Séliš
/ˈseɪ.lɪʃ/noun
An autonym used by the Séliš, or Flathead, people and for their Indigenous language in Montana and neighboring regions.
Did you know?“Séliš” is the community’s own name, while “Flathead” is an exonym imposed by English speakers; the two names do not share the same origin.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Séliš
Séliš
“Traditional self-designation of the Séliš people; the precise internal etymology is not securely established in mainstream sources.”
18th–19th Century
English/French usage
Salish
“An outsider rendering that became a broader label for related peoples and languages of the Pacific Northwest.”
19th Century
English
Flathead
“An exonym applied to the Séliš people; it reflects a colonial naming tradition rather than the meaning of Séliš.”
Modern English
English
Séliš
“A recognized Indigenous proper name for the people and their language, commonly written with accents to reflect community usage.”