Juneau Empire
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There are only six fluent speakers of the Tsimshian language, Sm'algyax, left in Alaska. Interest in the language is on the rise, however. "I try not to dwell on those numbers because I feel like, just within this class we have 20 people, most of whom are from our state who are dedicating their lives to Sm'algyax," said Mique'l Dangeli, who carries the Tsimshian name Sm Łoodm 'Nüüsm.