Native American Keywords for Chronicling America

Related Terms: Esquimau, Esquimaux, Indian, Redman, Squaw

Definitions: Term used by non-native colonizers referring to a member of any of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic coasts of Canada and Greenland, and parts of Alaska and the Russian Far East.

In Canada and Greenland, and more generally, the word Inuit has superseded the word Eskimo, which has come to be regarded as offensive (partly through the associations of the now discredited etymology ‘one who eats raw flesh’). Eskimo, however, is the only term which applies to the Eskimo peoples as a whole, including not only Inuit of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, but also the Yupik of Siberia and the Inupiaq of Alaska. Eskimo is still widely used, especially in Alaska and in anthropological, archaeological, and linguistic contexts.

Contextual Considerations, or "How this Term was Used": The first known use of the term in publication is by Richard Hakluyt, in his “Discourse of Western Planting” (1584), “The more northerly partes of the Lande amonge the Esquimawes of the graunde Bay.” If used today, this term may be considered incorrect or even offensive because it was widely used in a derogatory fashion by non-native colonizers.

Insider / Outsider Use: Insider use in newspapers often appears in names of large community gatherings or cultural events, such as the World Eskimo Olympics, up until the early 1970s when Inuit became more defined and more broadly employed.

Examples from Chronicling America:

"Eskimo" in The Tundra Times (Fairbanks, Alaska), 1 Jul. 1963. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

"Eskimos" in Daily Alaska Empire (Juneau, Alaska), 10 Sep. 1934. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

OCR Considerations, or "How the Computer Sees it":

"Esklmo" in Daily Arizona Silver Belt (Globe, Ariz.), 3 Mar. 1909. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

"Eskino" in Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 18 Jul. 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

Related Terms: Redman, Squaw, Eskimo 

Definitions: This term refers to a person of or belonging to one of the Nations of Indigenous Peoples of America. 

Contextual Considerations, or "How this Term was Used": This term was coined by Christopher Columbus, who, upon arrival to North America, mistook the continent for India. While it is still used today, this term may be considered incorrect or even offensive. 

Insider / Outsider Use: Employed by both insider newspapers as well as outsider newspapers well into the mid-twentieth century. Insider newspapers generally use this collectively when discussing large events or meetings, accompanied by a description of who would attend to represent distinct tribal nations. While it is still used today, this term may be considered incorrect or even offensive when used by outside members.

Examples from Chronicling America: 

"Indians" in Gazette of the United-States (New-York [N.Y.]), 15 Jan. 1790. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

Indian Chieftain (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]), 05 May 1887. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

"Indian" in Navajo Times (Window Rock, Ariz.), 21 Mar. 1963. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. Of Congress.

"Indian" in Red Lake News (Red Lake, Minn.), 15 Mar. 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. Of Congress.

OCR Considerations, or "How the Computer Sees it":

“Indion” in Papago Indian News (Sells, Ariz.), 01 Feb. 1958. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

“Inbian” in The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, Minn.), 10 Dec. 1905. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

Related Terms: Squaw, Indian, Eskimo 

Definitions: This term refers to a person belonging to one of the Indigenous peoples of America. 

Contextual Considerations, or "How this Term was Used": The color “red” began to be attributed to Native Americans at the time of European settlement, and by the early eighteenth century, it was frequently used and endorsed by “racial scientists” of the time.

Insider / Outsider Use: Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this term began to have an offensive meaning, being attributed to stereotypes of Native Americans in the West. Examples of insider usages do exist to emphasize Native American pride, such as the Red Power Movement, which was a civil rights movement in the twentieth century; however, used by an outsider group, this term may be considered incorrect or even offensive. Examples of such insider usage are very rare in the newspapers of record.

Examples from Chronicling America: 

"Red man" in Bismarck Daily Tribune (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]), 14 April 1907. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

"Red man" in Montgomery County Sentinel (Rockville, Md.), 05 Aug. 1927. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

OCR Considerations, or "How the Computer Sees it":

“Red mam” in Iowa County Democrat (Mineral Point, Wis.), 19 July 1906. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

“Bed Man” in Red Lake News (Red Lake, Minn.), 15 Nov. 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

Related Terms: Redman, Indian, Eskimo 

Definitions: This term refers to a Native American, usually a woman. 

Contextual Considerations, or "How this Term was Used": This term, in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, was used without negative connotation to describe Native Americans, but around the middle of the nineteenth century, this term began to hold a more disparaging, objectifying meaning in outsider newspapers. Typically, it refers to a Native American wife or woman.

Insider / Outsider Use: When used by the inside group, the word “Squaw” usually modifies a geographic location, such as “Squaw Peak,” or a type of celebration, “Squaw Dances.” Used by an outside group today, this term may be considered incorrect or even offensive.

Examples from Chronicling America: 

"Squaw" in The San Francisco Call (San Francisco [Calif.]), 16 Oct. 1910. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

"Squaws" in The Frontiersman (Palmer, Alaska), 21 March 1963. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

"Squaw" in The Glacier Reporter (Browning, Mont.), 13 Jun. 1957. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. Of Congress.

"Squaw" in The Coconino Sun (Flagstaff, Ariz.), 19 Nov. 1926. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. Of Congress.

OCR Considerations, or "How the Computer Sees it":

“Squavv” in Watauga Democrat (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.), 01 Oct. 1891. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. 

“Squow” in Walla Walla Statesman (Walla Walla, Wash. Terr.), 05 May 1865. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.