Why do we call Indians Native Americans? (states, claims, world)

[vasinger]

It doesn't make sense, and its an insult to those born in this country.

Anyone born in the United States is a "native American"

The proper term for Indians in the US, is "American Indian".

And I'm 1/8th American Indian. When someone says "native American" it drives me nuts!

[Ronzou]

Well first off...

Most people that are born in America just call themselves Americans. Not Native Americans.

Because when you put the term "Native" on it, it refers to the indigenous peoples of America. Which is the Native American Indians.

[vasinger]

Yes, but the "native "americans might not even be the original people in America. There could have been another peoples that came before them.

Native American is just some PC term.

[Ronzou]

Originally Posted by vasinger

Yes, but the "native "americans might not even be the original people in America. There could have been another peoples that came before them.

Native American is just some PC term.

No it's actually been proven that the Native American Indians were the first Indigenous peoples of the common North American continent.

Unless you want to go as far back as cave person. Then they were probably Native American Cave People.

[ColdCanadian]

We have Italian Americans and African Americans, what if someone is from India and they also become an American?

I believe we call them Native Americans because they did not come from India.
Our original explorers either weren't very smart or creative with ethnic names.
Either that or maybe they thought the found India.

That being said, I'm not offended by either name and have met Natives who are also indifferent.

[Ronzou]

Originally Posted by ColdCanadian

We have Italian Americans and African Americans, what if someone is from India and they also become an American?

I believe we call them Native Americans because they did not come from India.
Our original explorers either weren't very smart or creative with ethnic names.

No you got it right with not very smart.

[vasinger]

The proper term is American Indians.

That way it isnt elitist like "Native Americans". And it serperates them from the people of India.

And BTW- they believe the "Native Americans" might have migrated to present day America from Asia.

So really they arent truly natives either.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by vasinger

It doesn't make sense, and its an insult to those born in this country.

Anyone born in the United States is a "native American"

The proper term for Indians in the US, is "American Indian".

And I'm 1/8th American Indian. When someone says "native American" it drives me nuts!

I don't see at all why the term is insulting. Native Americans or American Indians were the first people in America.

"Native American" can also simply be used to refer to any individual born into an American country. When this sense is meant, it is most often written without an initial capital: "native American", just like you wrote it.

If you were born here, you are a native American as am I.

[ColdCanadian]

Originally Posted by KewGee

American Indians were the first people in America. [/b]

Some of the first people in America wore turbans and were running 7/11's before the first white settlers arrived?

[Ronzou]

Originally Posted by vasinger

The proper term is American Indians.

That way it isnt elitist like "Native Americans". And it serperates them from the people of India.

And BTW- they believe the "Native Americans" might have migrated to present day America from Asia.

So really they arent truly natives either.

That may be true, but in fact no one knows, because when the world was Pangaea, everything was one, no such thing as Asia, and all that.

So in fact the substantiated claims that they came from Asia could very well be false as well.