Creek language
| Muscogee | |
|---|---|
| Seminole | |
| Mvskoke | |
| Native to | United States |
| Region | East central Oklahoma, Creek and Seminole, south Alabama Creek, Florida, Seminole of Brighton Reservation. |
| Ethnicity | Muscogee people |
|
Native speakers
|
5,000 (2010 census) |
|
Muskogean
|
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | cree1270 |
Map showing the distribution of Oklahoma Indian Languages
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The Muscogee language (Mvskoke in Muscogee), also known as Creek,Seminole, Maskókî or Muskogee, is a Muskogean language spoken by Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole people, primarily in the U.S. states of Oklahoma and Florida.
Historically the language was spoken by various constituent groups of the Muscogee or Maskoki in what are now Alabama and Georgia. It is related to but not mutually intelligible with the other primary language of the Muscogee confederacy, Hitchiti/Miccosukee, spoken by the kindred Miccosukee (Mikasuki), as well as other Muskogean languages.
The Muscogee first brought the Muscogee and Miccosukee languages to Florida in the early 18th century and would eventually become known as the Seminoles. In the 19th century, however, the US government forced most Muscogees and Seminoles to relocate west of the Mississippi River, with many forced into Indian Territory.
Today, the language is spoken by around 5000 people, most of whom live in Oklahoma and are members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Around 200 speakers are Florida Seminoles. Seminole use of the language constitutes distinct dialects.
Creek is widely spoken amongst the Creeks, and the Muscogee Nation offers free language classes and immersion camps to Creek children.
The College of the Muscogee Nation offers a language certificate program.Tulsa public schools, the University of Oklahoma and Glenpool Library in Tulsa and the Holdenville, Okmulgee, and Tulsa Creek Indian Communities of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation offer Muskogee Creek language classes. In 2013, the Sapulpa Creek Community Center graduated a class of 14 from its Muscogee language class.
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Wikipedia