Kutenai
The Kutenai (/ˈkuːtəneɪ, -niː/ KOO-tə-nay, -nee), also known as the Ktunaxa (/tʌˈnɑːhɑː/ tun-AH-hah; Kutenai: [ktunʌ́χɑ̝]), Ksanka (/kəˈsɑːnkɑː/ kə-SAHN-kah), Kootenay (in Canada) and Kootenai (in the United States), are an indigenous people of Canada and the United States. Kutenai bands live in southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho, and western Montana. The Kutenai language is a language isolate, thus unrelated to the languages of neighboring peoples or any other known language.
Kutenai group c. 1900 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,536 (2016) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Idaho, Montana), Canada (British Columbia) | |
| Canada British Columbia | 940 |
| United States (Idaho, Montana) | 596 |
| Languages | |
| English, Kutenai (Kitunahan), ʔa·qanⱡiⱡⱡitnam (Ktunaxa Sign Language) | |
| Religion | |
| Kutenai spiritualism | |
| People | Ktunaxa |
|---|---|
| Language | Ktunaxa, ʔa·qanⱡiⱡⱡitnam |
| Country | Ktunaxa ʔamakʔas |
| Indigenous peoples in Canada |
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Indigenous North Americas Canada portal |
Four bands form the Ktunaxa Nation in British Columbia. The Ktunaxa Nation was historically closely associated with the Shuswap Indian Band through tribal association and intermarriage. Two federally recognized tribes represent Kutenai people in the U.S.: the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana, a confederation also including Bitterroot Salish and Pend d'Oreilles bands.