phrase requests - Short, Politically Correct word for Native Americans

No more than four syllables, more PC than Indians.

EDIT: I arbitrarily chose four syllables because any more seemed like a mouthful. I like to be PC and not have to stumble over 6+ syllables.

Answer

I know Indians and they prefer to be called Indians. Their reservations have names like Navajo Indian Reservation. Any office or bureau for them would have the name Indian in it.

Here is a good article that discusses the Indians’ own preferences about what they would like to be called — and not called. So not only is it not offensive but it’s actually preferred, so go with that.

Here are some government bureaus run by and for the Indian population in America. Not sure they would choose to have an offensive name in their office titles.

Added based on comments: Yes, Columbus coined the term probably (there is talk that Indian comes from an Indian word too). He was looking for the (East) Indies, though, not India itself. Yes, there may be confusion about whether the person is from India or they are an Indian (and my good friend’s dad would simply say: that is the white man’s issue). Fact is the word was used for the peoples of the Americas first and has continuously been used since then.

So (poor) choices:

• Redskins — Worst choice in my opinion. Some Indians are OK with it, but not all for sure. I am not sure how offensive it is since I know of many Indians that want Washington to keep the name, but who wants to get in the middle of that? I would be OK with a team named Whiteskins, but stay away.


• Red Indian — To me this is “old” and I equate this to the word negro. Might be slightly offensive too to some. Probably would just get you laughed at.


• Native American — Anyone who is born in America is a native American.


• American Indian — Some Indians feel that the word Indian is theirs and that when you use American Indian, you are basically saying that only people from India are “real” Indians.