Indian Games

Today the term "Red Indian" is seen as derogatory with most preferring the term "Native American". The Term Red Indian was used because Christopher Columbus thought he had discovered a western route to India and they were called "red" because of the paint they used on their faces. The term stuck and was in common use until recent years. We have used it on this games page simply to explain why the term is no longer acceptable with many not only rejecting "Red Indian" or "American Indian" but preferring to be named after their tribe. As the publisher and editor of The Navajo Times, the largest Native American owned weekly newspaper, puts it, "I . . . would rather be known as, 'Tom Arviso Jr., a member of the Navajo tribe,' instead of 'Arviso, a Native American or American Indian.' This gives an authentic description of my heritage, rather than lumping me into a whole race of people."