Indigenous Peoples Thematic Series
Indigenous Language Families: Tsimshian languages
Text begins
This report is a collaborative research project between Statistics Canada and the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages. It is intended to provide a general overview on the vitality, acquisition and use of Indigenous languages belonging to the Tsimshian language family. For more information on the work of OCIL see Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages - Home.
End of text boxTsimshian languages
The languages of Gitxsan (Gitksan), Nisga'a and Tsimshian are all collectively held within the Tsimshian language family. Speakers of these languages are mainly found near the northwestern coast of British Columbia; and in the case of Tsimshian, into the southern tip of Alaska since 1887 when people migrated there from Canada.Note
Within this report the following Tsimshian languages are presented:
- Gitxsan (Gitksan)
- Nisga'a
- Tsimshian
Summary language statistics are provided for these languages in table 2.
Knowledge and mother tongue
In 2021, there were 2,665 people who reported that they could speak a Tsimshian language well enough to conduct a conversation. The number of those who reported that a Tsimshian language was their mother tongue—that is, the language first learned as a child and still understood—was 1,595.
The largest group within the Tsimshian language family was those who spoke Gitxsan (Gitksan), with 1,140 speakers and 775 people having Gitxsan (Gitksan) as their mother tongue; this was followed by Nisga'a (1,110 speakers and 610 mother tongue), and Tsimshian (465 speakers and 210 mother tongue).
Age is a useful indicator of the degree to which languages are transmitted from one generation to the next. A language with a younger age profile typically means that younger people continue to learn and speak the language at a rate commensurate with older generations. The average age of Tsimshian language speakers was 47 years, which was lower than the age of those who reported it as their mother tongue (53 years). On average, Tsimshian language speakers were older than all Indigenous language speakers, as the average age of all of those who could speak an Indigenous language was 37 years.
The vast majority of all Tsimshian language speakers lived in British Columbia. This was true of those who spoke Gitxsan (Gitksan) (98.7%), Nisga'a (97.3%) and Tsimshian (97.8%).
Data table for Map 1
| Tsimshian language | Number of Census subdivisions |
|---|---|
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | |
| Gitxsan (Gitksan) | 19 |
| Nisga'a | 12 |
| Tsimshian | 15 |
Home use and second-language speakers
The extent to which people speak a language at home is an important indicator of language maintenance and its overall health. In 2021, 1,435 people spoke a Tsimshian language at home. For the majority of this group (80.1%), a Tsimshian language was spoken at home on a regular basis; while for the other 19.5% it was spoken most often at home. Chart 1 shows the share of a Tsimshian language speakers who spoke an Indigenous language most often or regularly at home; it is organized by the average age of the mother tongue population in order to show variations on the relationship between the age of speakers and their likelihood of using the language at home.
Data table for Chart 1
| Spoken most often at home | Spoken regularly at home | |
|---|---|---|
| percent | ||
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | ||
| Nisga'a | 10.4 | 47.7 |
| Tsimshian | 3.2 | 45.2 |
| Gitxsan (Gitksan) | 13.6 | 38.6 |
The continuity index is a measure of language retention. It compares the number of people who speak a given language at home divided by the number who have that same language as a mother tongue, expressed per 100 people. A figure of more than 100 means that more people spoke the language at home than had it as a mother tongue, while a figure that is less than 100 means that fewer people speak it at home than had it as a mother tongue. For the Tsimshian languages family, using only the language spoken most often at home, the continuity index was 18, in 2021.
Just under half of Tsimshian language speakers learned their language as their mother tongue. This was true of 48.4% of all people who could speak a Tsimshian language well enough to conduct a conversation. The remaining 51.6% of speakers are classified as “second-language speakers” (see chart 2 for the share of second language speakers for specific languages); however, this designation should not be taken literally as this group could include those who learned a Tsimshian language as a third or fourth language.
Data table for Chart 2
| Second language | |
|---|---|
| percent | |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | |
| Nisga'a | 50.5 |
| Tsimshian | 62.0 |
| Gitxsan (Gitksan) | 48.0 |
In general, those who learn their language as a mother tongue are more likely to use it at home than those who have acquired it as a second language. Table 3 shows the share of home use for those who learned a Tsimshian language as a mother tongue and those who learned it as a second language. Among those who learned a Tsimshian language as their mother tongue, 55.4% spoke the language at home (15.9% most often and 39.1% on a regular basis). Among second-language speakers, 52.7% spoke the language at home (5.5% most often and 47.3% on a regular basis). Home use among second-language speakers is an important indicator of revitalization, in relation to restoring the intergenerational transmission of Indigenous languages.
Silent speakers
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) defines silent speakers as “…people who have a good understanding of their language but do not speak it. There are many kinds of silent speakers, including people who spoke their language before attending residential school or people who grew up hearing their language and understand it, but do not speak it.”Note This indicator is useful in the work toward the reclamation and recovery of Indigenous languages.
An additional 310 people who reported that a Tsimshian language was their mother tongue were no longer able to speak the language well enough to conduct a conversation; for the purposes of this study, these people are classified as “silent speakers”—those who can no longer conduct a conversation in their mother tongue, but still understand it, nonetheless. This group made up 19.4% of all of those with a Tsimshian language as their mother tongue.
Language of work
The Census of Population also collects information on the languages that people use most often at work. Among all employed persons, aged 15 years and over, who could speak a Tsimshian language, 4.6% reported that it was the language they used most often at work. Another 12.6% said that they spoke a Tsimshian language at work on a regular basis.
Tsimshian language-specific vitality summary
The following is a summary of the vitality of each of the languages discussed in this report, using the indicators of knowledge, mother tongue, the average ages of those with a mother tongue, second language speakers and silent speakers, the share of speakers who learned their language as a mother tongue and the proportion of those who speak their language most often or regularly at home. Together these are important indicators of language maintenance and revitalization.
Nisga'a had 1,110 speakers. There were 610 people who reported it as their mother tongue. While those with a mother tongue had an average age of 51 years, the average age of second language speakers was 38 years and the average age of silent speakers was 51 years. Less than half (49.1%) of its speakers acquired their language as a mother tongue. Among home users, 17.8% spoke it most often and 82.2% spoke it regularly.
Tsimshian had 465 speakers. There were 210 people who reported it as their mother tongue. While those with a mother tongue had an average age of 54 years, the average age of second language speakers was 40 years and the average age of silent speakers was 60 years. Less than four-in-ten (37.6%) of its speakers acquired their language as a mother tongue. Among home users, 6.5% spoke it most often and 91.3% spoke it regularly.
Gitxsan (Gitksan) had 1,140 speakers. There were 775 people who reported it as their mother tongue. While those with a mother tongue had an average age of 55 years, the average age of second language speakers was 42 years and the average age of silent speakers was 44 years. Just over half (51.8%) of its speakers acquired their language as a mother tongue. Among home users, 26.1% spoke it most often and 73.9% spoke it regularly.
Start of text boxAbout this report
This report is based on data from the 2021 Census of Population long-form questionnaire, which collected information for the population in private households. To ensure the confidentiality of responses collected for the census, a random rounding process is used to alter the values reported in individual cells. As a result, when these data are summed or grouped, the total value may not match the sum of the individual values since the total and subtotals are independently rounded. Similarly, percentage distributions, which are calculated on rounded data, may not necessarily add up to 100%.
Because of random rounding, counts and percentages may vary slightly between different census products such as the analytical documents, highlight tables and data tables. While the effect of random rounding is generally negligible it may have a greater effect on certain populations, such as languages with smaller numbers of speakers.
Furthermore, languages with low numbers of speakers are suppressed to protect the confidentiality of respondents to the census questionnaire. As a result, these languages are collectively disseminated through the label of languages “not included elsewhere (n.i.e.)”.
Self-reporting of language data
Like all items on the census questionnaire, the language questions on the 2021 Census of Population are based on self-reporting. Therefore, responses to indicators—such as the ability to speak a language well enough to conduct a conversation—may vary depending upon the respondent, even among those with similar linguistic backgrounds. The issue of self-reporting also intersects with the fact that some respondents report the language(s) they speak within broad categories, while others report more specifically.
For more information language concepts, see Languages Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021 (statcan.gc.ca)
Incomplete enumeration
During the 2021 Census of Population, 63 census subdivisions defined as reserves and settlements were incompletely enumerated. For these reserves and settlements, enumeration either was not permitted or could not be completed for various reasons, such as evacuations because of forest fires or access restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Counts of speakers for some languages were more impacted by incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements than others. For example, the Tsuu T’ina language and Iroquoian languages, such as Mohawk and Cayuga, are undercounted as reserves and settlements associated with these languages did not participate in the census. Regionally, other languages may be more impacted than others.
For more information on incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements, see Appendix 1.5 – Incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements in the Guide to the Census of Population, 2021.
| Number | Percent | Average age | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
| Able to speak Indigenous language well enough to conduct a conversation | 2,665 | ... not applicable | 47 |
| Indigenous language as mother tongue | 1,595 | ... not applicable | 53 |
| Able to speak Indigenous language well enough to conduct a conversation | 2,665 | 100.0 | 47 |
| Learned Indigenous language as mother tongue and still speak the language | 1,290 | 48.4 | 54 |
| Learned Indigenous language as second language | 1,375 | 51.6 | 40 |
| Second language index | ... not applicable | 167 | ... not applicable |
| Indigenous language as mother tongue | 1,595 | 100.0 | 53 |
| Can still speak Indigenous mother tongue | 1,285 | 80.6 | 55 |
| Silent speakers (mother tongue but can no longer speak) | 310 | 19.4 | 49 |
| Speaks Indigenous language at home | 1,435 | 100.0 | 46 |
| Speaks Indigenous language most often at home | 280 | 19.5 | 57 |
| Speaks Indigenous language at home on a regular basis | 1,150 | 80.1 | 43 |
| Continuity index (includes only language spoken most often at home) | ... not applicable | 18 | ... not applicable |
| Employed speakers aged 15 years and over | 875 | 100.0 | 47 |
| Speaks Indigenous language most often at work | 40 | 4.6 | 54 |
| Speaks Indigenous language at work on a regular basis | 110 | 12.6 | 48 |
| Does not speak Indigenous language at work | 730 | 83.4 | 47 |
| Knowledge of Indigenous language | Indigenous mother tongue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | average age | number | average age | |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | ||||
| Tsimshian languages | 2,665 | 47 | 1,595 | 53 |
| Gitxsan (Gitksan) | 1,140 | 51 | 775 | 55 |
| Nisga'a | 1,110 | 44 | 610 | 51 |
| Tsimshian | 465 | 44 | 210 | 54 |
| Number | Percent | Average age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | |||
| Learned Tsimshian language as mother tongue | 1,290 | 100.0 | 54 |
| Speaks Tsimshian language at home | 715 | 55.4 | 55 |
| Speaks Tsimshian language most often at home | 205 | 15.9 | 61 |
| Speaks Tsimshian language at home on a regular basis | 505 | 39.1 | 52 |
| Does not speak Tsimshian language at home | 575 | 44.6 | 54 |
| Learned Tsimshian language as second language | 1,375 | 100.0 | 40 |
| Speaks Tsimshian language at home | 725 | 52.7 | 37 |
| Speaks Tsimshian language most often at home | 75 | 5.5 | 43 |
| Speaks Tsimshian language at home on a regular basis | 650 | 47.3 | 36 |
| Does not speak Tsimshian language at home | 650 | 47.3 | 44 |
Data table for Map 2
| Number of speakers | Number of Census subdivisions |
|---|---|
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | |
| 10 - 100 | 14 |
| 101 - 235 | 5 |
Data table for Map 3
| Number of speakers | Number of Census subdivisions |
|---|---|
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | |
| 10 - 100 | 10 |
| 101 - 500 | 1 |
| 501 - 645 | 1 |
Data table for Map 4
| Number of speakers | Number of Census subdivisions |
|---|---|
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | |
| 10 - 100 | 14 |
| 101 - 110 | 1 |
- Date modified: