Native American Indian languages * American Indian cultures * Indian heritage

Atfalati Indian Language (Tualatin)

The Atfalati or Tualatin Indians were a small tribe of Oregon, relatives of the Kalapuya Indians and speakers of a northern Kalapuya dialect. Like many other West Coast Indian tribes, the Atfalati people were relocated to the Grand Ronde Reservation in Oregon during the 1800's, where they were merged with other native peoples and their languages rapidly vanished. The Atfalati Kalapuya language is no longer spoken today, but some young people are working to learn their ancestral language again.


Sponsored Links


Names: The name Atfalati is also spelled in many other ways, including Tfalati, Twalati, Tualiti, Tualatin, Tualitin, Fallatah, and Fwalitz. These names are all English corruptions of the tribal name Atfalati, whose "tf" sound is very difficult for English speakers to pronounce. The Atfalatis have also been known as the Wapato Lake Indians or Wappatoos, after the name of a lake in their traditional territory.

Atfalati Language Links

MultiTree: Tfalati/Tualatin
    Theories about Atfalati language relationships compiled by Linguist List.
Kalapuya
    Our resources about the Kalapuya language and its dialects.

Books for sale on the Atfalati Indians
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links

My Life: Reminiscences of a Grand Ronde Reservation Childhood:
    Oral history from a Grand Ronde elder who was the last speaker of the Tualatin language.
A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest:
    Book on the history of the Northwest Coast tribes, including a section on the Atfalati/Tualatin.
Living in the Great Circle: The Grand Ronde Indian Reservation 1855-1905:
    History of the Grand Ronde Confederation.

Atfalati Culture and History Links

The Grand Ronde Confederation:
    Homepage of the reservation where most Atfalati people live today.
Atfalati-Kalapuya of Washington County:
    Online museum exhibit on the Native people of Western Oregon, curated by a Grand Ronde tribal historian.
Atfalati Tribe History:
    Information about the Atfalati tribe from the Handbook of American Indians.
Oregon Encyclopedia: Tualatin Peoples:
    Article about the Tualatin villages of Oregon.
West Oregon Map * Tribes and Bands of Traditional Oregon:
    Maps showing old Kalapuyan territories in Oregon, including the Tualatin tribe.
Atfalati Artifacts and Rock Carvings:
    Photographs of ancient Atfalati petroglyphs and stone tools found in the Tualatin Valley.
Atfalati: the Indians of Cedar Mill:
    Local history of the Atfalati people of the Willamette Valley.
Indigenous History of Oregon: Tualatin * Wikipedia: Tualatin People:
    Encyclopedia articles on the Tualatin/Atfalati Indians.
Atfalati-Kalapuya: First People of Washington County:
    Atfalati museum exhibit.
Four Directions: Atfalati:
    Timeline and links about Atfalati history.

Links, References, and Additional Information

Los Atfalati: * Idioma Kalapuya/Atfalati:
Information about the Atfalatis and their language in Spanish.
Grand Ronde Tribes: * Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
Links and references related to the Grand Ronde confederation.



Back to our Indian tribe list
Back to Native American Facts for Kids
Go on to Native American names

Native Languages

Indian art center * Alabama-Coushatta * Maidu park * Nature spirits

Would you like to sponsor work on the Atfalati language page?

Native Languages of the Americas website © 1998-2021 * Contacts and FAQ page