Indigenous Peoples Thematic Series
Silent speakers of Indigenous languages in Canada: A socio-demographic and geographic analysis
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Introduction
Released data from the 2021 Census of Population have found that 14,020 people in Canada had an Indigenous mother tongue, but while still able to understand it, could no longer speak that language well enough to conduct a conversation. In language research and revitalization work, this situation is sometimes described using the concept of “silent speakers,” referring to individuals who have strong comprehension of their language even if they do not actively speak it (First Peoples’ Cultural Council, 2021). This group is increasingly recognized as important in efforts to support language reclamation.
By virtue of their receptive fluency, silent speakers possess a sophisticated "ear" for their languages, allowing them to verify correct pronunciation and traditional cadence. Beyond linguistic mechanics, they often carry the protocols, oral histories, and cultural contexts—the "how and when"—of traditional communication (Ross, 2025). Consequently, they serve as a vital bridge between fluent Elders and new learners.
Silent speakers made up 7.6% of the 185,510 people who had an Indigenous mother tongue, the rest (171,490 people) were active speakers, meaning they could still speak the language well enough to have a conversation. On average, silent speakers were slightly older than active mother tongue Indigenous language speakers (40 years versus 38 years). While the Indigenous population is younger than the non-Indigenous population, it too is aging (Statistics Canada, 2022). This reality highlights the need to better understand the silent speaker population.
This research seeks to clarify the characteristics of the silent speaker population in Canada. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of Indigenous people able to speak an Indigenous language declined, and all Indigenous languages remain at risk. Silent speakers thus represent a valuable reservoir of cultural and linguistic knowledge. Their potential role in language revitalization efforts makes it essential to better understand their characteristics, geographic distribution, and how their numbers have changed over time. Profiling silent speakers can offer insights into patterns of language shift, retention, and opportunities for revitalization. By examining census data across multiple years, this study aims to illuminate the demographic makeup, geographic distribution, and long-term trends of this pivotal group.
Methodology
To assess which Indigenous languages may benefit most from engaging silent speakers in revitalization efforts, two key metrics are employed. The first metric is the proportion of the mother tongue population who are silent
The second metric is the absolute number of silent speakers by language. This measure identifies languages with the largest silent speaker populations, regardless of their proportion within the mother tongue group.
For some of the most severely endangered Indigenous languages, silent speakers make up a quarter or more of the mother tongue population
While 7.6% of the Indigenous language mother tongue population were silent speakers, the share varied substantially by language. Among Indigenous languages for which data could be
There was an inverse relationship between the number of people reporting that language as mother tongue and the percentage of the mother tongue population who were silent speakers (Chart 1).
In terms of number of silent speakers, most silent speakers (59%) had Cree Languages (41%) or Ojibway languages (18%) as their mother tongue. This should indicate that tracking silent speakers is important for the revitalization of all Indigenous languages and not solely the most severely endangered ones.
Data table for Chart 1
| Indigenous language mother tongue | Proportion who are silent speakers | |
|---|---|---|
| number | percent | |
| Notes: N.o.s. = not otherwise specified and n.i.e. = not included elsewhere. Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. |
||
| Cree languages | 66,210 | 9 |
| Inuktitut | 37,520 | 2 |
| Ojibway languages | 15,890 | 16 |
| Oji-Cree | 11,930 | 4 |
| Dene, n.o.s. | 9,820 | 5 |
| Innu (Montagnais) | 9,435 | 2 |
| Mi'kmaq | 6,495 | 10 |
| Atikamekw | 6,305 | 1 |
| Blackfoot | 4,945 | 6 |
| Slavey-Hare languages | 1,850 | 10 |
| Tlicho (Dogrib) | 1,790 | 9 |
| Anicinabemowin (Algonquin) | 1,080 | 10 |
| Dakelh (Carrier) | 1,005 | 15 |
| Michif | 1,010 | 25 |
| Dakota | 915 | 18 |
| Inuinnaqtun (Inuvialuktun) | 805 | 19 |
| Gitxsan (Gitksan) | 775 | 25 |
| Naskapi | 740 | 0 |
| Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin) | 635 | 5 |
| Nisga'a | 610 | 11 |
| Stoney | 545 | 10 |
| Inuinnaqtun | 500 | 10 |
| Mohawk | 500 | 26 |
| Deh Gah Ghotie Zhatie (South Slavey) | 470 | 11 |
| Wolastoqewi (Malecite) | 445 | 15 |
| Secwepemctsin (Shuswap) | 420 | 19 |
| Halkomelem | 410 | 18 |
| Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) | 320 | 35 |
| Inuvialuktun | 305 | 33 |
| Kwak'wala (Kwakiutl) | 260 | 18 |
| Syilx (Okanagan) | 240 | 19 |
| Gwich'in | 225 | 35 |
| Ntlakapamux (Thompson) | 225 | 18 |
| Dane-zaa (Beaver) | 220 | 16 |
| Assiniboine | 215 | 14 |
| Tsimshian | 210 | 24 |
| Haisla | 215 | 12 |
| Heiltsuk | 195 | 23 |
| Ililimowin (Moose Cree) | 190 | 30 |
| Wetsuwet'en-Babine | 185 | 25 |
| Siouan languages, n.i.e. | 185 | 11 |
| Tahltan | 185 | 14 |
| Tutchone languages | 180 | 46 |
| Straits | 175 | 31 |
| Daawaamwin (Odawa) | 130 | 19 |
| Lillooet | 125 | 32 |
| Cayuga | 115 | 13 |
| Kaska (Nahani) | 110 | 9 |
| Haida | 105 | 29 |
| Indigenous languages, n.i.e. | 85 | 44 |
| Tsuu T'ina (Sarsi) | 80 | 0 |
| Oneida | 80 | 50 |
| Salish languages, n.i.e. | 85 | 44 |
| Tlingit | 75 | 40 |
| Athabaskan languages, n.i.e. | 65 | 38 |
| Tse'khene (Sekani) | 60 | 17 |
| Ktunaxa (Kutenai) | 60 | 42 |
| Inuktut (Inuit) languages, n.i.e. | 45 | 22 |
| Squamish | 55 | 33 |
| Wakashan languages, n.i.e. | 30 | 29 |
| Algonquian languages, n.i.e. | 25 | 0 |
Silent speakers more likely than active speakers of Indigenous languages to be women and girls
While a higher share of the Indigenous mother tongue population were women and girls (52.1%) compared to the total Indigenous and non-Indigenous population in Canada (50.6%), this was even higher among silent speakers, among whom 55.3% were women and girls compared with 51.9% of active speakers of Indigenous languages.
Silent speakers are older on average than active speakers of Indigenous languages
On average, silent speakers were older than active Indigenous language speakers (40 years versus 38 years). In Chart 2, the age distribution for silent speakers versus all those with an Indigenous language as mother tongue shows that, among both men and women, there are proportionately fewer silent speakers than active speakers below the age of 25 and proportionately more silent speakers aged 50 or older.
Data table for Chart 2
| Silent speakers | Mother tongue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men+ | Women+ | Men+ | Women+ | |
| percent | ||||
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | ||||
| 100 years and over | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 95 to 99 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 to 94 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 85 to 89 years | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 80 to 84 years | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 75 to 79 years | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 70 to 74 years | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 65 to 69 years | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 60 to 64 years | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| 55 to 59 years | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| 50 to 54 years | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| 45 to 49 years | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 40 to 44 years | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 35 to 39 years | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 30 to 34 years | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| 25 to 29 years | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 20 to 24 years | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 15 to 19 years | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| 10 to 14 years | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| 5 to 9 years | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| 0 to 4 years | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
Close to one in five Métis with an Indigenous mother tongue were silent speakers
Looking at the proportion of the Indigenous language mother tongue population by Indigenous identity, the results show that 18% of Métis with an Indigenous language as mother tongue were silent speakers, 8.4% for First Nations people with an Indigenous language as mother tongue and 2.1% of Inuit with an Indigenous language as mother tongue.
Among those with an Indigenous language as mother tongue, First Nations people with Registered Treaty or Indian Status were less likely to be silent speakers (8.3%) than those without Registered Treaty or Indian Status (12.1%). Inuit who reported being enrolled under or beneficiaries of an Inuit Land Claims agreement were less likely to be silent speakers (1.9%) than those who did not report being beneficiaries (6.4%). Similarly, Métis with an Indigenous language as mother tongue were less likely to be silents speakers if they also reported being a member of one of the Signatories of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord (16.7%) or an Alberta Metis Settlement (11.7%) than if they were not a member of a Métis organization or Alberta Metis Settlement (22.2%).
Compared with active mother tongue speakers, silent speakers more often lived alone or with people that were not their family members
It is important to understand the living arrangements of silent speakers, as policy aimed at silent speakers may differ depending on whether they live alone, live with extended family or live with their children. Those living alone, or not with family, may be more likely to be silent speakers.
Looking at economic family structure, silent speakers differed from active speakers in two
Silent speakers typically had higher levels of education than active mother tongue speakers
Compared with the total population of those with an Indigenous language as their mother tongue, silent speakers had higher levels of educational attainment (Chart 3). Silent speakers were less likely to have no certificate, diploma or degree, and conversely more likely to have a secondary or postsecondary education when compared with active mother tongue speakers. This was not just due to the older average age of silent speakers, as these results remained consistent even when restricting the analysis to only the core working age group of those aged 25 to 54 years old rather than the population aged 15 and older. This difference also was not driven by provincial and territorial differences in distributions of silent speakers as this difference between silent speakers and active mother tongue speakers existed in all provinces and territories. However, a part of the difference may stem from the fact that silent speakers more often reside off reserve and outside Inuit Nunangat compared with active mother tongue speakers of Indigenous languages and the language profiles of populations on and off reserve, and within and outside Inuit Nunangat differ.
The educational attainment differences between silent speakers and active mother tongue speakers were similar for both men and women. Among men, for example, 25% of silent speakers had a post-secondary education compared with 20% of men who were active mother tongue speakers, while the comparable statistics for women were 33% of silent speakers and 25% of active mother tongue speakers. Thus, differences in educational attainment cannot be fully explained by differences in gender distributions between silent and active mother tongue speakers.
Despite higher levels of education, silent speakers typically had slightly lower incomes and worse labour force statistics
Compared with active mother tongue speakers of Indigenous languages, silent speakers had a lower employment rate, a higher rate of unemployment and a lower rate of labour force participation (Chart 3).
The average after-tax income of silent speakers was slightly lower ($35,600) than that for all of those with an Indigenous language as mother tongue ($36,800). For reference, the mean after-tax income in Canada was $44,920 overall. In terms of being in a low-income household
Notably, silent speakers had lower incomes and worse labour force indicators despite their higher levels of education and more urban distribution.
Differences in income and labour force characteristics cannot be explained by differences in gender distributions between silent speakers and active mother tongue speakers of Indigenous languages. For both men and women, silent speakers had similarly higher unemployment rates (+4 percentage points), lower employment rates (-2 percentage points) and lower rates of labour force participation (-3 percentage points) than active speakers of Indigenous languages. Men who were silent speakers earned on average $1,500 less and women silent speakers $1,450 less than their active mother tongue speaker counterparts. In fact, these results show that among the Indigenous mother tongue population, contrary to the general population, tax incomes and labour force characteristics were more favourable among women than men – meaning that differences in gender distribution partially masked the differences in labour force and income characteristics between silent speakers and active mother tongue speakers of Indigenous languages.
Data table for Chart 3
| Education and Labour force statistics | No certificate, diploma or degree | High (secondary) school diploma or equivalency certificate | Post secondary | Employment rate | Unemployment rate | Participation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| percent | ||||||
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | ||||||
| Active | 52 | 20 | 28 | 39 | 17 | 48 |
| Silent speakers | 39 | 25 | 36 | 36 | 22 | 46 |
| No Indigenous language as mother tongue | 16 | 27 | 57 | 57 | 10 | 64 |
Most silent speakers located in Prairie provinces, but made up the largest proportion of mother tongue population in Yukon, PEI, and British Columbia
Most silent speakers of Indigenous languages were in the Prairie provinces (54%). There were also large numbers in Ontario (15%) and British Columbia (12%).
As a percentage of the Indigenous mother tongue population, the proportion of silent speakers was lower in Quebec (2%), Nunavut (2%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (4%), while it was notably higher in the Yukon (28%), PEI (25%) and British Columbia (20%).
Data table for Chart 4
| Province or Terriory | Silent speakers of an Indigenous mother tongue in 2021 | Proportion of Indigenous language mother tongue who were silent speakers in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| number | percent | |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. | ||
| Saskatchewan | 2,585 | 10 |
| Manitoba | 2,525 | 10 |
| Alberta | 2,460 | 10 |
| Ontario | 2,150 | 11 |
| British Columbia |
1,655 | 20 |
| Quebec | 885 | 2 |
| Northwest Territories |
520 | 12 |
| Nunavut | 375 | 2 |
| Nova Scotia |
320 | 8 |
| New Brunswick |
305 | 12 |
| Yukon | 135 | 28 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
80 | 4 |
| Prince Edward Island |
20 | 25 |
Within Inuit Nunangat, many silent speakers were in Iqaluit
There were 880 silent speakers of Inuktut comprising 2% of the Inuktut mother tongue population. Most silent speakers of Inuktut (58%) lived within Inuit Nunangat, comprising about 4% of all silent speakers for all Indigenous languages.
The distribution of Inuktut silent speakers also varied substantially across Inuit Nunangat, ranging from a low of 0.3% of those with an Inuktut mother tongue in Nunavik to 25% of those in the Inuvialuit region, to 2% in Nunavut and 9% in Nunatsiavut. The largest number of silent speakers of Inuktut in Inuit Nunangat were in Nunavut (375) and the Inuvialuit region (85), within the Inuvialuit region there were also 20 silent speakers of other Indigenous languages, likely representing Gwitchin silent speakers as two communities straddle the boundaries of Inuvialuit and Gwitchin traditional territories. Most silent speakers of Inuktut in Nunavut were in the city of Iqaluit (135), Kugluktuk (45), or Baker Lake (40) while in the Inuvialuit region most silent speakers of Indigenous languages were in Inuvik (40) or Tuktoyaktuk (35).
Winnipeg and Edmonton are home to the highest numbers of silent speakers among cities
Outside of Inuit Nunangat, almost half (47% or 6,370) of silent speakers lived on reserve. This was lower than the two-thirds (67%) of individuals with an Indigenous mother tongue outside of Inuit Nunangat who lived on reserve.
On reserve, silent speakers were slightly more distributed in areas deemed rural (83%) than the total population with an Indigenous language as mother tongue (70%). This was primarily driven by differences between Ontario, Manitoba, and to a lesser extent Nova Scotia. In all other jurisdictions, silent speakers and active mother tongue speakers on reserve were similarly distributed to each other.
Outside of reserves and Inuit Nunangat, most silent speakers lived in large urban centres
Silent speakers were more often living in large population centres of more than 100,000 people at 20% compared with all individuals with an Indigenous mother tongue (8%). Silent speakers were also twice as likely to live in medium population centres of 30,000 to 99,999 people (8% vs 4%).
There were 14 census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with 100 or more silent speakers in 2021. Of these, two had over 650 silent speakers, Winnipeg (685) and Edmonton (665). All others had less than 300.
Number and proportion of silent speakers increased slightly between 2001 to 2021
By including only communities that participated in each census from 2001 to
The results show that the number of silent speakers appeared to increase substantially in the ten years between 2001 and 2011 from 11,075 to 13,595. From 2011 to 2021 there was essentially no change in the number of silent speakers – 13,595 to 13,590.
However, the proportion of silent speakers increased from 5.9% of the mother tongue population in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011 and to 7.6% in 2021. The increase between 2011 and 2021 occurred due to the decline in the mother tongue population between 2011 and 2021 from 190,480 to 177,975. Trends were distinct by region. For example, in Ontario the number of silent speakers grew while the mother tongue population decreased, leading to large growth in the proportion of silent speakers of 5.4 percentage points from 2001 to 2021. In Quebec, the mother tongue population grew during the same time period, but at a slower rate than silent speakers did; therefore, the proportion of silent speakers rose 1.2 percentage points. In British Columbia, a large decline in the number of people with an Indigenous language as their mother tongue was also matched by a decline in the number of silent speakers thus the proportion of silent speakers in British Columbia increased the least, at 1.1 percentage points.
Regionally, the proportion of silent speakers rose in every province and territory except Newfoundland and Labrador from 2001 to 2021. While the number of silent speakers increased in most provinces and territories, it declined in British Columbia, Yukon, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador.
| Year | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2011 | 2021 | 2001-2011 | 2011-2021 | 2001-2021 | |
| Notes: Changes in population counts are expressed as numeric change. Changes in the proportion of silent speakers are expressed in percentage points. Data include only communities enumerated in the 2001, 2006, 2016 and 2021 censuses, as well as the 2011 National Household Survey. Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2001 and 2021; National Household Survey, 2011. |
||||||
| Canada | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 11,075 | 13,595 | 13,590 | 2,520 | -5 | 2,515 |
| Mother‑tongue population | 186,280 | 190,480 | 177,975 | 4,200 | -12,505 | -8,305 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 5.9 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 100 | 125 | 85 | 25 | -40 | -15 |
| Mother‑tongue population | 2,140 | 2,755 | 2,085 | 615 | -670 | -55 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.1 | -0.1 | -0.5 | -0.6 |
| Prince Edward Island | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 60 | 15 | 20 | -45 | 5 | -40 |
| Mother‑tongue population | 240 | 105 | 75 | -135 | -30 | -165 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 25.0 | 14.3 | 26.7 | -10.7 | 12.4 | 1.7 |
| Nova Scotia | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 215 | 390 | 315 | 175 | -75 | 100 |
| Mother‑tongue population | 4,185 | 4,800 | 4,145 | 615 | -655 | -40 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 5.1 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 3.0 | -0.5 | 2.5 |
| New Brunswick | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 300 | 295 | 305 | -5 | 10 | 5 |
| Mother tongue | 3,195 | 2,580 | 2,545 | -615 | -35 | -650 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 9.4 | 11.4 | 12.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.6 |
| Quebec | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 270 | 535 | 875 | 265 | 340 | 605 |
| Mother tongue | 34,625 | 41,500 | 45,235 | 6,875 | 3,735 | 10,610 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| Ontario | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 1,395 | 1,665 | 1,865 | 270 | 200 | 470 |
| Mother tongue | 15,070 | 13,865 | 12,690 | -1,205 | -1,175 | -2,380 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 9.3 | 12.0 | 14.7 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 5.4 |
| Manitoba | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 1,595 | 1,755 | 2,490 | 160 | 735 | 895 |
| Mother tongue | 31,450 | 30,890 | 25,635 | -560 | -5,255 | -5,815 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 5.1 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| Saskatchewan | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 2,285 | 2,505 | 2,550 | 220 | 45 | 265 |
| Mother tongue | 33,330 | 32,845 | 26,420 | -485 | -6,425 | -6,910 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 6.9 | 7.6 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 2.8 |
| Alberta | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 1,850 | 2,390 | 2,395 | 540 | 5 | 545 |
| Mother tongue | 23,940 | 22,350 | 23,095 | -1,590 | 745 | -845 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 7.7 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 3.0 | -0.3 | 2.6 |
| British Columbia | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 2,390 | 2,615 | 1,650 | 225 | -965 | -740 |
| Mother tongue | 12,525 | 10,245 | 8,160 | -2,280 | -2,085 | -4,365 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 19.1 | 25.5 | 20.2 | 6.4 | -5.3 | 1.1 |
| Yukon | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 180 | 300 | 140 | 120 | -160 | -40 |
| Mother tongue | 915 | 995 | 480 | 80 | -515 | -435 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 19.7 | 30.2 | 29.2 | 10.5 | -1.0 | 9.5 |
| Northwest Territories | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 315 | 715 | 520 | 400 | -195 | 205 |
| Mother tongue | 5,620 | 5,630 | 4,455 | 10 | -1,175 | -1,165 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 5.6 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 7.1 | -1.0 | 6.1 |
| Nunavut | ||||||
| Silent Speakers | 120 | 290 | 380 | 170 | 90 | 260 |
| Mother tongue | 19,045 | 21,925 | 22,950 | 2,880 | 1,025 | 3,905 |
| Silent speakers (%) | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
Discussion
The silent speaker population is distinct from the active mother tongue speaker population of Indigenous languages. On average, they are more likely to be older, more likely to be a woman or girl, are more likely to live in an urban area, have higher levels of educational attainment but also a more impoverished group and they are more likely to live alone. The combination of these characteristics suggests a possible disconnection of silent speakers from culture and a lack of opportunities to use these languages at home, in school or in the workplace.
The data showed that silent speakers have increased in number and proportion of the mother tongue population from 2001 to 2021, and that recent growth in proportion has been driven by a decline in the Indigenous mother tongue population.
At the same time, it was shown that silent speakers make up a large proportion of the mother tongue population of many severely endangered Indigenous languages. Silent speakers are also important to less endangered languages where there are relatively large populations of silent speakers. Additionally, many silent speakers live in large cities such as silent speakers of Ojibway languages in Winnipeg, Cree language silent speakers in Edmonton and for Inuktut silent speakers in Iqaluit. These findings all have implications for the creation and provision of potential revitalization efforts targeting silent speakers.
Acknowledgement
This report was prepared by Henry Robertson from the Centre for Indigenous Statistics and Partnerships at Statistics Canada, with funding provided by the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (OCIL). We would like to thank OCIL for their continued work and dedication to the promotion of research on Indigenous languages; without their guidance this report would not have been possible.
References
Anderson, T & Norris, M.J. (2025). Indigenous Language Families: Isolates and Other Indigenous Languages. Indigenous Peoples Thematic Series. 31 Mar. 2025, www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/41-20-0002/412000022025008-eng.htm.
Elijah, K. A. (2020). Saiakwatsirón:ni—We are reigniting the fire: Regeneration of Kanien’kéha silent speakers. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of Victoria, Canada. https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/11873
First Peoples’ Cultural Council. (2021). Reclaiming My Language Program. https://fpcc.ca/program/silent-speaker/
Moseley, Christopher (Ed.). 2010. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. Third ed. Paris: UNESCO Publishing Paris: UNESCO Publishing
Ross, C. (2025). Adult Silent Speakers: A nīhithaw Perspective (Doctoral dissertation, University of Victoria).
Statistics Canada (2022). Indigenous population continues to grow and is much younger than the non-indigenous population, although the pace of growth has slowed. The Daily - https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220921/dq220921a-eng.htm
Annex
| Indigenous language | Active mother-tongue speakers | Silent speakers | Proportion who are silent speakers | Census Subdivision with largest number of silent speakers | Silent speakers in the census subdivision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | percent | number | |||
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021. |
|||||
| Indigenous languages | 171,490 | 14,020 | 7.6 | Winnipeg | 685 |
| Algonquian languages | 113,100 | 10,035 | 8.1 | Winnipeg | 385 |
| Blackfoot | 4,630 | 315 | 6.4 | Blood 148 | 110 |
| Cree-Innu languages | 76,625 | 6,005 | 7.3 | Edmonton | 355 |
| Atikamekw | 6,225 | 80 | 1.3 | Québec, La Tuque, Communauté Atikamekw de Manawan | 10 |
| Cree languages | 60,440 | 5,770 | 8.7 | Edmonton | 355 |
| Ililimowin (Moose Cree) | 135 | 55 | 29.7 | Timmins | 15 |
| Inu Ayimun (Southern East Cree) | 655 | 45 | 6.4 | Waskaganis, Lac Simon, Nemaska | 10 |
| Iyiyiw-Ayimiwin (Northern East Cree) | 3,655 | 195 | 5.1 | Wemindji | 35 |
| Nehinawewin (Swampy Cree) | 2,775 | 360 | 11.5 | Winnipeg | 85 |
| Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree) | 5,650 | 1,080 | 16.0 | Edmonton | 115 |
| Nihithawiwin (Woods Cree) | 3,260 | 500 | 13.3 | Edmonton | 60 |
| Cree, n.o.s. | 44,300 | 3,555 | 7.4 | Edmonton | 160 |
| Innu (Montagnais) | 9,280 | 155 | 1.6 | Maliotenam | 30 |
| Naskapi | 740 | 0 | 0.0 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Eastern Algonquian languages | 6,250 | 685 | 9.9 | Richibucto 15 | 120 |
| Mi'kmaq | 5,870 | 625 | 9.6 | Richibucto 15 | 120 |
| Wolastoqewi (Malecite) | 380 | 65 | 14.6 | Tobique 20 | 15 |
| Ojibway-Potawatomi languages | 25,810 | 3,080 | 10.7 | Winnipeg | 395 |
| Anicinabemowin (Algonquin) | 975 | 105 | 9.7 | Kitigan Zibi | 30 |
| Oji-Cree | 11,460 | 470 | 3.9 | Winnipeg | 60 |
| Ojibway languages | 13,380 | 2,510 | 15.8 | Winnipeg | 335 |
| Anishinaabemowin (Chippewa) | 640 | 125 | 16.3 | Brandon | 15 |
| Daawaamwin (Odawa) | 105 | 25 | 18.5 | Wikwemikong Unceded | 10 |
| Saulteau (Western Ojibway) | 2,065 | 520 | 20.1 | Winnipeg | 65 |
| Ojibway, n.o.s. | 10,660 | 1,845 | 14.8 | Winnipeg | 255 |
| Algonquian languages, n.i.e. | 25 | 0 | 0.0 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Athabaskan languages | 15,005 | 1,370 | 8.4 | Yellowknife | 125 |
| Northern Athabaskan languages | 14,915 | 1,315 | 8.1 | Yellowknife | 125 |
| Dakelh (Carrier) | 855 | 150 | 14.9 | Vanderhoof | 15 |
| Dane-zaa (Beaver) | 185 | 35 | 15.9 | Fort Good Hope, Fort St. John, East Moberly Lake 169, West Moberly Lake 168A | 10 |
| Dene, n.o.s. | 9,285 | 535 | 5.5 | La Loche | 55 |
| Gwich'in | 145 | 80 | 34.8 | Inuvik, Fort McPherson | 15 |
| Slavey-Hare languages | 1,670 | 180 | 9.7 | Déline | 20 |
| Deh Gah Ghotie Zhatie (South Slavey) | 420 | 50 | 10.6 | Edmonton, Fort Simpson, Bushe River | 10 |
| Satuotine Yati (North Slavey) | 310 | 35 | 10.3 | Norman Wells | 15 |
| Slavey, n.o.s. | 945 | 95 | 9.1 | Déline | 15 |
| Tahltan languages | 255 | 35 | 12.1 | Dease Lake 9 | 10 |
| Kaska (Nahani) | 100 | 10 | 9.1 | Watson Lake | 10 |
| Tahltan | 160 | 25 | 14.3 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Tlicho (Dogrib) | 1,620 | 170 | 9.5 | Yellowknife | 110 |
| Tse'khene (Sekani) | 50 | 10 | 16.7 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin) | 605 | 30 | 4.8 | Redstone Flat 1, Stone 1 | 10 |
| Tsuu T'ina (Sarsi) | 80 | 0 | 0.0 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Tutchone languages | 100 | 80 | 45.7 | Ibex Valley | 40 |
| Northern Tutchone | 55 | 20 | 25.0 | Carmacks | 10 |
| Southern Tutchone | 30 | 40 | 61.5 | Ibex Valley | 35 |
| Tutchone, n.o.s. | 20 | 15 | 37.5 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Wetsuwet'en-Babine | 140 | 45 | 25.0 | Hagwilget 1, East Saanich 2, Moricetown 1, Coryatsaqua (Moricetown) 2 | 10 |
| Tlingit | 45 | 30 | 40.0 | Whitehorse | 10 |
| Athabaskan languages, n.i.e. | 40 | 25 | 38.5 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Haida | 75 | 30 | 28.6 | Vancouver | 10 |
| Inuktut (Inuit) languages | 37,470 | 880 | 2.3 | Iqaluit | 140 |
| Inuinnaqtun (Inuvialuktun) | 655 | 150 | 18.6 | Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik | 30 |
| Inuinnaqtun | 450 | 50 | 10.0 | Kugluktuk | 20 |
| Inuvialuktun | 205 | 100 | 32.8 | Tuktoyaktuk | 35 |
| Inuktitut | 36,790 | 730 | 1.9 | Iqaluit | 140 |
| Inuktut (Inuit) languages, n.i.e. | 35 | 10 | 22.2 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Iroquoian languages | 510 | 185 | 26.6 | London | 25 |
| Cayuga | 100 | 15 | 12.5 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Mohawk | 370 | 130 | 26.0 | Cornwall | 15 |
| Oneida | 40 | 40 | 50.0 | London | 20 |
| Iroquoian languages, n.i.e. | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Ktunaxa (Kutenai) | 35 | 25 | 41.7 | Cranbrook | 15 |
| Michif | 755 | 255 | 25.4 | Winnipeg | 45 |
| Salish languages | 1,340 | 380 | 22.1 | Williams Lake | 20 |
| Halkomelem | 335 | 75 | 18.1 | North Cowichan | 20 |
| Lillooet | 85 | 40 | 32.0 | Slosh 1, Mount Currie | 10 |
| Ntlakapamux (Thompson) | 185 | 40 | 17.8 | Fraser Valley A, Nicola Mameet 1, Coldwater 1, Nooaitch 10 | 10 |
| Secwepemctsin (Shuswap) | 340 | 80 | 19.0 | Williams Lake | 15 |
| Squamish | 40 | 15 | 33.3 | Capilano 5 | 10 |
| Straits | 120 | 55 | 31.4 | Cole Bay 3, Sliammon 1 | 10 |
| Syilx (Okanagan) | 195 | 45 | 18.8 | Penticton 1, Chopaka 7 & 8, Nicola Lake 1, Ashnola 10 | 10 |
| Salish languages, n.i.e. | 50 | 35 | 43.8 | Bella Coola 1 | 10 |
| Siouan languages | 1,480 | 270 | 15.5 | Sioux Valley Dakota Nation | 35 |
| Assiniboine | 185 | 30 | 13.6 | Regina, Mosquito 109 | 10 |
| Dakota | 750 | 165 | 18.0 | Sioux Valley Dakota Nation | 35 |
| Stoney | 490 | 55 | 10.1 | Alexis 133 | 25 |
| Siouan languages, n.i.e. | 165 | 20 | 11.1 | ... not applicable | 0 |
| Tsimshian languages | 1,285 | 315 | 19.8 | Gitsegukla 1 | 55 |
| Gitxsan (Gitksan) | 580 | 195 | 25.0 | Gitsegukla 1 | 55 |
| Nisga'a | 545 | 65 | 10.7 | Nisga'a | 15 |
| Tsimshian | 160 | 50 | 23.8 | Prince Rupert | 20 |
| Wakashan languages | 785 | 240 | 23.4 | Marktosis 15 | 55 |
| Haisla | 190 | 25 | 11.9 | Kitamaat 2 | 10 |
| Heiltsuk | 150 | 45 | 22.5 | Bella Bella 1 | 15 |
| Kwak'wala (Kwakiutl) | 215 | 45 | 17.6 | Tsulquate 4, Alert Bay | 10 |
| Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) | 205 | 115 | 34.8 | Marktosis 15 | 55 |
| Wakashan languages, n.i.e. | 20 | 10 | 28.6 | Malachan 11 | 10 |
| Indigenous languages, n.i.e. | 45 | 40 | 44.4 | Blood 148 | 10 |
| Indigenous languages, n.o.s. | 270 | 115 | 29.9 | Edmonton, Calgary, East Saanich 2, South Saanich 1, Bonaparte 3 | 10 |
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