Over time, Indigenous Peoples in the United States have been referred to by many names. Today, the most common names are American Indian, Native American, Indigenous, or Native. Although all of these terms are still actively used, Native people prefer to be called by their specific tribal name. Honoring this specificity is of great importance to Native People as it is a way of honoring a distinct Tribal culture by naming the Peoples that pre-dated European colonizers' arrival.
In the United States, the term Native American has been widely used. Still, it is falling out of favor with some groups, and the terms – American Indian or Indigenous American are preferred by many Native people. American Indian, Indian, Native American, or Native are acceptable and often used interchangeably in the United States; however, Native Peoples often have individual preferences on how they would like to be addressed. To find out which term is best, ask the person or group which term they prefer.
When talking about Native groups or people, use the terminology the members of the community use to describe themselves. Although Indigenous Peoples can be referred to as a collective, remember there is no single American Indian culture or language. Below is a further explanation of each of these terms.
- Indigenous: Refers to those peoples with pre-existing sovereignty who were living together as a community before contact with settler populations, most often – though not exclusively – Europeans.
- Indigenous is the most inclusive term, as Indigenous peoples are on every continent throughout the world – such as the Sami in Sweden, the First Nations in Canada, Mayas in Mexico and Guatemala, and the Ainu in Japan – fighting to remain culturally intact on their land bases.
- Indigenous Peoples refers to a group of Indigenous peoples with a shared national identity, such as “Navajo” or “Sami.”
- Native American and American Indian: Terms used to refer to peoples living within what is now the United States prior to European contact.
- American Indians have a specific legal context because the Federal Indian Law branch uses this terminology. “American Indian” is also used by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget through the U.S. Census Bureau.
- The words tribe and nation are used interchangeably but hold very different meanings for many Native people. Tribes often have more than one name because when Europeans arrived in the Americas, they used incorrect pronunciations of the tribal names or renamed the tribes with European names. Many tribal groups are known officially by names that include nations.
- The words tribe and nation are used interchangeably but hold very different meanings for many Native people. Tribes often have more than one name because when Europeans arrived in the Americas, they used incorrect pronunciations of the tribal names or renamed the tribes with European names. Many tribal groups are known officially by names that include nations.