Gwich’in

Print

A language of Canada

ISO 639-3
gwi
Alternate Names
Kutchin, Loucheux, Tukudh
Population

370 in Canada (2011 census). Population total all countries: 670. Ethnic population: 1,900 (Krauss 2007).

Location

Northwest Territories: Aklavik, Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson; Yukon Territory, Old Crow. Also in United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Statutory language of provincial identity in NWT (1988, NWT Official Languages Act, Chapter 56(Supplemented), Section 4).

Classification
Eyak-Athabaskan, Athabaskan, Northern Athabaskan
Dialects

Arctic Red River, Arctic Village Gwich’in, Fort Yukon Gwich’in, Western Canada Gwich’in (Loucheux, Takudh, Tukudh).

Language Use

Still vigorous in a few communities. Taught in school at Old Crow since 1970s. Mainly adults. Also use English [eng].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1898.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gwich’in
Writing
Latin script.

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All