The term “Indians” for Native Americans came from Columbus’ misunderstanding in 1492. “Native American” is a politically correct alternative, but not perfect. “Indigenous peoples of the Americas” is more accurate, but too cumbersome. Some Native Americans still refer to themselves as Indians and it is the official legal term in the US. The debate on the correct term will continue, but “Indians” has pervaded language in the Americas despite being based on an error.
The term Indians as applied to Native Americans, or indigenous peoples of the Americas, is thought to have originated from a misunderstanding by Europeans who arrived in Central America in 1492. Since Christopher Columbus began his journey to America with the intent to find an alternative route to Southeast Asia, he is said to have assumed that the people he came into contact with upon reaching the mainland were Indians. Despite the fact that people probably realized this mistake within hours, the name remained in use. Likewise, the islands of Central America came to be called the “West Indies”, as opposed to the “East Indies” which Columbus originally had in mind as his destination.
In the 1970s, academia began promoting the term Native American as a politically correct alternative to Indians. Some people find Native Americans more accurate and less stigmatizing. However, Native Americans also have some problems, as anyone born in the Americas, indigenous or otherwise, could be considered “Native American” if the term is taken literally. “Indigenous peoples of the Americas” is the more accurate term, but too cumbersome to be used regularly in everyday parlance. Native Americans have caught on to some extent, especially in the media, but the term Indian is still widely used.
Native Americans continue to refer to themselves as Indians, especially those of the older generation. Also, American Indian is the official legal term used in the United States. Indian may also be a useful term because it traditionally does not include the indigenous peoples of Hawaii or Alaska, a distinction not present in the term Native American.
The correct way to refer to Native Americans will likely continue to be debated for the foreseeable future as well. However, for better or for worse, Indians have certainly pervaded legal, literary, and vernacular language in both North and South America. It’s strange to think that such an ingrained word is most likely based on an error.
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