Should American Indians be called Aboriginal Americans?

Question

The original inhabtants of America were called Indians because Christopher Columbus thought he had arrived in India, but the term stuck even after it was known that this was a newly discovered continant.

But the native American people are not entitled to be called Indian. They were not from India and have nothing to do with that country. Indian refers to a nationality, of the country of India, and the people who are truly entitled to be called American Indian are people from India who have immigrated to America.

A more accurate term for the Navajos, Hopis, Apaches, Etc. would be Abroriginal American or the currently used Native American.

Answer 1

Only by the anthropologists, so just call us Navajos, Hopis, Apaches, Paiutes, etc, or American Indians for the lot of us and we'll keep calling you English, French and German or European for the lot of you....thanks. I also like Native and 'skins', i never did like 'native american'....sounds to 'late-60's neo-hippy culture new age', ............but that's just me.

Answer 2

I don't think it's a matter of deserving to be called anything. The term Indian was a historical mistake, everyone knows it, but the term is very popular. Even though we now have the phrase Native American there are still Indian baseball teams and stuff like that. Some people find it offensive, but I am part Cherokee and I don't really care either way. It's something from the past that is not really going to change very fast, so just accept it. Who cares about labels anyway?

Answer 3

In·di·an (nd-n) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

Of or relating to India or the East Indies or to their peoples, languages, or cultures.
Of or relating to any of the Native American peoples except the Eskimos, Aleuts, and Inuits.
NOUN:

A native or inhabitant of India or of the East Indies.

A member of any of the Native American peoples except the Eskimos, Aleuts, and Inuits.
Any of the languages of these peoples.

Usage Note:
Assuming that he had reached the Indies, Columbus called the people on the islands his ships visited "indios," or "Indians," and the misnomer has stuck ever since. It is natural that people have proposed alternative names, whether to avoid confusion between the inhabitants of America and India or to indicate respect for the original occupants of the American continents. Thus Native American has become widely established in American English, being acceptable in all contemporary contexts and preferred in many. However, the acceptance of Native American has not brought about the demise of Indian, despite persistent criticism. Unlike *****, which was quickly stigmatized once black became preferred, Indian never fell out of favor with a large segment of the American population. It is firmly rooted in English in such common terms as Plains Indian, French and Indian War, and Indian Territory as well as in numerous plant and place names. In locutions of this kind there is no possibility of substitution.·The charge that Indian is an offensive termhopelessly tainted by the ignorant or romantic stereotypes of popular American culturecan be answered, at least in part, by pointing to the continuing use of this term among American Indians themselves. Indeed, Indian authors and those sympathetic to Indian causes often prefer it for its unpretentious familiarity as well as its emotional impact, as in this passage from the Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday's memoir The Names (1976): "It was about this time that [my mother] began to see herself as an Indian. That dim native heritage became a fascination and a cause for her."


Are you aware that other groups are also referred to as Indians? Such as the Aztecs, Mayans, Caribs? - Have you not heard of the West Indies? [Carbibbean countries?]

As far as names are concerned - may I also point out that American refers to both North American AND South America
and should you wish to distinguish between the two, the North or South should preface...as there is a difference between American and a citizen of the USA

Actually if one were to change what Native Americans are called it is a bit too late - as I, for one, do not know what 'they' called their land prior to it being 'discovered' by others. But whatever name they called it, of that land is what they should have been called...

Whatever the case, nothing will happen at this late date to change the use[s] of the term Indian.

Answer 4

The "PC" term is to call them Native Americans, not American Indians.

Answer 5

Not "entitled" ?
Never heard that before...
The America Indians , The American People and most of the rest of the world seems to be content with the name...
I suppose you can call them whatever you wish...

Answer 6

You missed your own answer.... From what I have heard from people...the more accurate terms, and the one that most of them would prefer and is more respectful, is to call them Navajo or Hopi or Apache, or D/N/Lakota (not Sioux), and so on...

"...not entitled..." You think they picked the term? Because saying that is putting the blame on them, not the people who called them that when they would have preferred they call them by their own names...

Answer 7

I prefer Oneida just because I am of the Oneida Nation. but Indian will do I know what you mean when you say it . We are not native American you see we were here before the name America Just Natives will do.for some maybe not?

Answer 8

maximum that I have met from Pine Ridge rez have stated Indian ability "Indios" or "Of God." subsequently, religious human beings. The time period community American in accordance to my learn in Social technology BA degree software does no longer something more effective than make stereotyping worse. All human beings now, born in American are community human beings. it would want to be more effective perfect to say "First Peoples."

Answer 9

According to how far you want to push political correctnes. I, myself, am a French-German-Irish-Russian-AMerican. How silly is that and who really cares?

Answer 10

I prefer to call them by their first names. I believe they like that also.