What does the term 'Indian giver' mean and where did it originate from?

Answer 1

"The expression Indian giver is based on the belief that Native Americans would lend items to the settlers, in other words, let them borrow necessities. The settlers thought that this was a gift from the Native Americans; hence, they were shocked when the Native Americans asked for their items back."

Answer 2

In is the term used in a slang and slanderous way about an American Native. As the white man had barter and exchange methods, they never considered the native to be intelligent enough to also have these methods. Which is highly insulting, to anyone. Just because someone does not speak your language does not make them ignorant. However a native would go into a dry goods store and take his furs and trade them for items needed and that was fine. But when the natives lent things like their land their water, their horses, the white man kept these things without a trade or even exchange. So the native would want his land and his waters, his horses his gold, his silver, his copper, his iron, his everything back or at least a piece of the action, the white man killed the native and called him an Indian Giver. Just like today here in America with the Gimmee this Gimmee that for free tribes in all creeds, colors and races.

Answer 3

My understanding is that the term originates from the Native American (Indian) custom of never accepting a gift without giving something in return. Thus an 'Indian Giver' would give you something but expect another gift back from you. Naturally the gift you got back had to be more valuable than the one you gave so an Indian Giver described someone who took more than he gave.

Answer 4

Shesh.....you people who look stuff up on wikipedia and COPY AND PASTE answers here are NOT answering peoples questions- youre not even using your BRAIN. Your taking SOMEONE ELSES answer from wikipedia and using it as your own, despite siting source, dont you know how to use your brain?

People have often misunderstood this saying and twisted it to be an insult to native americans.
Ok, youre dealing with native americans and early white settlers. Theres a LANGUAGE and culture barrier. This sets up situations for misunderstandings. The whites would be "given" certain items to use, but in actually the indians had allowed the whites to "borrow" the items. So when the indians wanted the items back, the whites made the assumption that they were TAKING what they had freely given them. So the term indian-giver was born.
It was all a misunderstanding brought on by not knowing the language. Such as what happens today when people hear a muslim praying in the airport- without knowing the language, too many americans BELIEVE the muslims are about to blow something up- (WHICH Is freaking ridiculous) because we as americans have a language and culture barrier seperating us from other nations. When we as human beings, do not understand something- we FEAR it and make up stories about it to further instill that fear in others and justify our own fear. Such as again, indian-giver. It heavily implies that indians are liars and theives. Its crazy.

Answer 5

The term refers to someone who gives you something and then takes it back. It seems to come from the fact that much of what was given to the Indians was taken back. For example, the U.S. government gave the Indians certain lands by treaty and then took the land back after it became valuable.

Answer 6

Taking back what was given, not following through on promises. Comes from all the broken treaties whites had with native american Indians.

Answer 7

when the non native americans traded with the native americans [indians] then took back what was given say the land .and then moved them against their will to another place where most died . it was considered a bad deal

Answer 8

hi, i think it comes from the "wild west" and it means a white man that traded with the indians. dont know if this is very accurate but heard it while watching a cowboy film with my partner lol