Native Americans

Cultural  

1. The descendants of the original inhabitants of North America and South America before the arrival of white settlers from Europe, also called Indians or American Indians. The term Native American is sometimes preferred over Indian because the latter is a misnomer that originated with Columbus, who mistook the inhabitants of America for the people of India. Both terms, however, are accepted.

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In recent years, Native American activism has taken the form of calls for the protection of their tribal or ancestral shrines and artifacts.

Example Sentences

In the same 50 years, settlers had continued their westward push with the backing of the federal government, displacing Native Americans, and urban centers had begun to industrialize, leading to labor unrest among workers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Charles and Camilla were later paying their respects to fallen US troops at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington, before meeting with Native Americans at a national park.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

“Yellowstone” also introduced a conversation about the complexities of land ownership, commercial development, environmental concerns and the history of our nation, particularly with respect to Native Americans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

So citizenship was not always a great thing for Native Americans.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026

I learned a lot about “objectification,” Native Americans, and the bourgeoisie.

From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky