Learn about the history of different labels for Indigenous Peoples and their perspectives on each of them.
Edited by Kayla Luga
The ever changing terminology surrounding Indigenous peoples’ racial and ethnic identity gives rise to a collection of labels that can be confusing to navigate. While some terms are obviously unpreferred or even offensive, others are more challenging to differentiate. However, a mere inconvenience with terminology should not discourage conversations regarding Indigenous peoples, but rather inspire non-native Americans to actively seek a greater understanding of Indigenous identities.
“Indian”
Almost everyone is familiar with the story of how Indigenous peoples living in what is now America were named “Indians;” Christopher Columbus set sail to reach the Indian Ocean but found himself on occupied land, which he insisted was India and subsequently labelled its inhabitants as Indians. After the New World was named “America,” the term “American Indian” was used to distinguish Indigenous peoples in America from Indian people in South Asia. The term remained in use for centuries, until the 1960s, when a number of activists began to reject the label because of its blatant inaccuracy and racist undertones.
While some Indigenous peoples view the word as pejorative and archaic, others still refer to themselves as American Indians. Bobby Wilson, who is Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota and best known for being a member of the sketch comedy group “The 1491s”, offers his opinion in an interview with Indian Country Today. “I’m around many Natives all the time, and using Indian seems to be universal and others can identify with it.” Like Wilson, many Indigenous peoples view the terminology around their identity as a personal choice based on which labels suit and empower them, whether they choose to reclaim the word, or steer clear of using it entirely.
“Redskin”
Although it has not been used as an official identifying label for centuries, it is important to understand the weight of the word “redskin.” During extermination efforts, bounty hunters identified Indigenous peoples as “redskins.” A newly discovered news clip from 1885 details how settlers in Arizona were encouraged to hunt natives of various Apache nations during the Apache war, where settlers pushed to encroach upon Indigenous land. The news clip does not indicate whether or not the Apaches were to be returned dead or alive, as they were instructed to return their mutilated bodies; “hunt for the redskins, with a view of obtaining their scalps.” Given its history, the word “redskin” is majorly regarded as a slur, but until recent years, it has been thrown around without consequence from sports teams to high school mascots.
“Native American”
“Native American” came into regular use during the civil rights era of the 1960s and refers to Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The term continues to be used, particularly in the United States. However, the term is controversial as native cultures existed before the Americas were named by Amerigo Vespucci. Many also object to “Native American” because of its relational nature, as it defines Indigenous folks by the status of their colonizers. Radmilla Cody, a distinguished Diné/Navajo singer, model, and activist personally identifies as ‘“Dine/Navajo,” “Indigenous” and “Native.” She explains, “I used to refer to myself as ‘Native American’, but over time I have learned more about colonization and the colonial terms that came with the assimilation process which continues today. We are original people of this so-called USA, therefore we should be acknowledged as such.”
“Aboriginal”
The term “Aboriginal” is regularly used in Canada to describe its first inhabitants. It encompasses the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Many use the term to refer to Indigenous peoples as a whole, but others have the same negative attitude towards “Aboriginal” as they do towards other relational identifiers. In the Anishinabek Nation’s campaign against the use of the word “Aboriginal”, Chief Patrick Madahbee of Aundeck Omni Kaning stated his people’s preference for identification. "Referring to ourselves as Anishinabek is the natural thing to do because that is who we are. We are not Indians, [N]atives, or [A]boriginal. We are, always have been and always will be Anishinabek."
“First Nations”
“First Nations” is used to refer to Indigenous peoples in Canada who are not ethnically Métis or Inuit. In the 1970s, Indigenous peoples in Canada began using the term “First Nation” in replacement of the word “Indian.” Although it is commonly used by the Canadian government, the word has no legal definition.
All of these terms still define Indigenous peoples by who they are in relation to as opposed to who they are. Because terms like “Indigenous” and “Native American” are umbrella terms for a general race of people, it is wise to keep in mind the specific identities of different tribes, clans, and cultures as one would acknowledge any other American’s ethnic background as much as their racial identity. As each individual has their own preference regarding labels, it is always most respectful to refer to them by the term(s) they use to identify themselves.
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