Central Kalapuya Language

Central Kalapuyan, or Santiam, was a Kalapuyan language indigenous to the central and southern Willamette Valley in Oregon in the United States. It was spoken by various bands of the Kalapuya peoples who inhabited the valley up through the middle of the 19th century. The language is closely related to Northern Kalapuya, spoken in the Tualatin and Yamhill valleys. Dialects of Central Kalapuya that have been identified include:

  • Ahantchuyuk dialect, spoken in the northeastern Willamette Valley along the Pudding and Molalla rivers
  • Santiam dialect, spoken in the central Willamette Valley along the lower Santiam River
  • Luckiamute dialect, spoken in the central Willamette Valley along the Luckiamute River
  • Chepenafa dialect, spoken in the central Willamette Valley along Mary's River
  • Chemapho dialect, spoken in central Willamette Valley along Muddy Creek.
  • Chelamela dialect, spoken in the southwestern Willamette Valley along the Long Tom River
  • Tsankupi dialect, spoken in the southeastern Willamette Valley along the Calapooia River
  • Winefelly-Mohawk dialects, spoken in the southeastern Willamette Valley along the McKenzie, Mohawk, and Coast Fork Willamette rivers

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