The Algonquin languages are a subfamily of North American Indigenous languages. The Algonquin languages are spoken widely across Canada and the United States, in a geographical area stretching from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains. In Canada, Algonquin languages are most commonly spoken in the provinces of Manitoba, Quebec, and Ontario.
In Canada, a total of 163,815 people reported speaking a language belonging to the Algonquin language family. This makes the Algonquin Languages the most spoken Indigenous language subfamily in Canada. About 97,125 people in Canada speak an Algonquin language as their mother tongue. Cree, Ojibway, Innu Montagnais, and Oji-Cree were found to be the most spoken languages within the Algonquin language family.
Work in Progress for an Interactive App Aims to Teach Kids about Algonquin Language and Culture
Below is a sneak peak on how this came about!
Elementary school teacher Bertha Chief of the Timiskaming First Nation had often observed her students’ fascination with iPhones and tablets, and started thinking about how she could harness that passion to teach kids about the Algonquin language.
One day, when Bertha and her son Kevin Chief were attending a pow-wow, Kevin introduced Bertha to his long-time friend Michel Lacroix, an Algonquin College professor in Design Studies, thinking Lacroix could help give shape to Bertha’s idea. Soon, Lacroix became the Creative Director of a collaborative project with the Chiefs to develop a mobile app that would teach children aged 3-12 about Algonquin language and culture. The app is called the Noopimok—which means ‘in the bush’— E-Learning Project.
To read more………click on this link below. https://www.algonquincollege.com/news/2021/06/16/interactive-app-aims-to-teach-kids-about-algonquin-language-and-culture/
The Noopimok E-learning Project App is still not ready yet for mobile devices.
But now we just have to be patient and hopefully we can look forward to seeing this new mobile app soon!
Algonquin Language Coloring Pages
About
Created by NAC Indigenous Theatre Cultural Resident Mairi Brascoupé (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg)
These coloring pages with Anishinàbemowin (Algonquin) words are shared as a way to learn and share with one another. Print off the image and color it in, or download for digital coloring. .
Click on the link below to open and download the 17 Coloring Pages that are available for your children or grandchildren to color.
While you all have fun coloring these pages, you all can learn some Algonquin Language Words.
Algonquin Language Learning
If you are interested in learning more about the Algonquin Language please click on the You-tube video link below.
This channel will teach basic Algonquin Language words and sentences. If interested you can become a member and subscribe to this site.
https://www.youtube.com/@algonquinlanguagelearning7241/videos
Research and Statistics on the Algonquin Language
Do the Algonquin still exist?
There are nine First Nations in Quebec, and one in Ontario. Of the approximate 8,000 plus Algonquins still living in Canada today, a mere 5,000 live on the First Nation Reservations.
What language did Algonquin speak?
The Algonquian linguistic group includes a number of languages, including those of the Atikamekw, Blackfoot, Cree, Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq, Innu, Naskapi, Ojibwe and Oji-Cree. According to the 2021 census, the Algonquian language group was the largest in Canada.
How many Algonquian languages are there?
Proto-Algonquian is the original Algonquian language, spoken nearly 3000 years ago. Today, 30 different Algonquian languages exist throughout Canada and the United States.
What is the difference between Algonquin and Algonquian?
What is the difference between ‘Algonquin’ and ‘Algonquian’? ‘Algonquin’ generally refers to the indigenous people of the Ottawa River Valley in Canada. ‘Algonquian’ or ‘Algonkian’ refers to a language family that includes the Algonquin, Cree, Ojibwa, Delaware, Shawnee, Blackfoot and Cheyenne languages, among others.
What race is Algonquin?
Algonquin, North American Indian tribe of closely related Algonquian-speaking bands originally living in the dense forest regions of the valley of the Ottawa River and its tributaries in present-day Quebec and Ontario, Canada.
Why is Algonquin called Algonquin?
WHAT DOES ‘ALGONQUIN’ MEAN? The source of the word Algonquin is unclear. Some say it came from the Malecite word meaning “they are our relatives,” which would suggest Algonquins were part of a broad group of native peoples. Others say Algonquin means “at the place of spearing fishes and eels from the bow of a canoe”.
Is Algonquin an Anishinaabe?
The Nipissing, Mississaugas, and Algonquin are identified as Anishinaabe but are not part of the Council of Three Fires. Closely related to the Ojibwe and speaking a language mutually intelligible with Anishinaabemowin (Anishinaabe language) is the Oji-Cree (also known as “Severn Ojibwe”).
See Map Below:
What are the native words of the Algonquin?
Abenaki is an Algonquian language, related to other languages like Lenape and Ojibwe.
We have found Twenty Basic Algonquin Words.
| English (Français) | Algonquin Words |
| One (Un) | Pejig |
| Two (Deux) | Nìj |
| Three (Trois) | Niswi |
| Four (Quatre) | New |
| Five (Cinq) | Nànan |
| Man (Homme) | Ininì |
| Woman (Femme) | Ikwe |
| Dog (Chien) | Animosh |
| Sun (Soleil) | Kìzis |
| Moon (Lune) | Tibik-kìzis |
| Water (Eau) | Nibì |
| White (Blanc) | Wàbà |
| Yellow (Jaune) | Ozàwà |
| Red (Rouge) | Miskwà |
| Black (Noir) | Makadewà |
| Eat (Manger) | Mìdjin |
| See (Voir) | Wàbi |
| Hear (Entendre) | Nòndam |
| Sing (Chanter) | Nigamo |
| Leave (Partir) | Màdjà or Nagadàn |
How to say I love you in Algonquin?
Gizhawenimin – I love you.
What is the Algonquin word for white person?
Saganash – A white man [Algonquin].
What is the difference between Algonquin and Anishinaabe?
Answer and Explanation:
The Anishinaabe describes a number of indigenous peoples. The Algonquin are one of the nations within the group of Anishinaabe. The Algonquin people were indigenous to southern Quebec and eastern Ontario in Canada. Today, most of the Algonquins live in and around Quebec.
Which tribes are Algonquin?
Algonquian and Algonkian both refer to the Algonquin language or to the group of tribes that speak related dialects. Therefore, the Algonquian tribes (including the Delaware, the Narragansetts, the Pequot, and the Wampanoag) are so called because they all speak the Algonkin or Algonquin language.
Algonquins of Greater Golden Lake First Nation 