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Siuslaw (Lower Umpqua)

Siuslaw is a Yakonan language once spoken in southern Oregon. It was related to Alsea and Coos, and some linguists consider all these languages part of a broader Penutian language family. Unfortunately the last fluent Siuslaw speakers died in the 1970's and 80's, but the language has been recorded and some young people are working to revive their ancestral language. Siuslaw is often referred to as "Lower Umpqua" by anthropologists, because the traditional homeland of the Siuslaw includes the lower part of the Umpqua River. The term "lower" does not have anything to do with the language, which is completely unrelated to the Athabascan language of the Upper Umpqua.

˜Siuslaw Language Resources –

Siuslaw
     Profile of the tribe with a map and language chart.
Siuslaw
     Demographic information about Siuslaw from the Ethnologue of Languages.
Pacific Northwest Language Domains:
    Language map of Siuslaw and other Northwest Coast languages of Washington, Oregon and California.

˜Siuslaw Culture and History Links –

Confederated Tribes of The Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians
     Official homepage of the Oregon tribe comprising the Siuslaw and their neighbors.
Confederated Tribes of Siletz:
    Home to descendants of the Siuslaw and many other tribes of Washington, Oregon and California.
West Coast Athabaskans
     Brief history of the Kwalhioqua, Siuslaw, and other Oregon Athabascan tribes from the University of Oregon.
Oregon Indian Tribes
     Fact sheet about the Siuslaw and other Oregon Indian tribes.

˜Books For Sale On The Siuslaws –

Our Siuslaw Natives, the Indians
     Book about the Siuslaw tribe for sale online.
Life in the Siuslaw Valley Prior to European Settlement
     Book on the history and culture of the Kalapuya, Yoncalla, Siuslaw and Lower Umpqua tribes.



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