Xwlemiʼchosen (also written as xʷləmiʔčósən) is the native language of the Lummi Nation. It is a dialect of North Straits Salish, a Coast Salish language traditionally spoken in the Pacific Northwest around the northern Puget Sound and the southern Strait of Georgia.1 2
Key Facts About Xwlemiʼchosen
- Language Family: It belongs to the Central Salish branch of the Salishan language family.
- Related Dialects: It is closely related to other North Straits Salish dialects, including Saanich (SENĆOŦEN), Samish (Siʔneməš), Semiahmoo, T’sou-ke, and Songhees.
- Status: The language is critically endangered. While some sources historically listed it as extinct in terms of first-language fluent speakers, active revitalization efforts are ongoing within the Lummi community to preserve and teach the language to new generations.
- Characteristics: Like other Salishan languages, it is known for complex consonant clusters and the use of the Americanist Phonetic Alphabet or specialized orthographies to represent its unique sounds.
Cultural Significance
The language is a vital part of the Lummi identity, connecting the Lhaq’temish (“People of the Sea”) to their ancestral lands and traditional practices, such as fishing and reef netting in the Salish Sea.
