What do you call the indigenous people of the Americas?

[carmen510]

I've been studying the history of the United States, and I'm curious as to what other CFCers call the indigenous people of the Americas. My textbooks use the term "Indians", most of my classmates prefer "Native Americans" or "natives", and other textbooks I've seen prefer Amerindians. So what do you call them?

 

[civ_king]

First Nation Peoples and I absolutely hate when people call them Indians.

 

[Dachs]

Red men.

First Nation Peoples and I absolutely hate when people call them Indians.

Not only are you historically bankrupt on the grounds that you have no idea what a nation is, you're a traitor for employing Canadian English.

 

[vogtmurr]

you should really be allowed to vote more than once on this poll, with more options.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Native Americans...

The 'Indian' term shld really be corrected.

 

[SG-17]

Native Americans and Indians, depending on context.

 

[Glassfan]

In anthropology class, we usually refered to them as Amerinds (sic) or by the specific linguistic or subculture they represent, ie., Iroquoans, Algonquins, etc. In history texts, various names are used depending on period and the need for academics to employ multiple synonyms and political correctness.

Personally, I use "Indian" for earlier periods and "Native American" for modern people.

The controversy today is of course, mainly sports teams. Native Americans appear to be insulted by virtually any cultural reference - like they own the copyright. Again, my personal opinion is that something like the Washington Redskins is certainly insulting and racist and should be changed, while the Atlanta Braves is not.

The Cleveland Indians are harmless, but Chief Wahoo - the Sambo cartoon character for the Tribe is quite insulting.

What is the difference between the Fighting Illinis and the Fighting Irish? The Cleveland Indians and the Dallas Cowboys? We name our sports teams after peoples (Spartans, Trojans, Hurons), animals (Lions, Tigers, Eagles), or things (Hurricanes, Jets, Astros) that we associate with power, fighting prowess, competitiveness or victory. We, as fans, are proud of our teams. Native Americans apparently believe we are laughing at them and it's a big conspiracy to insult them.

 

[Perfection]

Dealer

 

[Tee Kay]

God damn Columbus.

Amerindians.

 

[Quackers]

Native americans.

But after reading alot of Wikipedia: Amerindians.

 

[Warman17]

Indians, Amerindians, or American Indians. Using "native american" or "native" today implies that people born in America today are somehow not native to America. However, I would accept Native American or Native when discussing anything prior to the 17th century. By the 17th century native Americans not only included American Indians but also Euro-Americans and Afro-Americans, though most populations in the British colonies would remain Europeans and Africans (free and forced immigrants respectively) until the 18th century.

Modern scholarship usually just uses Indian nowadays. See: Looking East From Indian Country by Daniel Richter.

Also, I make sure only to make reference to Indian nations never tribes.

 

[Plotinus]

Native Americans, of course, although as Warman17 says, it's an inaccurate term since strictly speaking it just means anyone born in America. They should really be called Indigenous Americans, but no-one uses such a term.

And this isn't history, so Moderator Action: thread moved .

 

[Cashie]

Native Americans, of course, although as Warman17 says, it's an inaccurate term since strictly speaking it just means anyone born in America. They should really be called Indigenous Americans, but no-one uses such a term.

I sometimes use 'Amerindian,' but that's usually for Native South (and Central) Americans.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Injuns

 

[Bugfatty300]

Indian or American Indian.

"Indian" shouldn't be politically incorrect.

 

[azzaman333]

Native Americans. Indians live on the other side of the world dammit.

 

[Jos Ballenbak]

In dutch we have made it a lot more easier: Indiër en Indiaan.

 

[classical_hero]

In anthropology class, we usually refered to them as Amerinds (sic) or by the specific linguistic or subculture they represent, ie., Iroquoans, Algonquins, etc. In history texts, various names are used depending on period and the need for academics to employ multiple synonyms and political correctness.

Personally, I use "Indian" for earlier periods and "Native American" for modern people.

The controversy today is of course, mainly sports teams. Native Americans appear to be insulted by virtually any cultural reference - like they own the copyright. Again, my personal opinion is that something like the Washington Redskins is certainly insulting and racist and should be changed, while the Atlanta Braves is not.

The Cleveland Indians are harmless, but Chief Wahoo - the Sambo cartoon character for the Tribe is quite insulting.

What is the difference between the Fighting Illinis and the Fighting Irish? The Cleveland Indians and the Dallas Cowboys? We name our sports teams after peoples (Spartans, Trojans, Hurons), animals (Lions, Tigers, Eagles), or things (Hurricanes, Jets, Astros) that we associate with power, fighting prowess, competitiveness or victory. We, as fans, are proud of our teams. Native Americans apparently believe we are laughing at them and it's a big conspiracy to insult them.

What about the Redskins?

I have to agree with azza on what he said.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Native does seem to give them some sort of preferred status but no one argues against that.

I don't use Indian though, mainly just to keep them separate from the actual Indians. Even though it's still silly to call them Indian in a day and age where we are quite sure the United States is NOT India.

Aboriginals would probably be the best term; I am just as native to this land as any of them.

 

[Tee Kay]

Curiously, most of the Indus River runs through Pakistan.