If you asked Rick Waters, director of corporations with the
American Indian College Fund, how he classifies himself, he’d
say, “I am Cherokee-American Indian.” If you asked the same
question of John Norwood, president of Nanticoke-Lenape Tribal
Enterprises, he’d say he’s “Nanticoke-Lenape-American Indian.”
So what’s the proper way to address American Indian coworkers?
It depends on whom you ask, but one thing they all would agree
on: to be the most accurate, identify the tribe first. “We are
more closely identified with our tribal origins,” says Norwood.
“It’s like asking someone from Europe what they are. They would
answer ‘French’ or ‘German.’ It’s the same idea here. When
someone asks me what I am, I give them my tribal reference.”
Societal concerns over the proper way to address American
Indians are not new. You may hesitate over calling someone an
American Indian rather than a Native American, though our
sources prefer American Indian (after their tribal
identification). But what else might you say that