Inkanta
Group: Admins
Posts: 1453
Joined: Feb. 2000 |
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Posted: April 15 2011, 21:29 |
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Quote (Syd B @ April 08 2011, 07:39) | Quote (HR lover @ April 08 2011, 03:41) | But even in America you should say native American instead of Indian, I believe? Such stupidity. First they kill all the Indians then they say, you know what? saying Indian to those people is offensive let's call them native Americans. The irony. |
It's very slightly politically incorrect to say Indian, American Indian is better and yes, Native American is the most politically correct.
But of course, as I've expressed before, in my opinion, words are just words, and the real problem is the hatred behind them.
And of course it's ironic, we treated the natives like shit, and now we act like we've been so benevolent by letting them live on reservations! In a way though, they are getting a bit of a last laugh, as they have tribal sovereignty, they're able to establish casinos and other businesses with much less government interference than they would if they didn't live on the reservations (of course, whether that's a good thing or not is up for debate). |
<crawls out from under a rock> I really like what you say here--very few living in the US get the sovereignty issues. I don't know what to think about the casinos--they are generally very devisive initially, i.e., half support them, half hate them. Many years ago a Metis friend from Canada asked me to review a survey he was working on for one of the Canadian First Nation communities regarding gambling addiction. There are also clashes when business people go away to places like Harvard and come back with very non-traditional ideas as to how tribal business should be run.
Regarding names, there really isn't any standard -- always best to ask. Generally, I have been told by Native friends and educators that that if you know the name of the nation, call them by that--and the version they prefer to call themselves. For example, Dakota/Lakota/Nakota instead of Sioux (though many will refer to themselves as "Sioux"). Often they will refer to themselves as "Indian." These days, when I see "Indian" in print I am often confused. American Indian person? South Asian person? Generally, the only ppl who insist on "Native American" are the ones who have discovered a 20th generation Native ancestor. Those folks are so annoying and clueless. They haven't ever faced discrimination because of their Native heritage. It's really not their place--or mine--to insist on labels. I can only pass on what I've been told by members of those communities. One acquaintance likes "American Indian people"--she wants to make sure "people" is in the mix--because often Native folks have been objectified (Halloween costumes, mascots, etc.). Visit Lisa Mitten's Native American Home Pages for tribal listings and other information (artists, mascot issues, educational associations, etc.) or www.oyate.org is another good site. Deja vu--have I not mentioned these sites many times before? (Hello, I am new here! )
And y'all are so right--it's really not so much about what Native peoples are called as how they are treated. The American Indian Library Association reminds one that "I" is not for "Indian" but by the same token (and objectification) "N" is not for "Native American."
Naho! (A lovely Onondaga word for I've said everything I have to say on the topic--at least I think so- well, it doesn't mean that last part! ) .
-------------- "No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From: Moongarden's "Solaris."
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