The Chinook Wawa people speak a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest that spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River in Oregon, Washington, and as far as Alaska. This language people group originated as Native American Indians and English and French peoples communicated with one another.

As such, their language has more characteristics of a creole language. It is related to, but not the same as, the aboriginal language of the Chinook people, upon which much of its vocabulary is based. For some Chinook Wawa descendants, the language retains positive symbolic associations with indigenous identity.

For instance, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, east of Lincoln City, Oregon, are revitalizing the language. They converse with and teach the language with younger generations.