what is the controversy behind the definition of "native american"??

Answer 1

The indiginous or earliest people of North America, do not want to be called "Indians" since they are not from India as a confused white man named Columbus thought they were because he thought he was in India. Would you want to be called by a name made up by a confused and ignorant enemy? Call them Native Americans. Who is a Native American? Today it can be confusing. How many pure blood Native people are left? How much Native ancestry is needed to be part of a tribe or nation? Legally it differs from treaty to treaty and tribe to tribe. Do you judge by tribal standards or by white legal standards? Today, some people may want Native American status to find an easier lifestyle; an identity or to capitalize on the good fortune of some tribes. Only Native Americans themselves through their tribal councils have a right to make these determinations.

Answer 2

The Native American name controversy is an ongoing dispute over the acceptable ways to refer to the indigenous peoples of the Americas and to broad subsets thereof, such as those living in a specific country or sharing certain cultural attributes. Once-common terms like "Indian" remain in use, despite the introduction of terms such as "Native American" during the latter half of the 20th century.

Many English terms have been used or considered for such purposes, such as American Indians (or simply Indians), Native Americans, Original Americans, First Nations, Indigenous Peoples of America, Amerindians, Amerinds, and more. However, none have found universal acceptance. Typical reasons for contesting a name are

ambiguity or accepted multiple meanings of the words used, like American or indigenous;
prior use for a different set of people, as in the case of Indian;
existence of unrelated common meanings, like native;
conflict with prior legal definitions, like Aboriginal;
sentimental attachment to a previous name;
that the term is quaint or pejorative, as for Eskimo (or Esquimaux );
resentment about having a name imposed by outsiders;
presumed political implications of the name, as with Native;
reluctance of individual groups to be referred to by a collective name;
and several others. Further complications arise when translating names between different languages, since even words that are closely related linguistically may have very different cultural loads in the respective speaker communities. "The People", "First Men" and "Original People" are the most common translations for various Indigenous American tribes.

In some countries, certain broad names have been defined by law, such as First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Even in those cases, there may be lingering debates on whether certain groups fit the legal definition or not, or whether the name or its definition are adequate.

Answer 3

because some people always want to establish something. something different. something unique. truth is, the earth is well a large circular mass. i don't really think people understand that concept yet. this means you are no different from any other male/female on the planet. male and female are the only races.

Answer 4

Um, the people who were on the continent before the europeans arrived didn't consider themselves 'americans' so why should they be called that now?

Answer 5

my boyfriend and our daughter is native, they just don't want to be confused with east indians, i guess....politically correct

Answer 6

the vast majority of native american indians dont mind being called any such name-yet to just say Indian-lets them be mistaken with the far east person from India, the native american-is by some questioned as to the earth once being one land mass that split and created indigenious peoples.

their are those as in most any culture that chose different ways to define their heritage.

there is much more to this issue than meets the eye.

personally I feel they should as I did come to Jesus and be called a believer-then that takes presidence over location
as even a Afro America=one that prefers Africa over America but wouldnt live in Africa

well in my case I am a Jew born in the USA -but call myself a Messianic Jew because HEAVEN IS MY HOME because I believed=I prayed Jesus I am sorry for my sins-even one lie, come into my heart and help me, guide me, amen

He said he would in Revelation 3:19&20 "I love you and ask you to repent and turn from sin to me quickly, Behold I stand at your heart door and knock if you ask me in, I will come in to be your friend."
what helped me to make the most important decision of my life=I'm grateful to God for my salvation-and his amazin grace=this is what has helped me not to forget the most important things in life=yes and I have prayed and seen miracles to deliver me

many know in their heart Jesus rescued them at points in their life-even for many already as in the salvation message for heaven too when we believe.

many life saving events and spiritually we are dead till we believe-these are even recorded the bible old testament is written to the Jewish people and an example to the believers in Jesus.

but as in my life too-there is still truth and error-truth from the word of God as Jesus says -Look at Jim Jones-throwing down the bible as saying anyone that believes the paper God leave-and then going to the cool aid death deal and moving the followers to South America.

Remember to not forget-the truth!

this is more to help me remember -by prayer the truth=yes and I have prayed and seen miracles to deliver me


God is God and can do anything-even manifest himself in the form of a man-as promised-Isaiah 53 "He will be rejected and lay down his life to make atonment for our sins."

His salvation his death redemption for us-while saying Jesus was without sin born from a virgin to live pure and die for our sins

this is how I as a Jew came to know Jesus too=as promised Jesus is God and gives good peace & gives good advice = Isaiah 9:6
"Unto us a child will be born, a son given and he will be almighty God, the wonderful counselor, and the prince of peace.


this is what helped me to prepare for life and my future, and it works=Romans 1 tells me to be thankful and not worship the created but to worship the creator.

good question about Native Americans/Indians a proud wonderful people even as the blacks too, even if we let terminology get in the way at times,