Tsėhésenėstsestȯtse (Cheyenne) is a severely to critically endangered native language of the Cheyenne people. Althought Cheyenne remains the ceremonial language and the knowledge of it is very valued, it is among the languages seriously endangered with vanishing in horizon of two or three generations. Among the Southern Cheyenne, 550 persons spoke Cheyenne in 2000, mostly elders. Among the Northern Cheyenne, the situation is a little bit better but the number of Cheyenne speakers is decreasing quickly. In 2000, 1195 people of Montana spoke Cheyenne; in 2013, there were only about 350 fluent Cheyenne speakers in Montana!
There is an philosophical question whether to reverse the language shift or accept it as a natural process. Generally, the language loss is felt negativelly: it is a loss for the world's language and cultural diversity, it is a loss for future linguists, but it is the biggest loss for people who have spoken the lost language. If they could choose they would choose to maintain their native language. The most of Tsitsistas and Sutaio see it similarly. Cheyenne is considered as an essential part of the Cheyenne culture and identity. The Cheyenne universe wouldn't be full and blessed without it. To avert the language loss is the hardest challenge of the Cheyenne people today.
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune, October 15, 2012
A report from the Southern Cheyenne people in Oklahoma on the Cheyenne language's critical situation and efforts to keep it. The Cheyenne students learn the language of their grandmothers as an exotic foreign language now. Anyone working to change this sad state merits credit. Here, we can read about Joyce Twins, Hollie Youngbear, and other Cheyenne people helping to keep their native language for the future generations. It is twice more valuable and it illustrates again Tsitsistas and Sutaio are an emancipated community.
Not speaking Cheyenne, not understanding Cheyenne. That's the biggest problem. It has to be brought back by a group of people that want to turn around and go back to the old way and not concentrate on going to work and paying for their bills and this and that.
Keeping Cheyenne Language Alive