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The thread is about indigenous native americans. Not sure why you felt the need to bring up all natives. Most people know the difference. They don't need it pointed out to them.
I felt like spelling it out because native is not the correct word. Get it? Again, see if this sinks into your head, I am native North American, period, but not indigenous. American Indians is no more native to those lands across the Barren Sea in which their ancestors came from than my family who immigrated to Virginia in the 1640s from England. I am just as native to these lands than American Indians. Don't like me spelling out? Tough.
The indigenous american posters on this thread must be rather amused to see two white people quibbling over terms.
I've worked extensively with and for tribal governments. The community as a whole is called "Indian Country" and in my experience most will refer to themselves as "Indian" or by their tribe (e.g. Cherokee, Odawa, Chippewa, etc.), with "Native American" being the PC verbiage. I have found "indigenous" to be growing in popularity among the younger generation, though. Just my two cents.
I myself prefer indigenous but I use Native American because that seems to be the thing that people recognize most unless they're really into the subject. Some people don't even know what "indigenous" means!
I prefer saying Indian. But then there's always someone that wants to point out that Indians are from India, and then they ask "Did you mean Native American?" or "Did you mean indigenous?" To me, it's just added aggravation if I don't say it first. LOL
Most people just say "Natives" in my town in Alaska (about 90% Alaska Native). Everyone knows what they mean. Some of the older people say "Indian," and everyone knows what they mean then too.
Living surrounded by Pueblo communities, I have been told that "Indian" is the preferred term by Pueblo people. Perhaps it is different in other parts of the country. We have dozens of "Indian" named places and resources. There is the Indian Health Service, Pueblo Indian Cultural Center, American Indian Movement, Indian Service roads, etc. Maybe someone needs to send out a memo.
Living surrounded by Pueblo communities, I have been told that "Indian" is the preferred term by Pueblo people. Perhaps it is different in other parts of the country. We have dozens of "Indian" named places and resources. There is the Indian Health Service, Pueblo Indian Cultural Center, American Indian Movement, Indian Service roads, etc. Maybe someone needs to send out a memo.
My latest cue was from the Smithsonian: if they name their museum the National Museum of the American Indian, that carries some weight for me, particularly when there’s a lot of content related to the hurt of American Indians.
Anyhow as I said, I’m 1/16th and I don’t consider myself Cherokee, so 1/32nd is a very hard sell.
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