I'd just like to know what to call the descendants of the pre-columbian aborigines of the continents of South America and North America.
I'd like the answer to come from those people themselves rather than from people who claim to speak for them.
I was reminded of this question by the fact that the local Cherokee Pow-Wow is coming up again in a few weeks. (Anyone who wants to know why the Cherokee are officially the "local" aboringines today in NJ should do a little research: it is not a happy story).
Last year we went to the pow-wow, and it seemed to me that the word which these guys applied to themsleves was "Indian". My friend who was visiting remarked that many afro-americans call each other "n*****", and that this didn't mean that I would be right to use the word myself.
I know for instance that Juan once took exception to being called "redskin". A description I have never understood - look at european-descended people and the (whaever-I'm suposed-to-say) who live in the same area. Where did the "redskin" description even come from?
PC neighbours have objected to me using the word "indian", and insisted that I say "Native American". My initial response to this is usually along the lines of "so, it's OK to steal a continent from them, and commit close to genocide - but don't insult them with an insensitive name?"
The phrase "native American" seems silly to me - Anyone who lives here is by definition a native, and the pre-Columbian population would have no idea why it was to be called "America".
Could it be that we shouldn't use a collective name at all? After all, I have been pulled up for using the word "Europeans" to represent the white invasion. Should we refer to Navaho, Shoshoni, Blackfoot, Lenape, Apache, Inuit, Souix, and so forth, rather than use one collective word or phrase ? (I'm sure that before the arrival of europeans, the locals would never have considred referring to themselves by any collective name whatsoever).
Until we open our electronic mouths on a subject here, we know little about each other. So I don't know how many of us are "indian" or whatever I should be saying, I know that at least two people are, from reading what you've said. I suspect many more are.
So say: what do I call you?
