Sechelt language

Sechelt
sháshíshalh-em
Pronunciation/ʃaʃiʃaɬəm/
Native toCanada
RegionBritish Columbia
Ethnicity1,200 Sechelt people (shíshálh) (2014)
Native speakers
1 (2019)
Salishan
Language codes
ISO 639-3sec
Glottologsech1246
ELPShe shashishalhem (Sechelt)
The historical extent of Sechelt territory (swiya)
Sechelt is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.
Peopleshíshálh
Languagesháshíshálh-em
Countryshíshálh swíya

Sechelt (/ˈsʃɛlt/; also called she shashishalhem; Sechelt: sháshíshalh-em, IPA: [ʃaʃiʃaɬəm]) is a Coast Salish language spoken by the Sechelt (shíshálh) people of the shíshálh Nation in British Columbia. Originally spoken across the lands (swiya) of the Sechelt people, the language today is nearly extinct; as of 2019 Margaret Joe Dixon was the last native speaker. Sechelt continues to be taught in local elementary schools and in higher education, including Capilano University.

Sechelt is most closely related to the Squamish, Halkomelem, and Nooksack languages.