American Indian versus Native American
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
More Naming Conventions
American Indian versus Native American
Native North Americans of Canada
Aboriginal people: The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups of Aboriginal peoples: First Nations (Indians), Métis, and Inuit.
First Nations: in Canada, this is the preferred alternative to Indian. In addition to First Nations, other terms used include Native Canadians and Aboriginals.
Usage notes:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
American Heritage Dictionary
Inuit: the term of preference for the Native people of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. The term "Eskimo" is considered offensive in Canada (but not in Alaska).
Usage notes:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
American Heritage Dictionary
Métis: Métis people, those of "mixed blood" (mixed European and Native ancestry), are one one of the three Aboriginal peoples officially recognized in Canada.
Usage notes:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
The Canadian Encylopedia
For a general discussion of terms used in Canada, see "Words First: An Evolving Terminology Relating to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada", Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Usage notes:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
American Heritage Dictionary
Inuit: the term of preference for the Native people of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. The term "Eskimo" is considered offensive in Canada (but not in Alaska).
Usage notes:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
American Heritage Dictionary
Métis: Métis people, those of "mixed blood" (mixed European and Native ancestry), are one one of the three Aboriginal peoples officially recognized in Canada.
Usage notes:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
The Canadian Encylopedia
For a general discussion of terms used in Canada, see "Words First: An Evolving Terminology Relating to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada", Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Native North Americans of Alaska
Alaska Native: The official name used by the U.S. government to refer to the aboriginal people of Alaska, which includes including American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut peoples. See http://www.pbs.org/harriman/1899/native.html
Eskimo: The Native people of the Arctic coastal regions of North America and parts of Greenland and northeast Siberia. The term is used in Alaska but is considered offensive in Canada.
Usage Notes:
American Heritage
http://www.bartleby.com/61/24/E0212400.html
Alaska Native Language Center
http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/inuitoreskimo.html
Aleut: The Native people inhapiting the Aleutian Islands and coastal areas of southwest Alaska.
Usage Notes:
American Heritage
http://www.bartleby.com/61/24/E0212400.html
Alaska Native Language Center
http://www.uaf.edu/anlc/inuitoreskimo.html
Aleut: The Native people inhapiting the Aleutian Islands and coastal areas of southwest Alaska.
See also:
