Chipewyan

Meaning

Noun

A member of a Native American tribe of Central Canada, in the regions of Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan.

Name

The Northern Athabascan language spoken by this tribe.

Synonyms

Chippewyan

Chippewaian

Chippewa

Dene

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡ʃɪp.əˈwaɪ.ən/

Etymology

From Plains Cree ᒌᐘᔮᐣ (Cīpwayān, “pointed skin”), from ᒌᐚᐤ (cīpwāw, “to be pointed”) + ᐘᔮᐣ (wayān, “skin, hide”) — a reference to the cut and style of Chipewyan parkas.