Indians prefer identification by tribe

In "Indian" Term Dying Out? reader Kalisetsi took me to task for posting my thoughts on this issue:Whenever I hear people debating the use of "Native American" versus "American Indian" or "Indian" anymore, its always non-Indians doing the debating.Perhaps I'm better read than you are, because I've seen Indians discuss this issue in the media several times. But then, I work in the Native media (PECHANGA.net, Indian Country Today, etc.) and you don't.

In any case, I wouldn't say I'm debating the issue, since there's no real controversy about it. Rather, I'm correcting Oscar Morales's mistaken impression by presenting the facts.Sorry Rob, but I have to call you out on calling Morales a "high-minded Latino who thinks he's 'down' with Indians." I don't want to use the "H" word, but its bordering on the pot calling the kettle black.I couldn't care less if you think I'm a high-minded Anglo who thinks he's down with Indians, Kalisetsi. It's irrelevant to the issue of which terms Indians use to describe themselves.

Kalisetsi knows best?Seriously, Rob, do you think that by getting Sherman Alexie's feedback on it that you now have the definitive and universal "red thumbs" up?? lol.No, which is why I wrote, "Alexie merely reiterates the position held by the vast majority of Indians." Unless you plan to contest the position held by the vast majority of Indians, you're wasting our time. Quit nitpicking my response and start addressing the underlying issue.I'm personally a big fan of Alexie, but he is very mainstream and also viewed by many as veering towards the apple side.You give the impression that you know better than Alexie and me and you're about to impart your wisdom. As we'll see, that isn't the case. All you're doing is puffing yourself up at our expense. You're a better Indian than Alexie, you suggest, who's (obviously) a better Indian than me.The irony of this really cracks me up, because not too long ago you got on Redskin magazine and all the Native people affiliated with it, because you find the name offensive (and I will agree with you that it is; I'm well aware of the history of it).Yes, and I'll continue to chastise Redskin magazine's staff as long as most Indians consider "redskin" an ethnic slur. When most Indians no longer consider it a slur, I'll support their right to change their minds.

So you agree with me about "redskin," but you disagree with my right to state my position publicly? In other words, I can agree with you and other Indians as long as I keep my agreement to myself? In other words, I have no right to voice an opinion about Indians?

Rob should stop blogging?

Whether you realize it or not, this seems to be your basic position. Even if I understand what most Indians think and feel about the issues, I have no right to say anything about it. Even agreeing with them is off-limits because some Indian somewhere (e.g., Sheena Wassegijig or Deborah Miranda) might be offended.

Well, good luck with that position. Neither you nor anyone else is about to stop my blogging. If you don't like it, I'll give you a choice: leave.

In short, I don't see any irony here. I corrected the magazine staff's misapprehension about the word "redskin" and I corrected Morales's misapprehension about the word "Indian." In both cases, I didn't rely on my own opinion. I presented the position commonly held by most Indians.However, if you will recall at that time I called you out on the fact that it's presumptuous for you as a non-Native to think you know whats better for Natives than Natives themselves.Yes, I recall your defense of Redskin's defenders. Funny to see an Indian siding with those who don't consider "redskin" a slur. Whether you realize it or not, you're giving aid and comfort to those who perpetuate insults against Indians.

Fortunately, this isn't about who knows what's best for Indians. It's about who knows the position held by the vast majority of Indians. The evidence proves that I do and Morales doesn't.

You seem to have a problem distinguishing between my stating what *I* believe and what most Indians believe. It would help matters if you learned to read a little better. Then I wouldn't have to keep explaining what I've already explained.

Which terms Indians preferI've lived on both coasts and been around a lot of different people from all different backgrounds, and I will say that the number one way people identify is by their tribe, and after that, its a mix between Native, (honestly the only people who say "Native Americans" are non-Natives trying to be PC), Indian (commonly represented as NDN), Skin (much more common than 'redskin', which I don't really hear used), and even First Nations or Indigenous.Finally, we get to the point of this posting.

Yes, thanks for stating the preference I've noted on my website and this blog several times. You know, the position held by the vast majority of Indians. I don't know about Morales, but I understood this preference decades ago.

In short, after all your petty sniping and personal attacks, you basically agree with me. The term "Indian" is far from dying out. It's widely accepted--a commonplace alternative to "Native American." So noted.