Alternate Names: Innu Aimun, Iyuw Iyimuuun
Dialects: Eastern Naskapi (Natuashish), Western Naskapi (Kawawachikamach).
Genealogy:
Demographics: 620 (2011 census).
Language Use: Vigorous in both dialects. Slowly shifting to English [eng]. All ages. Also use English [eng], French [fra], Montagnais [moe].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Western Naskapi: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Ongoing community language program in Western Naskapi. Syllabic orthography taught in Grade 2 in Western Naskapi. Eastern Naskapi is taught as a subject at school (Golla 2007). Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2007.
Writing System: Latin, Unified Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics
Nation of Origin: Canada
Other Comments: Naskapi culture was nomadic and completely dependent on the migratory habits of caribou. Caribou hunting and land use still seen as important. Innu Aimun refers to both Eastern Naskapi dialect and Montagnais , but not Western Naskapi. Some linguists have referred to dialect spoken at Natuashish as Eastern Naskapi but currently refer to it as Innu Aimun or Mushuau Innu Aimun.