I found a very helpful website that cleared up my confusion. First of all, the label Indian should not be used since it is derived from Columbus' mistaken landing on North America.
The most recent survey (1995) on preferences for racial and ethnic terminology from the Census Bureau Survey indicated that:49% of Native people preferred being called American Indian, 37% preferred Native American, 3.6% preferred "some other term," and 5% had no preference. This pole shows tmage: hat even the people dont have one decisive preferred label. However, as Tom Arviso Jr. (publisher and editor of The Navajo Times), puts it, "I . . . would rather be known as, 'Tom Arviso Jr., a member of the Navajo tribe,' instead of 'Arviso, a Native American or American Indian.' This gives an authentic description of my heritage, rather than lumping me into a whole race of people." Therefore, American Indian and Native American are both socially acceptable terms if you aren't aware of the specific tribe that people are from but preference would be to acknowledged their individual heritage.
image: http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/JerkChicken/Columbus_and_Indians.jpg
I visited a reservation before, and no one had the same preference on what they wanted to be called. At one place they would be offended if i said American Indians, and another place would be offended if I said Native Americans. I think it has something to do with how strong there belief is in there culture.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the term Indian is something they wouldn't like to be called, it just doesn't sound proper. American Indian kind of sounds weird I would still use the term Native American because that's what they really are. It's interesting to know what they like to be called though.
ReplyDeleteI think this is true of many groups--everyone has a different opinion on what they shoudl be called. I guess it just goes to show you that there is HUGE diversity in every group. It does make it tough for others though . .. I never want to offend someone.
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