Why do some people seem to think American Indians are native to this continent?
453877
What do you consider native?\n\nHere's the definition of "native".  Tell me if this doesn't fit.\n  \n     -Being a member of the original inhabitants of a particular place. \n     -Belonging to the original inhabitants of a country.\n     -an original or indigenous inhabitant \n\n\nOf course by the definitions I am native also.  I was born and raised in the US.\nFor example:\n     -one born or reared in a particular place\n     -Being or belonging to the place of one's upbringing\n     -Being such by birth or origin
837805
If you mean American Indians (Native Americans), they are their own race.  They are probably descended from Asians.\n\nIf you mean Asian Indians, they are Asians, particularly, South Asians.
395199
All were either born from or immigrants themselves. If any Native American Indians were fighting they also came here from somewhere else.\nThe UNITED STATES of AMERICA is made up of people from all over the world. We really are just the melting pot we hold everyone.\nPeace on EARTH and goodwill to all. LOVE.... PEOPLE\nWe are all beautiful.
1104410
Ok sweetie, first of all ignore the ignorants, they are partially right but they still don't know how to answer the question. Ok here we go.\n\nAmerigo Vespucci or Américo Vespucio in spanish (see the relationship?) was an italian explorer that in 1501 arrived in what now is Guyana (North of "South" América) he sailed through the Amazona River and ended up in Patagonia (The very south of the American Continent).\n\nAmérico was the first European that realized that this was a new CONTINENT instead of Asia (What they thought at the begining, that's why we call our natives Indians because that was the destination of Columbus). The news spreaded rapidly over Europe and in 1507 a publication of a map made by the German Martin Waldseemüller using the description given by amerigo (Américo) showed the new land name as AMERICUS (In Latin) or América (Spanish because Americo was with the Spanish explorers) in honor of Americo.\n\nThe actual concept of América is the name of what people call North Central and South America which at the end and technically AND CORRECTLY speaking is the name of the whole land that starts in Canada and ends in Argentina. Back then, and, some countries now call americans refering to all people of the new continent (Not only the USA).\n\nNow in the USA, This country was called in honor to that name and also was the first country that became independent from a European authority.\n\nBeing called United States of America means States unified in a land called America which means in some kind of selfish and honorable way that the name of USA is America.\n\nThe only thing I ask you to do is please know and spread the word because there's people that really don't know how they became what they are, and yes, you can and should refer to American or americans to all people in the new continent and the nationality of the USA citizens, but you have to explain when you mean which one. To finish my answer is that everybody that know the difference and knows how to explain it is right and everybody in this WHOLE CONTINENT is an AMERICAN, the north, central and south definitions came after.\n\nThanks for letting me finally explain this to everybody. It took me a long time to figure the why's and the how's (I was born in the USA but raised in Venezuela so it helped expand my mind and knowledge).\n\nTootles
45679
One possibility is that Indians have a kind of duel citizenship.  Indians are concidered autonomous Nations, but yet they aren't because they still come under the Jurisdiction of the Federal government, but can resist certain laws.  \n\nIt's kinda confusing and very difficult to explain partly because no one fully understands how Tribal governments are subjegated to the Feds, but yet aren't\n\nIt's just a theory
453305
And this is coming from the guy who said he'd be interested in an open discussion with me about 1 book he read about the history of the American Indians which made him an instant expert on early American Indians' tribal societies.\n\nWhen I refuted some of his claims, he immeditately started in with the insults on me.\nSo much for really being interested in learning about my ancestors from a modern American Indian such as myself.\n\np.s. I suggest that "zeepogee" watch School House Rock's "America" video. The "Great American Melting Pot" might help this person realize that America is not just "white", but multi-colored, & multi-racial.
500350
I will definitely take your side on this question, listen...Yes, the Continent is called "North America" and it is included.  Anyway the U.S.A has been so dominant since "white people" have taken over the country and that may be why and EVERYBODY HEAR THIS:  The white people that say "I am half American and half English(U.K) are not.  The so-called "Americans are actually most of them are descendants from Britain and most of Europe.  Listen to this one.  What are "Native Americans"?  That's right, they are Indians, which means that most of the ones that consider themselves white Americans are actually European and here is another the term "WHITE PERSON" ranges from now..U.S.A, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe including Russia.  And yes about the government, the decisions they make do affect us, for instance(please don't hate me for speaking the truth) The War that we are in, in my opinion it is made a bigger deal than it should be and it is affecting us in one example by using up money and jacking the gas prices way up, so if I tried to FULLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION, it would be too long to try to read and if you want me to give you a full answer modify detail on your question and I will make it able to contact me.
330334
They probably think killing somebody as stupid as you would be a favour to the rest of us\nFurthermore in 1492 a lot of native americans were asking the same question about Europeans.\nMaybe if you looked at the world as a full of people rather than "different" people you would have a little less to worry about
668335
Right, that is because they do not know their geography.  America is a continent (not a country) which includes:  all of North, South & Central America - not just the United States. And Mexico, Canada & United States are all part of North America.
335969
it's not ignorance, it's arrogance. and it isn't all the americans, but it is deffinately a large group who thinks the whole world evolves around the USA, and they need no knowledge of the rest of that world. i've met americans who think Afhanistan is the capital of Iraq.\n\nThe arrogance is even proven in some of the answers above. they attack you on ur english. maybe ur native language isn't even english, but they would never even concider that fact, bcs the world ends for them at the borders of the USA.\n\n(they will probably attack my english too now, but hey, who cares? english is only my fifth language, far behind dutch, german, french and romanian)\n\nsometimes i wish Columbus had taken another turn in 1492.\n\nof course there are also a lot (and i mean A LOT) of normal, friendly open-minded americans. met them, seen them and respect them highly. but most of those people i met, agree mostly with my points made here.
192989
I presume you mean Native Americans.  As someone with both Native American and European blood in them, I can answer with a little less bias.  Humans have been spreading around the globe since we left Africa About 74,000 years ago.  We took the land from the Neanderthals.  If they still existed today, they'd be complaining as much as the Native Americans do.  And, to some extent, they have the right to.  The Europeans thought they were the civilized ones, and instead of learning what the Indians had to teach about living with the land, they just took it away.  The Europeans went about things in the wrong way.  Like bullies taking over the school playground.  I think the Indians took it far better then I would have. I have more European blood than Indian, but I have to side with the Indians on this one.  Some Indians take things to far, but the vast majority do not.  As to Kenwick man ... irregardless of how old he is, he was here before the Europeans, therefore, must be Indian.  I think, however, they are foolish to obstruct scientific investigation.  Don't they want to know about their ancestors and where they came from.  I hope this helps ... the question is rather vague.
970091
native to what land? india? then yes.\nif you mean native americans, then "indian" was a misnomer. when columbus landed here, he hoped he had landed in india. "indians" would have made sense if he was correct.\nthe name just stuck. like many things in history and language. \n:D
77665
Do you mean Indian as in Native American or Indians from India? In either case there are wise people and stupid people everywhere, I don't think it really matters too much where you're from.
441187
Geographically no, the continent consists of North and South American, so in that sense (and if you also lump Europeans, Arabs, Indians, Chinese etc. together as Eurasians) they are all American.\n\nCulturally, politically and as inhabitants of a country that calls itself 'America the free', whatever its correct title then of course they are...by definition.\n\nGenetically or even biologically if you regard Homo sapiens as having sub-species, most Americans are in fact European or African etc. The only true Americans in historical times are full-blood native Indians.
706525
I knew some "white" people years ago who moved to Africa, for whatever reason..I didn't ask.  They took their "white American" children with them, and while they were there, children were born. Now, these "white" children are true Africans, being born there. If these children would then come to America, and have children, would these children born in America, then have to be called "African Americans?"  The whole thing is blown out of proportion, and we are all Americans, regardless of race, color, religion.. let's be proud of it and quit our nick picking. As long as we keep pushing ourselves away from others, we will be segragated.\n\nThe irony of the whole thing is, that true Americans are Canadians, Mexicans, and the people from the US, all from North America, and then we also have South America. All of them are Americans. Yet only the people from the US call themselves Americans. Canadians have the right to call themselves Canadian Americans, because they are. Same with the Mexicans, true Mexican Americans. And all of South America.\nPeople born in the US are just "American" unless you want to call them United States Americans.\nLet's just get off this whole name calling bit, and grow up. Until we do, there will be no peace amongst us.
48825
really if you think about it. the natives found the americas. they were here long before anyone else.
144694
Yes, because they speak a language that derives from Latin and they live in the American continent. It sounds quite obvious to me!