Define Native American Meaning

This is a politically correct term used to refer to the indigenous people of the American Continents. They are also referred to as American Indians.

Native Americans originally came to the North American continent somewhere around 12,000 years ago from East Asia. It is thought that their migration happened over a number of centuries rather than all at once.

In the Americas they formed many different tribes each with a unique culture and history. Contrary to popular belief, only some were nomadic. Most had developed cities and advanced systems of government, language, and social structure.

The coming of the Spanish had many devastating effects for the Native Americans. Diseases such as plague and smallpox wiped out more than 95% of the indigenous population within the first hundred years of contact.

The Europeans also imposed harsh terms on the Natives. Many were massacred for no apparent reason other than hate and greed. Often the Europeans were controlled by the search for gold. Christopher Columbus himself and many others took them as slaves. The only reason this did not pan out long term is because the Natives died too quickly from exposure to new viruses. It was then that the Europeans decided to use African slaves instead since they already had previous exposure to the diseases of the Old World and were, therefore, less likely to die.

The Natives were forced off their lands as more settlers came to the continent. They were pushed further and further West by the government and the increasing number of settlers who were intolerant of them. Those that refused were either killed or forced into removal -- Trail of Tears.

Native Americans have continued to be the victims of racism up into the 20th century. It wasn't until the early 20th century that they earned the right to vote and many were forced into segregation just as other minorities were.

The remaining Native Americans that chose to hold on to their culture reside on reservations. These small tracts of land are usually desolate and have are not capable of being farmed. Most are placed far away from other cities so the occupants exist in a state of isolation.

It wasn't until recently that the development of Indian Gaming took place. Contrary to popular belief (i.e another poster) these casinos are not provided by the government. Indeed, the tribes pay for the development and maintenance of the casinos all on their own. Furthermore, it is ignorant to generalize all Indians to be profiting off of gaming. Only a few lucky tribes benefit from gambling proceeds. Most are not fortunate enough to be located close enough to other cities for gambling casinos to be profitable.

For instance, Harrah's Cherokee Casino in Cherokee, NC was purchased by the tribe from tribal (not US Government) money. Prior to this, this and other tribes have had to rely mainly on tourism for income since most of their reservations are located in inhospitable places. Cherokee is the exception and with good reason: the land of the NC reservation was purchased by the Cherokee over 100 years ago -- not set aside by the government as a "gift".

Today, many Native American suffer from a variety of social issues. Diabetes plagues them at higher rates than any other minority. Suicide, alcoholism, and murder are also extremely high. Unemployment is high as well -- but this is attributed mainly to the fact that there is usually no outside industry other than tourism. Most reservations are located far away from desirable land so jobs are scarce to be had. Often, a Natives choices are to either remain poor or leave the reservation and their last ties to their culture.

More than any other minority per capita, Natives live in poverty. The idea that they get benefits and tax breaks from the US Government is appalling and a myth. Natives pay federal taxes just like everyone else. True, they do not have to pay state taxes on anything purchased inside the reservation but at the same time they do not receive anything for the reservation that tax money would be used for -- i.e. roads, schools, public services (police, ambulance, etc.) All of these services are provided internally by the tribe out of tribal earned money therefore there is no reason for them to pay state taxes for it.

Perhaps more than any other minority in the nation, Natives stuffer from misunderstanding and stereotypes in the general public. The term, the "Forgotten Race" is very apt ... as one of the other posters to "Native Americans" has made a good example of with their ramblings and misinformed and misdirected anger.

The author encourages each of you to try to understand the TRUE story of the Native people -- not just what you overhear from people who would rather have us forgotten. The common information on the indigenous people that is passed around as truth nowadays is often dead wrong and based on stereotypes from popular culture. In reality, Natives have a rich history and are worthy of more than token recognition.

The once peaceful people who live in what is now North, Central, and South America. But since the Europeans came over the ocean, everything has changed, no shit. The Spanish and Africans (slaves) blended with many of the southern natives who weren't dead yet. Some natives retreated far into the mountains and forests (and saved their languages and cultures) so in a way, they were luckier than the northern natives. As for them, they were nearly fucking exterminated (again through diseases, poverty, and murders). 95% of natives were killed by the mid 1800's. And it didn't help when they were "removed" by the people who believed in Manifest Destiny, forced onto reservations (might as well be concentration camps), forbidden to practice traditions and speak their languages, and converted to Catholicism.
Here's a some random things people should know:
1. DON'T compare our suffering to other peoples' (like the Africans and Jewish people). What, is there a contest?
2. It's safe to say that we LOVE to dance and sing. And have sexual relations. Some more obvious than others.
3. Not all of us are fucking alcoholics. And only a SMALL percentage of reservations own casinos, which they pay hard worked CA$H for.
4. Every tribe is DIFFERENT.
5. Not all of us are bitter for what happened. After all, many of us are blended with other nationalities (like latinos/metizos, metis and griffes... many more!)
6. We're NOT Asian descendents. Just because we didn't leave things out to rot, and now archeaologists are getting bored, doesn't mean we came from fucking Asia. No disrespect to Asia though. We were created here. Understand?
7. We're protective of our families and friends. If you want one, you'll have the whole clan on your ass!
8. Our southern cousins below the border are NOT "illegals", they were here too, but they often get overlooked. We feel you.
9. It's fucking rude to dress your kids up and "indians" for Halloween. Red makeup, fake leather outfit, and feathers... And I ain't about to hit a child.
10. To my fellow native americans: Be strong, yes, just that!!!!!

A nation of people who are originally native to what land is now America. But this also includes places like Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and so on.
The southern Natives were nearly and mostly destroyed after the Spanish explorers came over on boats, bringing with them deadly diseases (smallpox, scurvy ect.)
The Natives in the -what is now the United States and Canada- practically suffered the same tragedies.
There are many different tribes, each tribe has their own language, traditions, beliefs, and inhabit a certain area. Unfortunately, a lot of these things are lost. But still, some has still continued on to this day.
With heavy stereotyping and lack of education, people often misunderstand Natives. For example: Reservations aren't accompanied by brightly lit casinos. Dancing around a drum (usually at a pow-wow) is a spiritual experience, it's not silly. There are urban Natives. Virtually no Native has a "flat ass". People sacrifice so much and work hard for their families, but the idiots are responsible for the stereotypes, make this literally impossible to believe.

the indigidious people of the united states/canada/mexico/south america. they have a reputation of being pushed around and still work for equal rights today.

Native American- people who live on the rez (reservation) because the god damb White people took our land! we are very proud of our cultures and religions.

A proud group of people who were there before the whites. No one cared about them but we still are proud people.

People who migrated from Asia to the continents of North and South America. They don't all live in tee pees, that is only in the Southwest of North America. They have different tradtions and unique culture and language. One idiot posted "omg I hate white ppl cuz Im lyke 35% Native American, I wanna like kill white ppl". Just because a group of White people killed Native Americans does NOT speak for all white people, especially those of the modern day.

The Solutrean people who The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History has proven came to north america 5000 years before american Indians came from northeast Asia over the Bering land bridge

Archaeologists tracing the earliest to later sites in the Americas find that they tend to be older in south America and on the East coast of the USA. This trend is exactly opposite one would predict if the Indians were first over the Bering Strait.

Language links or similarities for many words exist between ancient Europeans and ancient Stone Age Americans. These links appear to point to the Basque people of the France/ Spain region of Europe, and the North Eastern part of North America. This overlaps almost perfectly with multiple lines of genetic evidence (Haplogroup-X and Human Lymphocyte Antigens) which also shows ancient links between Europe and the Northeastern USA. Links between these ancient languages suggests an obvious prior European migration.

The idea that Caucasian or European peoples could have migrated to and inhabited the Americas in ancient times is really not a new idea. As far back as the late 1700’s it was speculated upon. Since then people have noted physical similarity between some Indian tribes and Europeans, similarities between spearpoints, tool kits, and other artifacts. In many ways this is an open secret in the archaeological community, but has been suppressed to the general public, by the mass media.

1. A descendant of one of the tribes who lived in America before the Europeans arrived. It considered politically incorrect to call Native Americans "Indians," partly because when Christopher Columbus forgot his ADD medication and somehow thought America was India, he was wrong; and partly because it is considered offensive to real Indians to call Native Americans "Indians."

2. An Irishman who sailed to Japan, lived on soybeans until his thyroid was ruined, sailed back to Ireland, got kicked out for having a horrible voice, sailed back to Japan, got kicked out for having horrible math skills, then noticed the giant continents of North and South America and decided to live on them and have children with Eskimos and/or Mexicans.

3. A highly ghetto group of people living on reservations. They know every button combination in street fighter, every playing stat of their favorite basketball heroes, and a bunch of life's rules, such as "bros before hoes."

Indiginous Americans who were cheated out of their land.