Is it OK to use the word Indian when referring to the indigenous people of North America?

Question

This is especially to American Indians, but also to anyone interested:

Some people say the word Indian is offensive,and prefer Native American or First Nation or maybe the name of a specific tribe.

But wouldn't anyone born in the US, or any country, be a native of that country? Europe has a lot of non-whites whose ancestors were immigrants. I think it would be offensive to imply that only Whites are English natives.

I guess First Nation is logical enough, but that seems to be a term used more in Canada.

I once read an interview with Sherman Alexie an American Indian Film maker. He said the word Indian was just fine. I also read an article by a member of the Lakota tribe, saying the word redskin is offensive. He chided people of all races who use the word redskin, including African-Americans & calls it the r-word. He used the term Indian throughout the article-link below. I get the r-word issue

I dont want to hurt others with a word if I can avoid it.

http://www.racismagainstindians.org/STARArticle/GiagoArticle.htm

Answer 1

If you had been around to ask this 300 or so years ago, they probably would have suggested calling them by thei individual tribe's names - Crow, Cheyenne, Sioux, etc. Well, nowadays, they actually prefer for you to just call them 'Indians'. Yet another example of how someone's historical blunder (Columbus thinking he'd found India and so calling the people residing on the now Caribbean islands and along the coast of now America (pick one) 'Indians') can still manage to survive even though we know better now.

Answer 2

i'd say the yank Indians, in spite of the indisputable fact that it really is a secret the position they got here from. The Indians in South us of a had civilizations that were equivalent to Rome,Greece, and Egypt. The Indians of South us of a in all likelihood were descended from the North American Indians. some say that they were concerning to the Phonecians and the Mongolians, yet it really is an extremely arguable theory with little evidence. there is also sturdy evidence that helps the theory that the Eskimos in Alaska and Canada were concerning to the Siberian Eskimos. It became in all likelihood this crew or a close relative that drove the Vikings out of Newfoundland. there is also evidence that the chinese language would have made it to us of a, about 40 5 years till now Columbus. there is also the storys from the "e book of Mormon" besides.

Answer 3

I refuse to use the word "indian" because we don't live in India.

Native American is more respectful. I've never heard the term "First Nation" before and it doesn't exactly roll of the tongue or fit into a sentance the way Native American does.

Answer 4

I have always referred to them as Native Americans or Native American Indian. To me, someone who is Indian is from the country of India.

I hope that's right as, like you, I wouldn't want to offend anyone.

Answer 5

Mostly because "indian" derives from a mistake in navigation...the first explorers thought they had sailed around the world to india.

After that, even though such (coincidental sounding) indiginous peoples were not "INDIANS", almost all of them were identified as such. Apache, huron, etc.

I don't blame them if they find that singular stroke of ignorance offensive, especially since it has persisted for so long. That would be like calling all americans "Japanese" for example, or referring to everyone in the midwest as a Texan.

Just stick with "native american". it's true and we can all agree with it.

Answer 6

I would think that since they are indian that would bet he right word, just ask the person you are speaking to. I am an american, and if someone called me anything else like a texan because I live in texas I would not care either way...

Answer 7

I refer to them as "Native Americans" or "American Indians".

"Indian" to me means someone from India

Answer 8

almost each and every tribe had their own version of language referring to themselves as " THE PEOPLE. "