Native American
From RationalWiki
Native Americans are the peoples who live in North, Central, and South America, and are the descendants of those who lived there before the Europeans came to rescue them from their Godless savagery and bring the Gospel to these dark heathen lands European invasions commencing in the late fifteenth century. Hundreds, or possibly thousands, of tribes and cultures have been recorded, although some were wiped out completely during the often bloody territorial expansions of colonial and post-colonial settlement during the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries.[1]
It is often debated what term should be used for them: "American Indian" or "Native American". This use of term "Indian" originates from Christopher Columbus' belief, on reaching the Caribbean islands in 1492, that he had instead reached India. Despite the fact that he soon realized his mistake, this name has stuck for over five hundred years. The term "Native American" was introduced during the late twentieth century as a more accurate alternative, and a way to distance Native American citizens from hackneyed "Cowboys and Indians" stereotypes.
The term has - rightly or wrongly - been associated with other politically correct language and euphemisms. As a reference to to people who are native to the continent of America the term "Native American" is clearly an absolutely correct term. However, as the name "American" has been hijacked in some languages to refer solely to the citizens of the United States, some have suggested the use of other politically correct terms such as Native Canadian and, presumably, Native Mexican, Native Argentinian or whatever. Most Native Americans in the United States today typically refer to themselves and others as "Indians." An example of this was the radical group that named its self the American Indian Movement.
Some people like to say "If you were born here, you are a native American" thus devaluing the usage of a people who say "yeah? Well we were here first, you ingrates".[2] Others say the term "Indian" is both inaccurate and confusing.[3] Another term often used to refer to those who lived in the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans is "First Nations", a term very popular in Canada. The best term to use for indigenous people(s) from the Americas and their descendants is their tribal name when known. If you really really really just gotta talk about the indigenous people of America as a collective, choose one term and stick with it throughout any paper, article, or presentation. [4]
Native peoples of the Americas had rich and vast societies with thousands of different cultures. There have been estimates of upwards of 2000 languages, as distinct from one another as Chinese is from English. No one belief nor idea, nor cultural artifact can be attributed to all Native American people. And to those from a more conservative mind set, Yes Virginia, there really were written languages, cities with hundreds of thousands of people,[5] complex manmade waterways, and even pollution.
Native American names traditionally translate to traits and / or involve animals, such as "Piloqutinnguaq", which translates to "Little Leaf", or "Cuauhtemoc" meaning "Falling Eagle". If Andy Schlafly was Native American, his name would probably be "Running Mouth", or "Talking Bollocks".
[edit] Some Native American nations you may have heard of
- Alabama
- Dakota
- Delaware
- Illinois Confederacy (Illiniwek, Illini)
- Iowa
- Kansa
- Massachusett
- Miami
- Ottawa
- Pueblo
- Ute
- Walla Walla
- Winnebago
(Based on the external link below)
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ See American Indian Holocaust.
- ↑ CP has had, at times, wild debates and edit wars over exactly what the term Native American should mean [1]
- ↑ provoking probably rude and politically incorrect questions after the term is used, like "Indian - dot or feather?"
- ↑ and if you might possibly actually have real, honest to Wakan Tanka indigenous people in the room, ask them what term they prefer.
- ↑ what is today's Mexico City, Tenochtitlan, had well over 100,000 people in the one city, larger than any European city at the same time. [2]
