The Ktunaxa People
The Ktunaxa, also known for their anglicized terms, Kootenay, Kootenai, and Kutenai, are a small Indigenous group whose traditional territory approximately expands 70,000 sq. km, and includes the Southeastern interior of British Columbia, parts of Alberta, and extends into the United States in Montana, Idaho, and parts of Washington. Due to British colonization, and the introduction of crown lands, the Ktunaxa now occupy a smaller territory. In 1885, the Ktunaxa People were divided into bands and assigned reserves which are now described as the different Ktunaxa communities. There is a total of six Ktunaxa bands. There are five located in the Southeastern interior of British Columbia, Canada; yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʔit (Tobacco Plains), ʔaq̓am (St. Mary’s), ʔakisq̓nuk (Columbia Lake), yaqa·n nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenai), and Kyaknuqⱡiʔit (Shuswap Band). There are two bands located in the United States; One is located in Montana, K̓upawiȼq̓nuk (Elmo) and the other is located in Idaho; ʔaq̓anqmi (Bonners Ferry).
Ktunaxa Language
The Ktunaxa language is a language isolate, which means that it is not related to any other language or language family that we know of. The Ktunaxa people and our language are unique and this sets us apart from other Indigenous groups. As of 2023, the Ktunaxa language has been deemed critically endangered by linguists, as per UNESCO’s definitions for language vitality. The majority of fluent speakers are over the age of 60, with little to no active language use. The First Peoples Cultural Council released their 2022 Status Report on BC First Nations Languages, and revealed that there are only 18 fluent speakers of the Ktunaxa language amongst Ktunaxa People living in Canada. This is a very alarming number, that illustrates the intent of the Kootenay Indian Residential School to erase Ktunaxa identity through language and cultural practice. Currently, there are over 500 active learners who are trying to reclaim and revitalize the Ktunaxa language, this includes Ktunaxa People and non-Ktunaxa people.
There are two dialects of the Ktunaxa language; Upper and Lower Kootenai. According to the flow of the Kootenay River, the different dialects can be identified in the different Ktunaxa communities. The communities situated by the Upper Kootenay River generally speak the Upper Kootenai dialect; K̓upawiȼq̓nuk (Elmo), yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʔit (Tobacco Plains), ʔaq̓am (St. Mary’s), and ʔakisq̓nuk (Columbia Lake). While those situated by the Lower Kootenay River speak the Lower Kootenai dialect; yaqa·n nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenai), and ʔaq̓anqmi (Bonners Ferry).
Ktunaxa Peoples and Culture
Both the language and culture are vital to the Ktunaxa Peoples, including expressing their identity. The Ktunaxa People take pride in our heritage, history, culture, language, lands and waterways. The Ktunaxa People have a unique culture stemming from an oral storytelling tradition that teaches cultural practices, gathering and harvesting of food and materials, design of arts, and crafts, and expert knowledge of the lands, waters, plants, and animals of ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa. The Ktunaxa People have always had a sophisticated governance. Today, we are successful in our business enterprises which are enriched by our unique culture and identity.