AMERICAN CULTURE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

by Suong Huynh

Open Ended

Who are they?

​

​American Indian

​Native American

​Indigenous peoples

​Indigenous American

​Christopher Columbus

• ​

​

​He was so certain the “new” world he’d landed on was India that he called its people “Indios,” which later became “Indians.”

​

While the U.S. government continues to use the term “American Indian” officially, many find “Indian” a painful reminder of the racism, violence, theft, and decimation of their people.

There’s a reason why many states and regions now officially recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

​

​

​

• ​“Native American” became the preferred “politically correct” terminology in the 1970s.

​

Many Indigenous people object to this term because it’s a name assigned by white oppressors. It also categorizes them as Americans, a name they didn’t choose.

​Can I just say ‘Indigenous’? /ɪnˈdɪdʒ.ə.nəs/

​“Indigenous” means the original inhabitants of a given land or region

​The term “Indigenous” makes it clear that they occupied the land first, without assigning the American nationality.

​

• ​

Home

Open in new tab

Copy link