The chapter in ReVisions regarding Indigenous Cultures presented several case studies and examples of Indigenous awareness brought to the classroom. Many questions and issues swirled in my head as I read this chapter, but one that stuck out was one that I have been pondering since my childhood. As we know there are certain terminologies that we are instructed to use regarding Indigenous people, but I am often wondering if enough is done to prevent use of words should not be used. Upon reading the chapter I was surprised the word “Indian” is still used by non-Indigenous and and Indigenous people alike. The individual contexts of the of word used several times in the chapter did not seem to be incorrect or negative in any way, but I was still curious why it was being used.
As a child, we were instructed not to use the term Indian, and in my regional area of North America (New Mexico, USA) we were told to use the term Native American. It seems now that the term Native American is thought to be outdated in certain regions, and there is a timeline of preferred terminologies. I know that appropriate terminology varies from region to region, but what I thought does not vary, is the inappropriate words that are severally outdated and offensive. I always thought this was generally agreed upon “taboo/inappropriate” word and I wonder if this is because of the region I grew up in. I question this especially as I read this term in a book published 2007 and intended for Art Educators. I am interested in learning more about the differences in attitude between USA and Canada regarding appropriate terminology in general and I want learn more about these words being used in BC schools.
