Sekani language

Sekani or Tse’khene is the indigenous language of the Sekani of the British Columbia Interior. It is spoken primarily in communities located along the upper Peace, Parsnip, and Finlay river systems, including areas around Kwadacha, Tsay Keh Dene First Nation, and McLeod Lake. The language historically reflects the people's mobility across a vast boreal and mountainous landscape, with different bands occupying distinct territories while maintaining close linguistic ties.

NativetoCanada

RegionBritish Columbia

Ethnicity1,410 Sekani people (2014, FPCC)^[1]

Native speakers

35 (2021 census)
135 with knowledge (2021)^[2]

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Sekani
Tse'khene
Native to	Canada
Region	British Columbia
Ethnicity	1,410 Sekani people (2014, FPCC)[1]
Native speakers	35 (2021 census) 135 with knowledge (2021)[2]
Language family	Na-Dené Athabaskan Northern Athabaskan Sekani
Writing system	Latin script Canadian Aboriginal syllabics
Language codes
ISO 639-3	sek
Glottolog	seka1250
ELP	Tse'khene (Sekani)
Sekani is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.
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Most are only semispeakers, and the language is considered critically endangered.^[3] English predominates in education, government, wage labor, and interactions with outsiders, while Sekani is spoken more frequently by older generations and in family or ceremonial contexts. Many younger Sekani understand some of the language but have limited fluency, reflecting the effects of residential schools, language shift, and changing economic and social structure. As a result, English often serves economic functions, whereas Sekani remains closely associated with cultural knowledge and traditional ways of life.^[4]