Indian, Native American, Indiginous People: which term is most respectful to you?

Question

I work with a man at work who is of Chippewa decent, err rather Ojibwa as he prefers.

Indian isn't PC, but more comfortable to say, and I try to be PC and say Native American, or just Native (what 'you' call this land I believe varies).

As, he likes Reggae music. Which I see as enjoyed by like 95% black, and white combined...anyone else see this as an odd match?

I just want to be sensitive. Treat other as you'd have them treat you!

Keep the attitudes away from here. I have traits that don't match my background, and he admits, he is the only ___?___ he knows who listens to Reggae.

I don't mean to press or aggervate. This is an inquiry to be sensitive. If anyone cannot recognize that, you have other issues. Go to the backwoods for a second, less polite response, and then look at this again.

Answer 1

I live in the state of Washington and I live on a rez, I am S'Klallam. I refer to myself as Indigenous, Native or S'Klallam, or if I don't feel like dealing with giving the definition of whichever one I choose to answer with that day, I will simply say "Native American", because that is the PC term imposed upon us by America...

Every Native I know, who is 40 or younger, only call themselves "Indian" when speaking in a jokingly manner. My Elders still refer to themselves as "indian", because that is what they were referred to as back in the day...

I find being called "Indian" offensive, because it was the result of a misinterpretation of that pale fool that stumbled upon this land in 1492, and decided to say "Hey even though there are millions of people inhabiting this fine land, I think I'll say I discovered it...yeah, that sounds like a plan!"

BOO on columbus day!!! There needs to be a nationally recognized "First Nations Day"!

Answer 2

Americans,real Americans

Answer 3

In Canada, its " FIRST NATIONS " people
because they were the first people on this continent
all the different tribes are First Nations...

The next nations that came to North America were Vikings (1000 AD), Portugese (fishermen and Columbus in 1492), French, English, Dutch (Harlem), perhaps the Chinese (in 1421, but they didn't settle here that far back) etc... then everybody else in the world... But the first people, here for 1000's of years, the Indians, Inuit, etc... are respectfully and truly, we can call the "First Nations"

Answer 4

i've got purely met some tribal individuals that have been hung up on those labels, in spite of if "Indian" or "community American." frequently, it is not suitable in our communities. i in my view use community most of the time, without the american. yet, extremely, i exploit Indian and local American interchangeably. My elders all stated "Indian" while i became growing to be up. It became not an argument.

Answer 5

I live on the Navajo reservation and most are comfortable with Indian.

They kind of look at you funny if you say indigenous or native.

Answer 6

I'd rather be called American because that is what I am.

And you are getting the opinion of a girl who has been asked this question before.....its aggravating.

Answer 7

I don't have a problem with Indian or Native American.... your not calling him lazy or drunk so I think ether way your being "PC"

Answer 8

How about "Indigenous American"? No that wouldn't do, they all have their own nations; just as separate from the U.S. as Mexico - (actually, probably more separate than Mexico.)
Call them as they call themselves.

Answer 9

I'm not sure why you have to define him, but if you must, so be it. Have you asked him what he prefers, go with that. And let's not really forget that there were people on the north American continent before the Indians. Sigh.................

Answer 10

Maybe if you stopped trying to classify people and make them fit into some preconceived stereotype, maybe it wouldn't seem so odd.No offense, but one's ethnicity doesn't define their likes and dislikes.