I disliked the way the reporter kept calling the man an Indian
It almost made me want to stop reading, but the story is quite interesting. I wonder what the 5 foot deep pits he digs are really for. Pit fall traps for.... vehicles?
It almost made me want to stop reading, but the story is quite interesting. I wonder what the 5 foot deep pits he digs are really for. Pit fall traps for.... vehicles?
Many indigenous Americans prefer "Indian" to "Native American". "Native American" is a term invented by white people to make themselves feel better, by and large.
"American Indian" is the preferred term if you need to distinguish from the people of India.
"Charles C. Mann noted in his 2005 book 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus that "every native person whom I have met (I think without exception) has used 'Indian' rather than 'Native American'."[17] Russell Means, an activist in the American Indian Movement, said in 1998, "I abhor the term Native American...I prefer the term American Indian because I know its origins."[4][17]"
"Many of those who are covered by the term strongly prefer "American Indian" over "Native American".[21][22] According to the US Census Bureau, as of 1995 50% preferred "American Indian", 37% "Native American", and the remainder preferred other terms or had no preference.[23]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_name_controvers...
I grew up in Nebraska and I went to primary school with a number of Native Americans. It was considered very disrespectful to refer to them as Indians.
The Native Americans I grew up with would not put up with people calling them indians, engens, or anything similar. If you really want to respect a native (a real one, not just one with native ancestors) then don't stereotype them by calling them anything other than their actual name.
If you must refer to them by race you call them by the name which they give you which is going to be their tribe name and not some 500 year old archaic misunderstanding of the people on earth. Or if you want to be safe you can always call them natives, because the definition actual fits.
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I've seen no evidence that the term "Native American" is in any way a term Indians use to describe themselves. It's most likely a neologism of white origin used to assuage white guilt. It's considered respectful to call any group of people by the term they prefer to call themselves, not to invent your own term out of patronizing guilt for 400 year old navigational errors.
(Incidentally, "native American" is ambiguous in that it could also be used to describe people of any race who were born in America. In fact, the term "native American" was used in this manner throughout the 19th century by anti-immigration activists, also known as "nativists". That's why "indigenous" is the most general and ambiguous term.)
Native as a word is a noun, easy concise and neutral. Indigenous is not a noun. Other than that i'm not going to argue the difference between using indigenous over native. Its apples and oranges
Both words translate to "Indian" in English. Maybe that is why the article calls him an Indian. What word would you use instead, "native", maybe?
So I do think we (all of us) can do better than following a 500 year old misconception, if nothing else
And as I keep telling you, many of the people we call "American Indians" actually prefer to be called "American Indians".
Thats not at all what I was pointing out. This story actually takes place in Brazil. He should be referred to by the name his people would use for themselves, for God's sake people, have some respect.
And if it is the case that you do not know a person's heritage use a term that is reflective of that (your lack of knowledge) instead of using some archaic misconception just because it has become the status quo.
THIS MAN does not live like any person today. He is not even an "American Indian". Your "American Indians" all speak english, or another modern language, and they are integrated with society (hence they could be interviewed in the first place) and they are not this man and they do not speak for this man or his people.
Hell, it's 2010 and with a story like this we actually had the chance to get the "discovery of a new peoples" thing down right this time with respect. The gov't of Brazil realizes this and the steps they have taken to insure this mans safety back that up. This story completely blows the humanitarian aspect though, rather than preserving it.
Why? Because he is way more native than any of the "American Indians" that you are referring to but you just completely don't get it. He is unique. He is an authentic native to his territory. He should be called by his tribal name, failing that he is a native or indigenous person and that is all that we really know.
And what is his tribal name? Remember that he is the last survivor of an uncontacted tribe. We would need to contact him in order to know that, right?
There is at least one person today he lives exactly like.
He is not even an "American Indian". Your "American Indians" all speak english[sic], or another modern language,
I guess all the Quiché speakers I met in Guatemala and the Tzeltal speakers in México who didn't speak Spanish just don't count for you. There are millions of people in the Americas who don't speak any of the Indo-European languages that dominate modern politics and commerce in the hemisphere.
they are integrated with society (hence they could be interviewed in the first place)
So Lacandons and Raramuri who don't speak Spanish and still live traditional lifestyles without European culture contact far in the backwoods don't exist? They're well documented.
they are not this man and they do not speak for this man or his people.
On that I agree.
Each nation, culture, and language in the Americas has its own points of sensitivity. Don't describe "tribes" in Mexico and remember that the word is "first nations" in Canada while "native americans" works better in the USA. In Latin American "indian" is preferred when you don't actually know the specific nation in question and its native name.
For differentiating between East Indians and American Indians, remember the the politically correct terms are "casino Indian" and "call center Indian."