However, we can say that there were hundreds of distinct languages spoken across the Americas before European colonization. These languages fall into numerous language families, each with its own history and branches:
* Na-Dené: Found in the northwestern parts of North America (including the Athabaskan languages like Navajo and Apache)
* Algic: Found in the northeastern parts of North America (including Algonquian languages like Ojibwe, Cree, and Blackfoot)
* Siouan: Found in the central parts of North America (including Lakota, Dakota, and Osage)
* Iroquoian: Found in the northeastern parts of North America (including Mohawk, Oneida, and Cherokee)
* Muskogean: Found in the southeastern parts of North America (including Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw)
* Uto-Aztecan: Found in the southwestern parts of North America (including Nahuatl, Hopi, and Paiute)
* Salishan: Found in the northwestern parts of North America (including Squamish, Shuswap, and Okanagan)
* Wakashan: Found on the coast of northwestern North America (including Nootka and Kwakiutl)
* Tsimshian: Found on the coast of northwestern North America (including Tsimshian and Gitksan)
* And many more...
It's crucial to understand that:
* "First Nations" is a term specific to Canada, and the term "Indigenous peoples" is more inclusive and encompasses all the original inhabitants of the Americas.
* There is no single "First Nations language," just as there's no single "European language."
* Many of these languages are endangered or extinct due to the impact of colonization.
If you're interested in learning more about a specific language, I recommend researching the specific First Nations or Indigenous group you're interested in. You can find resources from organizations like the First Nations Language Archive, the Indigenous Language Institute, and the University of Alberta's First Nations Language Resources.