Imagine what most people think about when they hear the terms Indian, or Nations. Do they have images of loincloths, teepees, war paint, or nomads? Now consider Native Americans and their languages. Would most people determine that English has become a first and only language for many Native Ameri can communities? The issue of English language dominance is all too common among the First Nations communities and Native Ameri cans in the United States. Ancestral language loss, prevalent in most Native American and First Nations communities, has been occurring since European contact began. This article explores how English dominates most First Nations and Native American communities, not merely in daily communication but in all aspects, most notably in all literary forms, especially novels and poetry. We must first con sider what history reveals in this sociolinguistic milieu in which we find ourselves. A fascinating pattern emerges as we explore historical Native American literature and trace that pattern to the current lit erature produced. It is a pattern related to authorial language reflec tion and lamentation. It is necessary to contextualize how language reflection and lam entation emerge in Native American literature in three settings: 1) Precontact phase: Ancestral languages prior to Columbus; 2) Transi tional phase: Linguistic contact and transition; 3) Modern Phase: Linguistic shift to English. The first phase briefly illustrates pre Columbian linguistic diversity in North America. The transitional and modern phases address the impact of language shift socially and