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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.

Example Sentences

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After meeting Native Americans, Kieran knew there was something in the US he could explore.

From BBC Aug. 1, 2026

Tejon in 1854 mainly to monitor and subdue Native Americans, but before it closed, in 1864, it survived the fiercest recorded earthquake in California history, magnitude 7.9 on Jan. 9, 1857.

From Los Angeles Times 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

Or to believe that Edward Hicks, who was a Quaker and led a spartan life, was complicit in the horrors visited on Native Americans in the name of land acquisition?

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 3, 2026

From Bartolome de Las Casas on, Europeans have known that their arrival brought about a catastrophe for Native Americans.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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