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Today, thousands of Native Americans live along the Northwest Coast, some in reservations or reserves, and others in cities and towns.
People in a region who speak related languages are called a nation. Governed by chiefs and elders, the nations work to raise awareness of their traditions, languages, beliefs, and ceremonies. Several nations have their own schools. Their languages and way of life were nearly destroyed. But the people of the Northwest Coast have survived and are determined to flourish. In recent years, the population has increased, though the number of people speaking the native languages is small.
