Cayuga is a Northern Iroquoian language that is spoken in Canada and the United States. The Cayuga Nation, the “People of the Great Swamp,” is a member of the Haudenasaunee, a confederacy of united Native Nations that was founded in the 12th century. The Cayuga Nation is made up of five clans: Bear, Heron, Snipe, Turtle, and Wolf. These show lineage, since clan membership is matrilineal. In the late 1700s, the Cayuga Nation was forced out of its home by the United States, and they were only able to begin to reclaim their land in the beginning of the 21st century. Now, the Cayuga language is spoken by less than 100 people, and all of them are over 40 years old. There have been revitalization efforts, including books written in the language. However, it is not taught in schools and children do not learn it as a native language.