engineeredthoughts

Do you prefer being called "Indian" instead of "Native American"?

As an actual Indian I find it weird when people refer to Native Americans as Indians. I thought "Urban Indian" was going to be about someone from New Delhi or something.

The word India comes from Greek and originally has old Persian and Sanskrit roots referring to the people of the Indus River. Hindu is an old Persian word that comes from the word Sindhu of Sanskrit origin.

India (Latin) --> Indus (Greek) --> Hindu (Persian) --> Sindhu (Sanskrit)

There is history and a connection between the word and the people whereas North American Indians are just called Indians by accident. Native American history has nothing to do with the etymology of the words 'India' or 'Indian'.

I'm in Canada and my Native friends prefer Native instead of Indian if you don't know the tribe.

I believe the proper term in Canada is First Nations.