Indigenous
What to know
Indigenous refers to descendants of the original inhabitants of a place, most often, in lands that have been colonized. It also refers to customs, language, and other cultural markers of Indigenous people.
In a US context, related terms include Native Americans, Native peoples, or First Americans. The terms Indians and American Indians are contested but still used in some contexts. Those who are Indigenous to Alaska are typically called Alaska Natives. According to the Census Bureau, there are more than 7 million Native American and Alaska Native people in the United States, comprising 2 percent of the population, though population estimates vary depending on definitions. There are several Indigenous Pacific Islander populations in the US, including Native Hawaiians, the CHamorus of the Mariana Islands, and Samoans.
History
Indigenous cultures were well-established in the Americas prior to European colonization. Population estimates before European settlers arrived in 1492 were around 60 million. Tribes were “seen by exploring foreign powers as sovereign nations, who treatied with them accordingly,” according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (which has its own contentious history with respect to Indigenous people).
But then, European settlers began to break and renege on those treaties. As settler presence expanded in the 1800s, the US government forcibly removed Indigenous people from their land. From 1830 to 1850, as many as 100,000 Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole people, among other nations, were pushed west from their homes using brutal measures; approximately 15,000 people died. The US government established reservations for Indigenous peoples, and by the end of what is known as the Reservation Era (1850-1887), most had either been forced west or had a significant amount of territory taken from them. Tactics like compulsive attendance at “boarding schools,” many of which have been found to systematically abuse students, and policies forbidding Indigenous languages, had devastating effects.
Tribal sovereignty
In the 1930s, the US government began approving measures to expand tribal communities’ self-governance. Tribal sovereignty ensures any decisions about tribes’ property or citizens are made with their involvement and consent, in conjunction with “treaties, acts of Congress, executive orders, federal administrative agreements, and court decisions,” according to the BIA. As of 2024, there were 574 federally recognized tribes, and an estimated 66 state-recognized tribes. The Native American Journalists Association’s guide is a resource to deepen understanding of the governments, economies, geographies, treaties, people, and cultures of tribal nations. Research into the intricacies of how tribal governments operate and protocols for engaging with leadership and citizens will help equip journalists to produce thoughtful and accurate coverage.
Indigenous languages
According to Ethnologue, there are 197 living Indigenous languages in the US, but a 2023 literature review estimates that only 20 could survive to 2050. While Native North American language use declined by 6% between 2013 and 2021, the US Census Bureau found some of those languages were “among the most spoken languages after English in nine states.” The First Peoples’ Cultural Council and Endangered Languages Project recommends journalists take an asset-based approach, avoiding terms (such as “extinct” or “primitive”) that pathologize, victimize, or flatten indigenous languages.
Indigenous identities
While Indigenous can be used as a broad category, it’s best to specify a person’s nation or tribal affiliation whenever possible. As with any identifier, include only when relevant and necessary. Being as specific as possible and taking into account an individual’s preference helps ensure coverage reflects how someone self-identifies.
When people misleadingly or falsely claim that they are Indigenous or have Indigenous heritage, they are sometimes referred to as “pretendians.” Historians argue that focusing on “ancestry, background, and blood, rather than citizenship, nationhood, and sovereignty” undermines tribal nations. Responsible reporting on such stories will highlight the thorough documentation tribal governments have established to prove Indigeneity, as well as the right of tribal governments to weigh in on such claims. Taking care to demonstrate that being Indigenous is rooted in centuries of culture and laws, not DNA tests, is important for accuracy, understanding, and to minimize further harm.
Suggestions for usage
Thoughtful reporting will avoid stereotypical stories (see, for example, the Indigenous Journalists Association bingo card) and will account for both historical and contemporary context. Referring to numerous Indigenous sources will help ensure that your reporting does not tokenize one “spokesperson.” Taking a community-centered journalism approach serves community members’ information needs and will help build trust. Other helpful sources for your reporting include Indigenous news websites, tribal cultural centers, and experts.
Style-wise, the Native American Journalists Association recommends news outlets capitalize the term “in order to avoid confusion between indigenous plants and animals and Indigenous human beings.”
Additional resources
- Federal and State Recognized Tribes (National Conference of State Legislatures)
- Indigenous Media Guides (Native American Journalists Association)
- Reporting Guides (Indigenous Journalists Association)
- How to report on Indigenous communities with tact and nuance (The GroundTruth Project)
- Reporter’s Checklist (Reporting in Indigenous Communities)
- Changing the narrative about Native Americans (Reclaiming Native Truth)
- Reporting and Indigenous Terminology (Native American Journalists’ Association)
- “Frozen in Time”: The Impact of Native American Media Representations on Identity and Self-Understanding (Journal of Social Issues)
Summary
Indigenous refers to the original inhabitants of a place before colonialism, and to their customs, language, and other cultural markers. In the US, Indigenous peoples are also referred to broadly as Native Americans, American Indians, Native peoples, and First Americans. Those who are Indigenous to Alaska are typically called Alaska Natives. There are several Indigenous Pacific Islander populations in the US, including Native Hawaiians, the CHamorus of the Mariana Islands, and Samoans. While Indigenous can be used as a broad category, it’s clearest to specify the population being referred to whenever possible, and to take into account an individual’s preference whenever possible. Thoughtful reporting will avoid stereotypical stories (see, for example, the Indigenous Journalists Association bingo card) and will account for both historical and contemporary context. Style-wise, the Native American Journalists Association recommends news outlets capitalize the term “in order to avoid confusion between indigenous plants and animals and Indigenous human beings.”