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Tanana Language

There are actually two Tanana languages, Lower Tanana (also called Minto) and Upper Tanana (also called Nabesna). Though they are both Athabaskan languages of Alaska and Northern Canada, they are no more closely related than English and German. Tanana is the name of a long river in Alaska, and the Lower Tanana people live at one end of it, the Upper Tanana people at the other. Upper Tanana is spoken by about 100 people today, and Lower Tanana by 30. Both languages are primarily spoken only by older people, but some young people are working to reverse this trend.

˜Tanana Language

Tanana language samples and resources.

˜Tanana Culture and History

Information and links about the Tanana tribe past and present.

Tanana Indian Legends

Introduction to the mythology of the Tanana Indians.

˜Tanana Language Resources –

Our Online Tanana Materials

Tanana Vocabulary:
Our list of vocabulary words in the Tanana language, with comparison to words in other Athabaskan languages.

Tanana Pronunciation Guide:
How to pronounce Lower Tanana words.

Tanana Animal Words:
Illustrated glossary of animal words in the Tanana language.

Tanana Colors:
Worksheet showing color words in the Tanana language.

Tanana Body Parts:
Online and printable worksheets showing parts of the body in the Tanana language.

Tanana Numbers:
Worksheet showing how to count in the Tanana language.

Tanana Language Lessons and Linguistic Descriptions

Upper Tanana Language
Overview of Upper Tanana from the Yukon Native Language Centre, who also sells Tanana and other Athabaskan language materials.

LaserTanana
Alaskan Athapascan fonts for Windows, including Lower and Upper Tanana and nine other languages.

Tanana Prayers:
Tanana translation of the Hail Mary Prayer.

Lower Tanana Language

Upper Tanana Language
Tanana demographic information from the Ethnologue of Languages.

Athapaskan Languages of Alaska
Place names in Tanana, Ahtna, Koyukon, Gwich'in, and Tanaina.

Links, References, and Additional Information

Lengua Tanana:
Information on the Tanana language in Spanish.
Tananas:
Tanana links.

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