Innu-aimun (also called Innu) is an Algonquian language spoken by the Innu of Labrador and Quebec in Eastern Canada.

Spoken over a vast territory, Innu consists of two large dialect areas: Western (Mashteuiatsh, Pessamit, Matimekush, Uashat mak Mani-utenam) and Eastern (Ekuanitshit, Nutashkuan, Unaman-shipit, Pakua-shipit, Sheshatshiu, Natuashish).

 

Western Innu is further divided into two sub-dialects. The ‘l’ dialect spoken in Mashteuiatsh and Pessamit includes the /l/ sound, and the ‘n’ dialect spoken in Matimekush and Uashat mak Mani-utenam has the /n/ sound, also heard in the Eastern dialects.

Eastern Innu is also divided into two sub-dialects: The Mamit dialect of the Lower North Shore, Quebec (Ekuanitshit, Nutashkuan, Uanaman-shipit, Pakua-shipit) and Labrador (Sheshatshiu, Natuashish). Sheshatshiu Innu shares many features with the Quebec dialects, while Mushuau Innu (Natuashish) shares many words and features with the neighbouring Naskapi language of Kawawachikamach, Quebec.

Quebec Innu speak French as their second language, while Labrador Innu speak English.

More information:  https://www.innu-aimun.ca/english/dictionaries/