It's interesting here in Canada. Political correctness won't allow us to call Native people "Indians"… it's like using the 'n' word for blacks (which there are very very few blacks in Canada - not sure why that is… maybe the Minus 40 weather keeps them smart enough to say out of this crap). No, indeed, we cannot call them Indians. The proper term here is "First-Nations", or if you refer to them as Native… they lean a negative eye your way too now.
My question is: Who was in North America before the Natives settled here? The oldest living Native here in Canada (Never met her or knew her name)… suggests there WERE people here before all the Native cultures started fighting among themselves…. The were referred to as "To Old Ones".
The Northern Eskimo or now referred to as "Innuit"… Almost have an Asian/Indian took to them… were likely here all along. For whatever reason, they stay pretty much up in the far arctic. 1000's of miles from the general population. There's a whole-lot of nothing between these two cultures land-wise. But they are slowly being modernized buy the free handouts from the Canadian Government like most "First Nations" groups. No accountability from them, and they do not live by the freedoms that their Forebearers demanded. They live on reserves and in some cases in towns and cities with no sense of ownership, why would they? The Government molly-coddles them to that point. From a social aspect here in Canada where most Canadians live like most Americans, the Natives find it difficult to assimilate into this culture. It's complicated.
We, like Americans are now inundated with a newer cultural growth, Immigration has East Indians (Sikh's) and Phillipino's by massive amounts here in Canada… they are referred to as "New Canadians". From an ethics perspective, there is nothing wrong with that, because these New Canadians are willing to work for a living! Although they haven't migrated into many skilled trades, we'll likely see the trend change somewhat as many White Canadians refuse to take on service jobs such as the fast food industry, or gas stations. It's a similar demographic not unlike the U.S.
Speaking of African Americans… what should then be referred to if they want their own identity up here in Canada. African-American-Canadians? Long title. Interestingly enough, racism is fairly minimal here in Canada. I suspect that it's because Canada is made up of immigrants that only go back to three or four generations. We are still considered a 'new country' by world standards. I was talking to a fellow while on a bike trip in the States who claimed his discontent on certain people because they weren't white. That's not a concept you'll find here in Canada. Although you may find SOME Canadians bitching about the New Canadians, because they struggle with their accent.
