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

Over the years, as some historians soured on Columbus’s treatment of Native Americans and the impact of colonization that followed his discovery, the city began removing his many tributes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

In 1959, he had sported a mohawk to honor Native Americans.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

But for Native Americans, that is not at all the goal.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026

Greenpeace maintains that it played only a small and peaceful role in the movement, which was led by Native Americans.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

However, even where Native Americans do survive, there has been extensive replacement of their culture and languages with those of the Old World.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond