Can anyone explain why we call NATIVE AMERICANS Indians, when their not even from India? And do actual INDIANS call themselves Indians? Or do they go by something else?Do Native Americans mind being called Indians? The two are totallly different cultures and don't even resemble one another. I'm all confused.
2006-08-09 06:45:34 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
As far as I know, Native Americans do not call themselves by that term although, and I do believe they prefer it to the term Indian. They are called Native Americans because they were the first people who occupied the Americas. It really depends on what group you talk to as to what they want to be called or what name they call themselves. It usually goes back to their origin stories. A lot of the names for groups that we are familiar with were given to them by either their enemies, or by the first Europeans. A lot of them are not very nice, that is why you hear a lot about them changing their name back to what it was originally hundreds of years ago.
People from India and those who are Native Americans are of different cultures. They have different religious beliefs and ways of life.
Columbus never actually made it to North America on his first journey. He actually landed on the island of San Salvador. Of course, there is a lot of debate on this, but from what I was taught, this is his actual landing spot.
2006-08-09 08:14:59 · answer #1 · answered by Elizabeth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most I know call themselves either Native American or in Canada, First Nation.
They refer to themselves by tribe.
America calls them "Indians" because Columbus called them people "In Dios", or people of God.
Some people think it was because he thought he was in India but in 1492 India was called Hindustan.
2006-08-09 06:55:50 · answer #2 · answered by Ed M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard a story once that the reason they're called Indians is that when Columbus landed, he thought that he was in the East Indies (I.E. Asia) rather than a new continent.
2006-08-09 06:50:45 · answer #3 · answered by Lord_of_Armenia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when chris columbus landed here he thought that he was in india so he called the natives he saw "indians" it does not bother me or anyone in my tribe to be called indian.
here is a link to my tribe if you would like to visit
http://www.cowcreek.com/
2006-08-09 06:51:43 · answer #4 · answered by native 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Columbus though he was in India and he referred to them as Indians in his reports.
2006-08-09 06:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
chrispher colombus thought he had landed in india so he called the people indians stuck ever snice people from india are called indians
2006-08-09 06:52:48 · answer #6 · answered by NICK K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it goes back to old chris columbus. he thought he had found a shortcut to india and so called the people he found indians.
2006-08-09 06:51:10 · answer #7 · answered by glen t 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask George W Bush He has been appointed by God to rule our destiny's
2006-08-09 06:48:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋