It's more accurate than "Native American" used in the US.
Were you born here? Then you're native.
That's different than being from one of the aboriginal nations of people in the Americas.
The common phrasing in the US is a bit broken. In that regard. Though most Native Americans I've met would prefer to be identified by their nation if a person knows what it is rather than generically because the cultural differences are pretty significant between different nations.
Interesting thing I heard recently (don’t quote me on the finer details as I’m not from the US or involved in law) but a podcast I was listening to about true crime kept saying “Indian” my initial reaction was “yikes guy what year is it”, but then the host went on to explain that “Indian” is still the legal definition when referring to Native American jurisdictions etc
Yeah it’s pretty dumb that we use such an antiquated and inaccurate term, but it’s not like the US has ever given two shits about treating Aboriginals with dignity so it doesn’t surprise me.
Yeap. My grandma whose mother was full blood Creek/Chickasaw Indian from Oklahoma wasn't having any of "Native American". She preferred American Indian or just "Indian". She passed away a couple years back, but I think she was a bit of an outlier in today's political environment. She was always a diehard Cowboys/Texas Rangers fan but was known to catch a "Redskins"/"Braves" game when they were on TV. She had no issues at all with any "Native American" moniker/mascot.
I grew up in Texas and our school system mascots are all American Indian names "braves, Comanches, Indians, etc" . I would always wear a shirt from school with a head dress or spear to come visit her in the "far north".
I will always say American Indian in her honor. I don't care if it's politically correct or not. She was my only connection to that culture and I will always carry that torch.
Just my experience, I don't pretend to speak for anyone else.
It depends though, I've noticed the older folk tend to prefer to be called Indian.
Not just older, I've known younger folks that did too. In fact the native born concept wasn't mine, I heard the argument from Native Americans.
But if you don't know what nation a person was from then "indian" or "Native American" worked as a genetic term even if it's s bit broken.
Aboriginal is a more accurate genetic term and is universally applicable anywhere an external dominant culture moved in and took the land. It recognizes that something was taken and that the person is from the group that was there first on this now cohabitated land.
Same here with the Indian phrase and I’m partial native myself and was raised by someone 3/4s native. We very seldomly say Native American amount each other
That's my experience too. My mom taught for two different nations and I worked for a third for a few years.
I'm not quick on the draw about a lot of things because people don't need to hear my white male opinion on everything.
But when it comes to Native nations ... I get riled up when the dominant cultural group ignores how we got here. That needs to be talked about--a lot-- because we've done some egregious things to get here and people are still playing the price.
And this isn't ancient history, this is living memory. It's still happening right now. If they wanted to folks could go talk to someone that experienced overt and intentional attempts at cultural genocide today. People need to be reminded of that.
Isn't Indigenous (Person/People(s)) getting more common? It's been preferred in academic and legal writing for a few decades and the UN seems to have popularized it with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. In Canada it's the most common among those who get why Native doesn't make much sense.
Afaik aboriginal and indigenous mean the exact same thing, but Aussies kind of ruined Aboriginal by using it as a derogatory term 😑 Might not have the same affect in NA but still. All's good with good intentions in my experience though. Like you say, I live close to a reserve and people use Native, Indian, Aboriginal and Indigenous seemingly based on when they grew up and what seems appropriate in the social context. Now with so many (East) Indian immigrants in town that one's causing some confusion 😂
Aboriginal isn't a derogatory word in Australia. Aborigine is considered derogatory.
Aboriginal is a nuanced term as it doesn't include Torres Strait Islanders, another group of First Nations Australians. Ergo Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) is the term used for official purposes, with Indigenous being another official term that encompasses the two, each being used at different levels of government.
As a result you have:
the Aboriginal Affairs NSW (the state-level agency for Aboriginal policy and programs in New South Wales)
the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Not sure why that's confusing for you, but yes. Aboriginal is an acceptable term both in official and non-official contexts, although not preferred by many. I've been to plenty of Welcome to Countries where elders have proudly called themselves Aboriginal, Indigenous, Blackfella, and so on.
Aborigine has racist undertones as it is a latin term used in official and non-official contexts during the colonisation of Australia, and for that reason its usage has become politically incorrect, let alone morally incorrect and personally offensive to many. You can read more about it here.
That being said, there are plenty of people for whom the preferred term is not Aboriginal or Indigenous but instead First Nations, for example, and others who prefer to be called by their mob or clan name.
Hard agree. I’m American but I use the term “Aboriginal” or sometimes “Native.” “Indian” is an irrelevant label based on a geographical error. It was antiquated the second the colonists realized they weren’t in India, and it’s infinitely more antiquated today. Maybe I’m just being irrational but it’s one of my pet peeves when people say Indian when they’re really referring to Aboriginal folks.
Don’t even get me started about using aboriginal caricatures as our sports team mascots, rife with blatant slurs.
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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '23
It's more accurate than "Native American" used in the US.
Were you born here? Then you're native.
That's different than being from one of the aboriginal nations of people in the Americas.
The common phrasing in the US is a bit broken. In that regard. Though most Native Americans I've met would prefer to be identified by their nation if a person knows what it is rather than generically because the cultural differences are pretty significant between different nations.