I Just talked to my former sister-in-law A full-blood Creek, and she said it's silly to think the I word is offensive . She and everybody has used it for many years. Also what do you want to call the people of India?

@elaineg  Thank you for pointing it out.  The people of India are called Indians.  They are fine with that term.  It was offensive to Native Americans because they are not from India and calling them Indians was dismissive as to who they really are.  I appreciate what your sister in law said.  It helps us to hear first hand how people feel.  Perhaps it is okay in some circles, especially within the family, but it is widely considered offensive to Native Americans.  

What a great moment of victory @jeanne-mayell !  Congratulations!

Our young people are stepping up and it is heartening to see.

I have no doubt that the initiative will pass this fall. I have great faith in the people of Boston.

Consider the terrible injustices we have done over time, to so many...if we had to face the full weight of our culpability it would be unbearable. But scales are falling from eyes, walls are crumbling. It’s good, and long overdue.

I hope as the scales come to balance, we Americans will be humble in accepting the consequences. Because change is coming, and we will all be changed.

@jeanne-mayell - "I had heard a lot of bologna" - You made me laugh so hard!!! I so appreciate you spelling it correctly as it exists in its original language, but it is totally ok to say "That's a lotta baloney!", even in written form. Now I'm craving a nice bolognese sauce... ? 

Thanks to you for clarifying terminology around the indigenous people of our continent.

Something that comes to mind, is that in African-American culture, the "N-word" is used as a term of endearment, but ONLY if you are a bona fide member of that culture, those of us outside of it are absolutely not to use it because it is so offensive. So if those who are members of indigenous tribes want to use the word "Indian" to refer to themselves within their own culture, family or circle of indigenous friends, I can understand that, however in trying to move past the old paradigms it's important to not use these offensive terms when communicating with the outside world.  I've never heard an African-American refer to their people using the N-word when talking to anyone outside that culture. (And I'm not referring to literature or music or even stand up comedy as those are exceptions.)

I myself am half Italian and grew up in a very "little Italy" town near White Plains NY. Columbus day was a big deal to them and my mom's birthday fell on Columbus day occasionally.

I am 100% happy to say arrivederci and il addio to Columbus day and Benvenuto to Indigenous People's day!

@triciact (Mamaroneck???)

LOL

Addio, Colombo - eri figlio di zoccola!

So. I'm working on a project that involves collaborating with one of the core Wampanoag tribes here in SE Mass. I asked the tribal chairwoman what terminology she and her community prefer when referring to US Native people in the aggregate. I'm pasting here her response, which is succinct and to the point of what has been discussed on this thread:

This is one of the poem I meditate too.  Hope it’s appropriate to share.

The Supreme Court Says Nearly Half of Oklahoma is an Indian Reservation. What's next?

@jeanne-mayell

I found it interesting that Gorsuch voted "pro", apparently has a history of approving indigenous rights. Who knew...

I think it especially has implications for the oil processing industry, i.e., pipelines.

My worry is that if Satan Miller gets wind of this, he'll push for some kind of executive order that will annul all treaties.