Do I commit a big no-no when I use the term “Indian”?
While prepping to release my new Doc Beck Western series, it occurred to me that some readers might be surprised that I use the term "Indian" instead of "Native American.”
This topic comes up often when I'm speaking at conferences, workshops, or one-on-one with people, so let me unpack it (briefly).
When writing for a Native nonprofit, I interviewed over 200 Natives who hailed from the U.S. east coast to the west coast, Alaska, and Hawai'i. I've talked with hundreds of other people in my own tribe. Out of all those, I can recall a handful that used the term "Native American."
Most simply use "native" or "indigenous." Those are fine when people know what region of the world you're referring to, which is why "American Indian" is often used by them as well. In fact, the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) chose that term. (Fun note, I was an artist fellow with the NMAI in 2012.)
In an insider setting, like at a powwow or one of our tribal events, it's not unusual to just hear "Indian" used, especially among elders. I still come across the somewhat archaic term of "Choctaw Indian."
So when I refer to Doctor Rebekah LaRoche as an Omaha Indian, that's acceptable in most Indigenous circles. Not really in academia though, where "Native American" is used almost exclusively.
That said, the term "Indian" was, and still can be, highly abused and used in a derogatory way (think
"that drunken Indian"), and why we're gun-shy of it today as a society. It's one that does need to be used correctly, which is typically in the full form of "American Indian," though not always.
All that said, the most correct and polite way to refer to someone is by their tribal affiliation. I rarely say, "I'm an Indian." I say, "I'm Choctaw." When referring to the first people of this land as a group, I use First American, American Indian, Native, or Indigenous. When writing historical fiction, I'll often use "Indian."
As you can tell, this is a complicated subject! But I wanted to give you a little insider knowledge from my perspective. I don't speak for all Indigenous people. These are just personal observations from the life of this Choctaw girl whose ancestors crossed the Trail of Tears, and who longs to honor their legacy in writing.
Tikbva ihiya (keep going forward),
Sarah Elisabeth
Tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
P.S. Here’s the cover for the first book in that new series:
