roman orthography, based on French. Montagnais has been used as language of instruction in Betsiamites in recent past, and is taught as a subject in other classess. Taught as second language in 2 communities. Traditionally hunters, trappers, fishermen. NT 1990. |
