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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.

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Native Americans more or less cohabited peaceably with the grizzlies, each usually giving the other wide berth, at a mid-19th century ratio of about 10,000 California grizzlies to 130,000 native Americans.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 13, 2026

This is possibly linked to where Native Americans and Europeans had more prolonged trade contact, scholars say.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 11, 2026

"The thing that surprised me was how early on there were these Scots and Irish marrying Native Americans," he said.

From BBC Aug. 1, 2026

"But I want people to remember that Native Americans have been here a lot longer than 250 years," he said.

From Barron's Jul. 4, 2026

The Underland was no secret to the Native Americans, who had made periodic trips below the earth for ritual purposes for hundreds of years.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

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