Flight, by Sherman Alexie

[rachelmanija]

Teenage half-Indian, half-Irish "Zits" has spent his life being bounced in and out of foster homes and juvenile detention. One day, in yet another holding cell, he meets an angelic revolutionary of a white boy who calls himself Justice, seduces Zits with talk of bringing back the Ghost Dance, and eventually sends him out alone to randomly shoot up

Comments

[m00nface]

I have a question not related to the book: I had thought 'Indian' in this context was politically incorrect, and I've come to think I'm wrong on that, but at the very least it's confusing - I read your first sentence and thought, "Hey, I'm half-Indian too!" and took a few sentences to realise that wasn't what you meant. How do you distinguish between the two in the USA? As you can imagine, it doesn't really come up over here.

[rachelmanija]

Check these out: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aihmterms.html

http://www.allthingscherokee.com/articles_culture_events_070101.html

I used the same terminology the book does, and yes, that same thing often confuses me as well before I figure out the context.

[m00nface]

I thought this might also have affected you, Rachel talking about Indians but not India is probably big part of what threw me in this instance! Thank you, those links helped a lot. I'll be a little more informed if the topic ever crops up (or at least not be shocked if somebody uses the term "Indian").

[smillaraaq]

That first link Rachel includes below is the one I usually paste at people when I want to give all sides of this issue in a nutshell; it's very much in line with my own experiences and what I've seen talking with relatives, native friends from different tribes, and reading Indian writers from various parts of the US and Canada. There's still a definite perception in mainstream society that "Native American" is more PC and proper, and the terminology seems particularly entrenched in academia, so some folks will tend to use that in writing or speaking for a political or academic context just to go along with the default expectation of their audience; but "Indian" (and various slangier terms) is a lot more common for just casual in-group speech amongst ourselves. Generally speaking, most native folks I've known don't have a really strong preference either way, and so long as you're not using an actual slur, they won't be offended if you use their less-preferred general term; and even the minority of folks who do strongly prefer one of

[m00nface]

Some context: I'm in the UK, so my exposure to this issue is entirely through popular culture and blogs, not as yet real life encounters. Also, my mother was born in Calcutta, so I hear "Indian" and think of India, as I think most British people would (understandably).

Thank you for this, it's very good to know that I won't cause offense should I actually go to America and be in a position where I need to choose one term or the other! Plus, it's just really interesting. : )

[smillaraaq]

*nods* Considering how often folks in the US are uncertain what terminology to use, it never surprises me to hear folks in the further remove of Europe or the UK are confused, too! (And then if you add in some of the alternate terminology that's mainly used in Canada, it gets even more complicated...) The U.S. Census Bureau has apparently been using the term "Asian Indian" for the sake of clarity, but I don't know how broadly that's been adopted outside of bureaucratic circles; in casual conversation, at least, I've seen folks using "Indian" or "desi" much more often

[lady_ganesh]

Since you're being kind enough to answer questions: What about 'First Nations'? It's my perception that that's what's, er, kosher in Canada, but was it ever discussed in the US?

[smillaraaq]

Ah ha ha, the terminology craziness gets even more complicated when you hit Canada...

"First Nations" is the current "official" term in Canada for governmental stuff involving groups other than the Métis or Inuit, and also seems to fill a role similar to "Native American" for use in more formal/academic contexts...although "Indian" is also still used in some governmental contexts too, like in the matter of folks being registered/status Indians or non-status Indians for purposes of qualifying for governmental benefits (which is a complicated mess in and of itself that doesn't quite exactly parallel the equally complicated mess stateside with tribal enrollment and recognition...)

As far as its use stateside, I've seen a few folks (like Pura Fe and the other ladies in Ulali) who do strongly prefer the term over "Native American", but it really doesn't seem all that widely known or used on this side of the border. I rather like the term myself, for the same rationale of de-emphasizing political entities and borders that are such a

[lady_ganesh]

Have I said, today, what a delight you are to talk to? I just need to point that out. Thank you for letting me jump on you with questions!

And yeah, that makes sense. I'm kind of partial to First Nations because it seems so descriptive, but it's not for me to dictate other's self-identification, and I'm not, er, Indian enough to have a vote.

[smillaraaq]

Heee, you're welcome...I spend hours stalking YouTube for new native rappers and pass the savings random anecdata on to you! XD

English is just frustratingly full of entrenched namespace-collision!fail no matter which way you turn here; it's so much easier to talk about similar issues in Hawai'i, where there's a wealth of borrowed terms that let you specify the finer shades of meaning between "native-born in this place" or "indigenous ethnic group of this place", plus even when sticking to English, the prevailing local custom is to not call yourself Hawaiian unless you're actually of native Hawaiian descent.

[lady_ganesh]

:D

YES that would be much easier. Of course almost any language is clearer than English, though that's half the reason I love it so!