GoKawiilApple's iOS 27 update adds Blackfoot and other Indigenous languages to keyboards
Apple's iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 release, best known for its updated Siri, also expanded keyboard support to include several Indigenous languages such as Blackfoot, alongside Cherokee, which Apple first added in 2010. Cherokee Nation leaders and Oklahoma teachers told Apple the tools, including pronunciation recording features, are being used in schools to help revitalize the language, which has roughly 1,500 fluent speakers worldwide.
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Adding low-resource Indigenous languages to mainstream consumer devices could make it easier for communities with very few remaining speakers to use digital communication in their native tongues, potentially aiding preservation efforts. Educators cited in the update suggest the tools are already influencing classroom teaching methods, though the long-term impact on language revitalization remains to be seen.
- iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 added Blackfoot and other Indigenous languages to Apple keyboards.
- Cherokee, with about 1,500 fluent speakers, was Apple's first added Native American language back in 2010.
- Oklahoma teachers use the keyboard's recording features to help students with Cherokee pronunciation.
Apple iPad (10th Generation) — With new indigenous language keyboard support arriving in iPadOS 27, an iPad is a great way to explore and practice typing in languages like Cherokee or Blackfoot. Its large touchscreen makes learning new scripts and characters especially approachable for students and teachers alike.
See Apple iPad (10th Generation) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Zachary Mcauliffe, 2026-10-12
Published there as: “More Indigenous Languages Come to iPhone and iPad Keyboards in New Apple Update”
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