INDIAN, AMERICAN INDIAN OR NATIVE?

[bluewolf]

AH-NEEN NIIDJI!!! (Hello my Friends)

I don't know if this topic has been applied as I'm new to the forum, but I'd like to know of all your opinions on what you would like to call yourself, or how you address other NDNs. I use the word NDN at times in a general manner as sometimes come at odds with my NDN brothers and sisters, and at times with my Elders. I prefer using Native, as it reflects my Native ancestry, which I am entirely proud of. Alot of people I know use in equal parts all three terms, and with this forum, maybe we can all get a clearer idea what the NDN people all think as a collective.

Megwitch (thanks)

[Tvskekee]

Ive heard more and more people gravitating towards useing the word indigenous. Native American was coined for by the govt to differentiate us from natural born americans.
Everyone knows the "Indio" indian origin.
Also Ive seen many people using the name of what theyre people call themselves. I didnt realize I did until a coworker told me last week, you know, when people ask you what you are you say Muscogee, or Muscogee/Seminole.
She said that why so many were confused because they though i was Mexican or soemthing. Which is sad for these peole because they obvioulsy didnt study theyre Georgia history.
Anyways. I guess it boils down to the situation and who your talking to. Either way as long as we know we are and where we're from it doesnt matter what we term we use.

[miigwan]

I was just recently reading a book about treaty rights. In the preface of the book was the debate and the reason they chose to refer to Indians as indians. It was chosen to refer as such, because all the treaties had been written as such.

For the others and for myself, I use Anishnabe most of all because that is our name for ourselves. But I also use "shinnob", native, native american, and probably indian too.

However, when I teach within the local schools I make mention of the many names that we have been given so that the children can understand that all of these terms refer to indian people and are in fact, referenced as such throughout the books they may read.

The term indigeneous is used more and more and probably most of all in canada. in canada, the people are in reserve communities not reservations and they are referred to as first nation bands not tribes. I hear the term indigeneous more often than not there.

[kahkakew]

I always have and will continue to introduce myself or call myself a Cree Indian, Often I say this in Cree, so I am known as a Nehiyaw,
"Nay-hay-yaw", a Cree. I use the term Native as well as I am native to this land as the first nation of this land.
Today the government approved and flavor of the week is the term, Aboriginal. Rarely do I hear Indians called or referred to as indigeonous. I do not use either them and I find them rather annoying.

At home were Cree is the main language, we always refer to ourselves as Nehiywak and non-natives as Mooniyawak," Whitepeople".

It sounds stupid when someone speaks Cree and uses the government terminology to refer to an Indian. With all these minorites now refering to themselves as Indo-canadians, or african-american, etc, we are the only true americans as in Noth America's first people, Native American Indians!

Kahkakew

[Robert Laughing Owl]

wew were enslaved as american indians and we will be freed as american indians so i call myself indian...there is no one word for all the native people of this land...i would prefer to be called oglala if i have the choice

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Robert Laughing Owl
SC-AIM
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[Lee Winterhunter]

On the topic, FWIW ... here's a little article about Sherman Alexie and his thoughts on nomenclature. And nope, I didn't get to go see him at the bookstore. Bummer.
http://www.postnet.com/eaf.nsf/ByID/...2568FC0024BD5C

[SingerMD]

Originally posted by Robert Laughing Owl:
wew were enslaved as american indians and we will be freed as american indians so i call myself indian...there is no one word for all the native people of this land...i would prefer to be called oglala if i have the choice

Robert,

The use of the word enslaved is really the wrong terminology here. If you look at our Country’s history you will find that the only ethnic group that can be described as truly enslaved would be the slaves from Africa.

I’ll agree that the US government treatment and ideology towards the Native American, as well as other ethnic groups, has been less the acceptable. We could discuss it for the next 4 months but that’s not the topic here. As for the second part of your statement about becoming freed you already are. We are guaranteed the rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness and the list goes on and on. Although, our history is rather flawed it’s still the best country to live in. Try this one word for all the native people of this land - an American. As for calling yourself Oglala that’s pretty interesting to me, you look rather white to me. LOL

[DCP]

Just a few historical tidbits- Spanish and English colonists and governments DID attempt to enslave the native population. Columbus was the first example of enslaving natives. It didn't work out well because the natives were prone to European illnesses. In addition, native people could escape easier than Africans (what were Africans supposed to do- backstroke home across the Atlntic?). Therefore, enslaved Africans were used.

Some Spanish Catholic missionaries attempted to stop the enslavement of Indians, and the Spanish government eventually stopped the practice, although "slavery in disquise" still occurred under the encomienda system (basically a return to the medieval peasant/serf-lord relationship of possessing the people that live on the "lord's land.").

If we want to take this a step further, some tribes were pretty much forced by the American government to go against other tribes- some would consider this slavery as well. Many of these folks had little choice but to give in to the American government. Pawnees were used against the Lakota, as were the Crow, and others. During the "Minnesota War" of the early 1860s, Ihanktonwan men were used as scouts against their own eastern relatives. Many Ihanktonwan believed it would go against the 1858 Treaty arranged by Struck by the Ree and the U.S. if they aided their eastern brethren and didn't aid the Americans.

Slavery or coercion or strong-arming? Words have multiple meanings to different people.

Just another perspective . . .

[Robert Laughing Owl]

Originally posted by SingerMD:
Robert,

The use of the word enslaved is really the wrong terminology here. If you look at our Country’s history you will find that the only ethnic group that can be described as truly enslaved would be the slaves from Africa.

I’ll agree that the US government treatment and ideology towards the Native American, as well as other ethnic groups, has been less the acceptable. We could discuss it for the next 4 months but that’s not the topic here. As for the second part of your statement about becoming freed you already are. We are guaranteed the rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness and the list goes on and on. Although, our history is rather flawed it’s still the best country to live in. Try this one word for all the native people of this land - an American. As for calling yourself Oglala that’s pretty interesting to me, you look rather white to me. LOL

Say what?!? We were murdered and caralled onto reservations...the term enslaved refers to people who are forced to work or perform tasks against their will without payment. We were pushed onto reservations, if we were not killed, against our will. We were forced to farm and perform tasks that we were completely alienated to against our will. We were forced to change our appearance, religion, language, ect ect ect...against our will...we were enslaved....just because we were never put on plantations and forced to pick cotton does not change the fact that we were enslaved...get the facts straight.

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Robert Laughing Owl
SC-AIM
http://community.wolfstar.com/sc-aim

[Robert Laughing Owl]

I dont need a dictionary reader. If you dont like the terminolgy i use than think of it as another word if you wish...you can argue your point to other AIM members like Russell Means, Ward Churchill, ect... who have used the same terminolgy on numerous accounts.

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Robert Laughing Owl
SC-AIM
http://community.wolfstar.com/sc-aim

[SingerMD]

Originally posted by Robert Laughing Owl:
I dont need a dictionary reader. If you dont like the terminolgy i use than think of it as another word if you wish...you can argue your point to other AIM members like Russell Means, Ward Churchill, ect... who have used the same terminolgy on numerous accounts.

Robert,

All right so you don’t like a dictionary reader, too bad. I find it helps to know what one is saying before he/she says it. As in the words of Abraham Lincoln 'tis better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt’.

Well back to my point. You mean to tell me that if I asked the following question out in South Dakota and Oklahoma the majority of indians would agree with it. “Did you know you are enslaved by the US government which owns you?” For some reason, I seriously doubt it!

So let me ask you the same question – Did you know, Robert Laughing Owl, you are enslave by the US government which owns you?

[Robert Laughing Owl]

Originally posted by SingerMD:
Robert,

All right so you don’t like a dictionary reader, too bad. I find it helps to know what one is saying before he/she says it. As in the words of Abraham Lincoln 'tis better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt’.

Well back to my point. You mean to tell me that if I asked the following question out in South Dakota and Oklahoma the majority of indians would agree with it. “Did you know you are enslaved by the US government which owns you?” For some reason, I seriously doubt it!

So let me ask you the same question – Did you know, Robert Laughing Owl, you are enslave by the US government which owns you?

well well...we are a indian quoting united states presidents and you are trying to preach to me!!! Give me a break here. And dont misquote me either, or try to twist my words to make your point... you wanna use another word go ahead...you can call all of us fools if it makes you feel better...that statement was originally made by Russell Means...is he a fool too now...dont think that you have the right to call me a fool or question my motives..i fight for my people, do you?

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Robert Laughing Owl
SC-AIM
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[SingerMD]

Originally posted by Robert Laughing Owl:
well well...we are a indian quoting united states presidents and you are trying to preach to me!!! Give me a break here. And dont misquote me either, or try to twist my words to make your point... you wanna use another word go ahead...you can call all of us fools if it makes you feel better...that statement was originally made by Russell Means...is he a fool too now...dont think that you have the right to call me a fool or question my motives..i fight for my people, do you?

First of all Robert – I’m not twisting your words. It was you yourself who wrote ‘we were enslaved as american indians and we will be freed as american indians’. If you look at the tenses in your sentence you are saying you were enslaved (past tenses) and will be freed (future tense). Therefore your statement is implying that you are still enslaved (present tense). So as for miss quoting or misinterpreting you, I have not. I would suggest however that you phrase your statements to mean exactly the point you are trying to get across.

Secondly, I’m not calling you or any member of the AIM organization a fool. You’re the one who made that assumption. As for questioning your motives I do believe that’s a freedom granted to me – you know freedom of speech.

Just my opinions.

[This message has been edited by SingerMD (edited June 13, 2000).]

[Robert Laughing Owl]

ok ok ok get over it damn are you an english teacher? Have you not heard the saying that somethigs are said to be inspirational...maybe slavery is gramatically the wrong term but the meaning is ther...the word make people think...make them angry and make them change things...instead of tearing it aprt and analyzing look for the meaning of what im saying

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Robert Laughing Owl
SC-AIM
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[bluewolf]

Ahem, excuse me gentlemen, yes, I'm speaking to Robert Lauging Owl and Singer MD, although I don't question either of you your integrity, I just like to remind you that the question was merely intended to "poll"? other NDNs responses to the topic, I didn't mean for anyone to get into a war of words, which I'm sure could go on for days, saying it in a good way, as I can attest to the wonderful structure of each of your arguments, but please gentlemen, a wise ol' NDN (my mom) once said....
".....shake hands now and be friends forever......"

Megwitch, Niidjiis!! (Thank you, my friends)