# Kickapoo language

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Dialect of the Fox language

Kickapoo Metotheeneniaatoweeheni[1] Native to United States, Mexico Ethnicity Kickapoo people Native speakers 1,043 Kickapoo in the US (2017–2021)[2] 60 Kickapoo in Mexico (2020 census)[3] Language family Algic Algonquian Central Algonquian Fox Kickapoo Dialects monolingual dialect (Peekaatowaakani)[1] Oklahoma dialect Mexican/Texan dialect Writing system Latin script Language codes ISO 639-3 kic Glottolog kick1244 ELP Kickapoo

Kickapoo people building a winter house in the town of Nacimiento Coahuila, Mexico, 2008

**Kickapoo** ([endonym](/source/Endonym): *Metotheeneniaatoweeheni*)[1] is either a dialect of the [Fox language](/source/Fox_language) or a closely related language, closely related to, and [mutually intelligible](/source/Mutual_intelligibility) with, the dialects spoken by the [Sauk people](/source/Sauk_people) and [Meskwaki people](/source/Meskwaki). Their language is included in the [Central Algonquian languages](/source/Central_Algonquian_languages) subgroup of the [Algonquian languages](/source/Algonquian_languages) family, itself a member of the [Algic language](/source/Algic_languages) family.

## History

In 1985, the [Kickapoo](/source/Kickapoo_people) Nation's School in [Horton, Kansas](/source/Horton%2C_Kansas), began a language-immersion program for elementary school grades to revive teaching and use of the Kickapoo language in kindergarten through grade 6.[4] Efforts in language education continue at most Kickapoo sites.

In 2010, the Head Start Program at the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas reservation, which teaches the Kickapoo language, became "the first Native American school to earn Texas School Ready! (TSR) Project certification."[5] Despite these efforts, there are no children who are first-language users of Kickapoo, as they choose to speak English instead.[1]

Also in 2010, Mexico's [Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia](/source/Instituto_Nacional_de_Antropolog%C3%ADa_e_Historia) participated in the elaboration of a Kickapoo alphabet.[6] The [Kickapoo](/source/Kickapoo_people) in Mexico are known for their [whistled speech](/source/Kickapoo_whistled_speech).

Texts,[7] recordings,[8] and a vocabulary[9] of the language are available.

The Kickapoo language and members of the Kickapoo tribe were featured in the movie *[The Only Good Indian](/source/The_Only_Good_Indian)* (2009), directed by Greg Wilmott and starring [Wes Studi](/source/Wes_Studi). This was a fictionalized account of Native American children forced to attend an [Indian boarding school](/source/Indian_boarding_school), where they were forced to speak English and give up their cultural practices.[10]

## Phonology

### Consonants

Eleven [consonant](/source/Consonant) [phonemes](/source/Phoneme) are used in Kickapoo:

Labial Dental Alveolar Postalveolar/ Palatal Velar Glottal Stop p t tʃ k Fricative θ s h Nasal m n Approximant j w

- The voiceless sounds can sometimes be voiced as [[b](/source/Voiced_bilabial_plosive), [d](/source/Voiced_alveolar_plosive), [dʒ](/source/Voiced_postalveolar_affricate), [ɡ](/source/Voiced_velar_plosive), [ð](/source/Voiced_dental_fricative), [z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)].

- /[p](/source/Voiceless_bilabial_plosive)/ in word-initial position can also be aspirated as [[pʰ](/source/Aspirated_consonant)].

- /[tʃ](/source/Voiceless_postalveolar_affricate)/ can also be pronounced as [[ts](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_affricate)].[11]

- Glides /[w](/source/Voiced_labial%E2%80%93velar_approximant), [j](/source/Voiced_palatal_approximant)/ may also be heard as non-syllabic vowels [o̯, i̯].[12]

- /[w](/source/Voiced_labial%E2%80%93velar_approximant)/ can be pronounced as [[ʔ](/source/Glottal_stop)] in fast speech.[1]

### Vowels

There are eight [vowel](/source/Vowel) phonemes in Kickapoo:[12]

Front Back High i iː o oː Low ɛ ɛː a aː

- /a, ɛ, i, o/, can also be phonetically heard as [allophones](/source/Allophone) [ə, ɛ~e, ɪ, ʊ~o] and /aː, ɛː, iː, oː/ can be heard as [äː, æː, iː, ɔː].[1]

## Orthography

A Kickapoo alphabet was developed by Paul Voorhis in 1974 and was revised in 1981.[13] A new orthography is used by the Kickapoo Language Development Program in Oklahoma.[14]

Kickapoo alphabet (Kickapoo Language Development Program)[14] Letter a aa ch e ee h i ii k m n o oo p s t th w y Pronunciation ə ɑ tʃ e æ h ɪ i k m n o ɔ p s t θ w j

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_1-5) Bluecloud, Mosiah Salazar (2020). [*A Sketch Grammar of the Kickapoo Language*](https://repository.arizona.edu/bitstream/handle/10150/648609/azu_etd_18275_sip1_m.pdf?sequence=1) (PDF). The University of Arizona.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over: 2017-2021"](https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/language-use/2017-2021-lang-tables.html). *Census.gov*. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 6 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-inegi2020_3-0)** [Lenguas indígenas y hablantes de 3 años y más, 2020](http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/hipertexto/todas_lenguas.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165419/http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/hipertexto/todas_lenguas.htm) 2016-03-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) INEGI. Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Reaves, Michell Reaves (2001-08-11). ["Canku Ota - Aug. 11, 2001 - Indians Value Their Language"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181029030902/http://www.turtletrack.org/IssueHistory/Issues01/Co08112001/CO_08112001_Kickapoo_Language.htm). *Canku Ota (Many Paths), an Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America, Medill News Service* (42). Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas First Native American Tribe to Achieve Texas School Ready! Certification"](http://www.newswise.com/articles/kickapoo-first-native-american-tribe-to-achieve-texas-school-ready-certification). *Newswise, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston*. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Kickapoo Language Prepared to be Written"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120316153149/http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=37399). *Art Daily*. 2010-04-12. Archived from [the original](http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=37399) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["OLAC resources in and about the Kickapoo language"](http://www.language-archives.org/language/kic). Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Recordings for study of the Shawnee, Kickapoo, Ojibwa, and Sauk-and-Fox :: American Philosophical Society"](http://www.amphilsoc.org/mole/view?docId=ead/Mss.Rec.14-ead.xml;query=;brand=default). Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["OLAC Record: Kickapoo vocabulary"](http://www.language-archives.org/item/oai:gial.edu:10032). 1988. Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Kickapoo Language, Culture to be Featured in Film"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120810013342/http://www.hiawathaworldonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=486&TM=50946.93). *Hiawatha World Online*. 2007-09-12. Archived from [the original](http://www.hiawathaworldonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=486&TM=50946.93) on 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-07-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Voorhis, Paul H. (1974). *Introduction to the Kickapoo Language*. Indiana University Publications.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_12-1) Voorhis, Paul H. (1967). *Kickapoo Grammar*. Ann Arbor.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Voorhis_1981_13-0)** Cowan, William (1981). [*Papers of the Thirteenth Algonquian Conference*](https://ocul-gue.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01OCUL_GUE/mrqn4e/alma9917538843505154). Ottawa, Canada: [Carleton University](/source/Carleton_University). pp. 81–89. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780770901233](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780770901233).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBluecloud202017-24_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBluecloud202017-24_14-1) [Bluecloud 2020](#CITEREFBluecloud2020), p. 17-24.

v t e Algic languages Algonquian Arapahoan Arapaho Gros Ventre2 Nawathinehena Cree–Montagnais–Naskapi Cree East Cree Moose Cree Plains Cree Michif1 Swampy Cree Woods Cree Others Atikamekw Innu-aimun Naskapi Eastern Algonquian Southern New England Loup Massachusett2 M. Pidgin1 Mohegan–Pequot Narragansett Quiripi–Naugatuck–Unquachog Delawaran Delaware Munsee Unami Pidgin Delaware1 Mahican Nanticockan Nanticoke Piscataway Others Abenaki Western Eastern Carolina Algonquian Etchemin Maliseet–Passamaquoddy Mi'kmaq Powhatan Mesquakie–Sauk–Kickapoo Mesquakie–Sauk Kickapoo Ojibwa–Potawatomi Ojibwa Algonquin Berens River Ojibwa Border Lakes Ojibwa Broken Oghibbeway1 Central Ojibwa Chippewa Eastern Ojibwa Nipissing Ojibwa North of Superior Ojibwa Northwestern Ojibwa Oji-Cree Ottawa Western Ojibwa Potawatomi Potawatomi Others Algonquian–Basque pidgin1 Blackfoot Cheyenne Menominee Miami–Illinois Shawnee Others Wiyot Yurok2 Uncertain Nansemond Pamunkey Proto-languages Proto-Algic Proto-Algonquian 1 Creole/Pidgin/Mixed language • 2 Under language revival • Italics indicate extinct languages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kickapoo language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickapoo_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickapoo_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.