Michif

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A language of United States

ISO 639-3

crg

Alternate Names

French Cree, Mitchif

Population

75 in United States (2010 census), decreasing. L2 users: 0. Total users in all countries: 545.

Location

North Dakota: Turtle Mountain Reservation.

Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct). Language of registered tribe: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota.

Classification

Mixed language, French-Cree

Dialects

None known. Reportedly most similar to Plains Cree [crk]. Several varieties in Canada.

Language Use

Elderly only. Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Taught for decades at Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, North Dakota (Golla 2007).

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Michif

Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Spoken by some descendants of the children of Indian women and French fur traders.

Also spoken in:

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Canada

Language nameMichif

Population Full

470 in Canada (2016 census). L2 users: 0.

Location

Manitoba province: scattered, a short distance from the United States border.

Alternate Names

French Cree, Métis

Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

Elderly only. Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Some bilingual programs in local schools. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan there are Michif courses for adults (Golla 2007).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by some descendants of the children of Indian women and French fur traders.

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Ethnologue

Michif

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A language of United States

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