We are proud of this distinctive language that separates us from our neighbours. Our language, Ditidaht, is one of three closely related languages (Nitinaht, Makah, and Westcoast) forming the South Wakashan sub-group of the Wakashan Language Family. Our American relatives across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, around Neah Bay, speak Makah, and our neighbours living northwest of Pacheena Point speak Westcoast (also called “Nuu-chah-nulh,” formerly called “Nootka”).
The Nitinaht and Makah languages are much more closely related to each other than they are to Westcoast speakers.
Formerly, Westcoast speakers lived along the west coast of Vancouver Island between Cape Cook and Pachena Point; speakers of Nitinaht lived along the coast (including the area up the Nitinat drainage and Cowichan Lake) between Pachena Point and Point No Point; and Makah speakers lived along the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, between the Hoko River and Cape Alava. Nowadays, all of these groups are concentrated in several main villages.