Title: Native American vs American Indian: Understanding the Difference
Headings: Should You Use Native American or American Indian? That Depends on Who You Ask
Should You Use Native American or American Indian? That Depends on Who You Ask
Want to know what someone prefers to be called? Ask them.
The preference between using Native American or American Indian is personal.
Some people would rather be identified by their clan.
The U.S. Census uses the term American Indian.
Avoid the term "Indian," if you are non-Indigenous.

Content: Not least because it's confusing: while Merriam Webster still secondarily defines it as shorthand for American Indian, the term Indian is more commonly used to describe the people, food, and customs of India, the South Asian country. While the term "American Indian" has historically been used by both Native-run organizations and the U.S. government, "Indian" evokes a dark history of negative stereotypes. "We've been called 'Indians' and 'injun' to degrade us to a position of inferiority, and that's what we're reminded of when non-Natives call us Indian," says Young, adding that the term has been reclaimed within Native communities. Some Natives have also come to use the term "Indian Country" to describe the tribal Nations in collective; the NCAI notes that the term "Indian country," lowercase c, also appears in U.S. Code and is a legal term that's been used in Supreme Court opinions. Again, while Native people can choose to use it at their own discretion, "it's one of those things where we're allowed to refer to ourselves in ways others aren't," Young says. " Because we've suffered immense trauma at the hands of colonizers and are still suffering from intergenerational trauma, reclaiming terms is the way we cope and heal." Ultimately, if you're unclear on what an Indigenous person prefers to be called, the quickest way to know is to ask them. For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter.