About

Yurok is an Algic language spoken in northwestern California in the United States. It is the native language of the Yurok tribe. The Yurok tribe was very prosperous before the arrival of European colonists, with nearly 50 villages established along the Klamath River and western coast of California. The proximity of the tribe to these water sources was crucial to the development of certain parts of their culture, such as their expertise in fishing and canoe making, the importance of seafood to the people, and their use of dentalia shells as traditional money. The tribe also ate acorns, deer, and berries, and they used fallen redwood trees to build houses. The tribe believed the trees were sacred and gave them the utmost respect. However, when the colonists arrived in the area, the culture was suppressed and use of the Yurok language declined rapidly as the natives were forced to learn English and convert to Christianity. By the early 1900s, the language was nearly extinct, and it is still facing this problem today. The last native speaker of the language died in 2013, but there are still around 20 or 30 fluent speakers of the language due to successful revitalization efforts. There are many schools that teach the language in the area, and some books have been written in the language as well.

More/Stats

Also known as: Chillula, Mita, Pekwan, Puliklah

​

Language Family: Algic

​

Written Alphabet: New Yurok, Unifron (prior to 2020) 

​

Category: Critically Endangered/Awakening 

​

Speakers: 20+

Music and Dance

• Yurok Brush Dance Demonstration (part one)

• Brush Dance Yurok Indians

• Yurok Language MK

• E5: Songs for Learning Yurok Part 1

• Yurok Language: Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes song

• Amy Cordalis | Yurok Tribe | Equator Prize

​

​