What were the people called in America before Christopher Columbus came and changed their name?

Question

I would like to know the truth. Its really disrespectful to call them Indians. This is not India. And please don't say Native American's because there was no such thing as America until Columbus. Does anybody know. Thank you in advance if you do.

Answer 1

They were isolated over on this continent, so they called each other by their nations' names. Sioux, Cherokee, etc, but the native versions. These are the English versions. I'll see if I can't find some original pronunciations for you.

Okay, Cherokee is actually "Tsalagi."
www.native-languages.org/cherokee.htm

The Sioux tribes' name is (eventually) from the Odawa word for the Sioux, "Naadowesiwag."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux

The Iroquois tribes may have come from the words "hiro kone" or maybe from "Hilokoa," it just depends on your view of things. :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois

Anyway, you should just try www.native-languages.org, it has some interesting things on a lot of different tribes.

Answer 2

They were called many different things. There were so many different tribes of 'Indians' here, and each had their own name. In the Northeast, there was even a 'nation' the Delaware nation consisted of many different tribes from a large area - from southern Maryland/Northern Virginia all the way to New Jersey. They were the first to go, since this was the land that the settlers wanted. But these tribes all had their own language, their own leaders, their own social structures, etc. They fought each other alot as well.

Answer 3

They did and do have their own individual Nation names. I think many/most of them translate as "the people" and similar.


(Note, Nation refers to an entire group, not just individual tribes. I.E. The "Sioux" Nation call themselves Dakota, Lakota, or Nakota depending on dialect. They are one Nation, and within that Nation are a number of tribes.)

Answer 4

there wasn't a uniform people in america before columbus. there were many different tribes that did not identify with one another. there was no catch-all phrase that referred to everyone on the continent before columbus came.

Answer 5

The Europeans called them Heathens and Non Believers as part of their Mission Besides hunting for Gold was to find Heathens and Non Believers and convert them to Christian ways!!!!!

Answer 6

We were called by our tribe name. I am Cherokee and my cousin is Black Foot and Seneca. There were many tribes that the European and French slaughtered into extinction. Nana

Answer 7

Probably what ever tribe they belonged to (Sioux, Apache, etc)

Answer 8

The spelling you present is portuguese.

Answer 9

idk. maybe they didnt have a group name... only for themselves like : squirrel stew, guacamole aardvark, flying tomato, chinchilla quesidilla etc........ lol