North American Tribal Languages

Since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, numerous men and women have laboured for the salvation of the Indigenous. Early missionaries, such as John Eliot and David Brainerd, spent years among them, learning their language, putting it into writing, and translating the Scriptures. 

Their efforts laid the foundation for future missionaries who would carry on the work of spreading the Gospel and equipping Indigenous communities with the tools to read the Scriptures in their own language. In the nineteenth century, English missionary the Rev. James Evans settled at remote Norway House, Manitoba dedicating his life to evangelising Indigenous people across Canada. Travelling vast distances by canoe and dog sled, perhaps his greatest accomplishment can be said to be the invention of syllabic characters enabling him to teach thousands of Indigenous people how to read and write Cree and Ojibway in just a few days—thereby giving them the ability to read the Scriptures in their own heart language.

Indigenous people live throughout North America, from coast to coast, with nearly every tribe and region having their own language. Today, many of these languages are dying out and few fluent native speakers still exist. However, some languages, such as Inuktitut, Navajo, and Ojibway, remain the first language of thousands of people. And they need their own copy of the Scriptures.

The Society has access to several Bible translations in various tribal languages. However, before we proceed, we need native speakers to assist us in determining the quality of these translations, if revision is needed, and to establish demand and distribution avenues. If you or someone you know has the ability to read an Indigenous tribal language, please contact us.

Whether it’s a tribal language in the mountains of Nepal, the deserts of Africa, or the plains of North America, we desire to provide everyone a Bible in their own heart language. Please continue to pray for the translation of God’s Word and the salvation of people throughout the whole world.