Western Siouan languages
The Western Siouan languages, also called Siouan proper or simply Siouan, are a large language family native to North America. They are closely related to the Catawban languages, sometimes called Eastern Siouan, and together with them constitute the Siouan (Siouan–Catawban) language family.
Nakota
Recently the Assiniboine and, especially, the Stoney have begun to minimize the historic separation from the Dakota. They have claimed some identity with the Sioux nation, although such a centralized unit no longer exists. Historically, the Siouan tribes were quite decentralized as well and operated independently in bands. The tendency can be seen on Alberta's Stoney official Internet sites, for example, in the self-designation of the "Alexis Nakota "Sioux" First Nation", or in the claim of the "Nakoda First Nation" to their Sioux ancestry and the value of their native language:
"As descendants of the great Sioux nations, the Stoney tribal members of today prefer to conduct their conversation and tribal business in the Siouan mother tongue". Saskatchewan's Assiniboine and Stoney tribes also claim identification with the Sioux tradition.