Salishan Indian Dialects

The Salishan dialects may be grouped as follows:

• Dialects of the Interior
  • Lillooet in west British Columbia
  • Ntlakyapamuk (Thompson Indians) in south west British Columbia
  • Shusowap in south central British Columbia
  • Okinagan in south east British Columbia, extending into the United States, the subdivisions of which are
    • Okinagan proper
    • Colville
    • Nespelim or Sanpoil
    • Senijextee (Snaichekstik) of the Arrow lakes and Columbia river below the lakes
  • Flathead in eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana, subdivisions of which are
    • Spokan
    • Kalispel or Peud d'Oreilles
    • Salish or Flathead
  • Skitswish or Coeur d'Alènes in nothern Idaho
  • Colvnibia groups in the west part of the interior of Washington, including the
    • Pisquow or Wenatchi
    • Sinkinse
    • Methow, and other local divisions.
• Coast Dialects
  • Bellacoola, a group of tribes on Bentinck Arm and Deans inlet, British Columbia
  • Comox group on the north part of the Gulf of Georgia, with two subdivisions
    • Comox proper, including
      • Comox and Ehksen
      • Hornalko
      • Kaiike
      • Kakekt
      • Seuehelt of Jervis inlet
      • Sliammon
      • Tatpods
    • Puntlatsh, including
      • Hwahwatl
      • Puntlatsh
      • Saanien
  • Coccichan group in the neighborhood of Nanaimo on Vancouver island., and in the delta of Fraser river. It embraces, on Vancouver island
    • Clemclemalats
    • Comiakin
    • Hellelt
    • Kenipsim
    • Kilpanlus
    • Koksilah
    • Kulleets
    • Lilmalche
    • Malakut
    • Nanaimo
    • Penelakut
    • Quamichan
    • Siccameen
    • Snonowas
    • Somenos
    • Tateke
    • Yekolaos in the Fraser valley
    • Chehalis
    • Chilliwack
    • Coquitlam
    • Ewawoos
    • Katsey
    • Kelatl
    • Kwantlen
    • Matsqui
    • Musqueam
    • Nehaltmoken
    • Nicomen
    • Ohamil
    • Pilalt
    • Popkum
    • Samahquam
    • Scowlitz
    • Sewathen
    • Siyita
    • Skwawalooks
    • Snonkweametl
    • Squawtits
    • Sumass
    • Tsakuam
  • Squawmish group, including
    • Squawmish of Burrard inlet and Howe sound and probably
    • Nooksak of north Washington
  • Songish group, on Juan de Fuca straight, San Juan island, and parts of the coasts of Washington and British Columbia. It includes
    • Clallam (Wash.)
    • Lummi (Wash.)
    • Samish (Wash.)
    • Sanetch (Brit. Col.)
    • Semiahmoo (Brit. Col. and Wash.)
    • Songish (Brit. Col.)
    • Sooke (Brit. Col.)
  • Nisqualli group, embracing all tribes east of Puget sound and south to Mt Tacoma, and, on the west side, the region up to Olympia, except Hood canal. It includes two dialectic divisions
    • Nisqualli and the Snohomish. Well-known divisions are
    • Nisqualli proper,
    • Dwamish
    • Puyallup
    • Skagit
    • Snoqualmu or Snoquamish
    • Squaxon. Following are the names of some of the numerous bands
      • Nisqualli
      • Etaknehu
      • Kwehtlmamish (?)
      • Nukwatsamish
      • Nusehtsatl
      • Potoashees
      • Sahewamish
      • Sakumehu
      • Samamieh
      • Sawmnish
      • Sekamish
      • Shomatnish
      • Shotlemamish
      • Skihwamish
      • Skopamish
      • Smulkamish
      • Squacum
      • Stehtsasamish
      • Steilacoomamish
      • Suquamish
      • Towahhah. Other bands which may belong here, but which cannot be identified
        • Neutubvig
        • Nuchwugh
        • Opichiken
        • Sinslikhooish
        • Sintootoolish
        • Sktehlmish
  • Twana group, on Hood canal, Puget sound, including
    • Twana
    • Sailupsun
  • Chehalis group, embracing six dialects, which show considerable variation. These are the
    • Quinault and Quaitso of north west Washington
    • Humptulips of the north part of Grays harbor
    • Lower Chehalis of Grays harbor and Shoalwater bay
    • Satsop east and north east of Grays harbor
    • Upper Cihehalis east of Shoalwater bay
    • Cowlitz on the river of that name southward to Columbia river
  • Tillamook on the coast of Oregon, including
    • Tillamook or Nestucca,
    • Siletz. Tillamook is the Chinook name for the tribe whose territory is called in Chinook, Nehalem.

• Additional Salish Indian Resources

  • Salish Indian History

  • Salish Indian Dialects

  • Callam Indian History

  • Chilliwack Indian History

  • Duwamish Indian History

  • Ntlakyapamuk Indian History

  • Shahapt Indian History

  • Sinkiuse Indian History

  • Stillaquamish Indian History

  • Snoqualmie Chiefs and Leaders

  • Spokane Indian History

  • Stehtsasamish Indian History

  • Washington Indian Tribes

  • Yaquina Indian History

Salish Tribe | Duwamish Tribe