Why so much confusion between Indian (Eastern) and Indian (Native)?

Ajanabi · 08-01-2011, 03:04 AM

Why would we have them have them recognized by the same names? It is redundant and strange. Is there a specific reason why this is?

ilikegirl · 08-01-2011, 04:48 AM

I think it's because when the Spanish/Portuguese first came to the new world in the late fifteenth century, they thought they were in India, and therefore called the Native peoples Indians. That's why it stays around I guess. We can just say The American Indian. I think that name is OK.

AajKaal · 08-01-2011, 06:59 AM

(08-01-2011 04:48 AM)ilikegirl Wrote: I think it's because when the Spanish/Portuguese first came to the new world in the late fifteenth century, they thought they were in India, and therefore called the Native peoples Indians. That's why it stays around I guess. We can just say The American Indian. I think that name is OK.

Thanks for the info. Smile

Still, I don't understand why society hasn't phased the incorrect term out.

Dash · 08-01-2011, 07:13 AM

Yes, I believe that reason is correct. I think the phrase is slowly being phased out with the use of Native American instead of Indian. It is definitely confusing and doesn't make sense to hold on to the term Indian to describe Native Americans.

LotusFlower · 08-09-2011, 04:38 PM

Yes, if the explorers hadn't been so confused, they wouldn't have left us such a confusing legacy. I do think Native American has gained a lot of traction though; when I was a kid, we always used the term Indian and now I only hear that referring to sports teams or people from India.

PreciousFlower · 08-09-2011, 08:53 PM

Yes, slowly, in America, Native Americans are being called Native Americans. Sometimes it is hard to know the "politically correct" way to address people. It is just a matter of being ignorant to the new "rules".

ilikegirl · 08-09-2011, 09:09 PM

(08-09-2011 04:38 PM)LotusFlower Wrote: Yes, if the explorers hadn't been so confused, they wouldn't have left us such a confusing legacy. I do think Native American has gained a lot of traction though; when I was a kid, we always used the term Indian and now I only hear that referring to sports teams or people from India.

That's an excellent point, flower. I think that is correct. Back when I was a kid years ago they still said Indian in schools, but I remember that when I hit the high school level all the teachers had phased over to saying "native american".

AajKaal · 08-14-2011, 02:22 AM

(08-09-2011 09:09 PM)ilikegirl Wrote:
(08-09-2011 04:38 PM)LotusFlower Wrote: Yes, if the explorers hadn't been so confused, they wouldn't have left us such a confusing legacy. I do think Native American has gained a lot of traction though; when I was a kid, we always used the term Indian and now I only hear that referring to sports teams or people from India.

That's an excellent point, flower. I think that is correct. Back when I was a kid years ago they still said Indian in schools, but I remember that when I hit the high school level all the teachers had phased over to saying "native american".

It is very good to hear how the world is becoming more globally aware and trying to be more politically correct. I agree with Lotus as well.

Dash · 08-14-2011, 06:10 AM

It's not even about being politically correct though. It's about being historically and factually correct, in my opinion. I am glad that it's changing for the better.

Ekanthika · 08-20-2011, 12:04 AM

Really, even "Native American" is a little misleading, because I know people of Chinese and Mexican heritage that were born in America - making them "native." Perhaps we should call them by their tribe names - Cherokee, Sioux, etc, as they call themselves.