Cayuga language
Cayuga (Cayuga: Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫˀ) is a Northern Iroquoian language of the Iroquois Proper (also known as "Five Nations Iroquois") subfamily, and is spoken on Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, Ontario, by around 240 Cayuga people, and on the Cattaraugus Reservation, New York, by fewer than 10.
Cayuga | |
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Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫˀ | |
Cayuga for "our language" | |
Native to | Canada, United States |
Region | Ontario: Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation; New York (state): Cattaraugus Reservation |
Native speakers | <55 in Canada (2016 census) |
Iroquoian
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | cay |
Glottolog | cayu1261 |
ELP | Cayuga |
Cayuga is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
The Cayuga language is related to other Northern Iroquoian languages, such as Seneca. It is considered critically endangered, with only 55 people of the Indigenous population reporting Cayuga as their mother tongue in the 2016 Canadian census. However, Cayuga members are making efforts to revitalize the language. (See also Indigenous Languages in Canada.) As an example of such, Six Nations Polytechnic has developed apps on IOS and study programs in Cayuga, Oneida, Mohawk and others.