Title: Native Americans - What did they call themselves? [Archive] - Straight Dope Message Board
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Content: Just a guess. pravnik
05-06-2003, 08:27 AM
It varries greatly, since "Native Americans" refers to a large and disparate group of peoples, with different languages, cultures, and worldviews. The name for themselves was very often something corresponding to "the people", like with the Dineh. Their name for others was often something corresponding with "enemy." Often the name that we think of when thinking of an Indian tribe is another tribes' name for them (often "enemy"), which was the first we learned. " Navajo", the common name for the Dineh, comes from a Spanish version of a Tewa word, while "Mowhawk" is a Narraganset name meaning "flesh eaters", "Apache" is said to be a Spanish corruption of a Zuni word meaning "enemy," "Sioux" is a French corruption of a Anishinabe word also meaning "enemy." Makes sense..."What do you call those people over there?" "Oh, them? We call them 'enemy'!" John Mace
05-06-2003, 08:31 AM
Pravnik has it right.