To address the problem of language maintenance in Native American communities where younger generations are native speakers of English & must learn their heritage language as a second language, the history & current language situation of Kwak'wala (also known as Kwakiutl, a Northern Wakashan language of British Columbia) is critically examined in relation to current views on language death & mixed languages. Although it displays characteristics associated with a dying language, Kwak'wala continues to be maintained as an emblem of cultural identity, pride, & confidence in contexts of ritual, solidarity, & contacts with outsiders; children learning Kwak'wala adapt its lexicon to English syntax & phonology, thereby creating an instrument that serves these sociocultural functions & merits recognition as a new language, possibly a pidgin Kwak'wala or an English-Kwak'wala mixed language. Examples of Louisiana Creole, Michif, & Copper Island Aleut are adduced to support policies that recognize a resurgence of new Native American languages & counter criticism of their speakers by members of older generations. 3 Figures. J. Hitchcock