Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/647

 NOTES AND NEWS

Amerind : A Designation for the Aboriginal Tribes of the American Hemisphere — A part of the proceedings of the Anthro- pological Society of Washington, at a meeting on May 23d last, seems destined to produce permanent influence on ethnologic nomenclature ; this part of the proceedings taking the form of a symposium on the name of the native American tribes. The discussion was opened by Col. F. F. Hilder, of the Bureau of American Ethnology, with a critical account of the origin of the misnomer " Indian," applied by Columbus to the American aborigines (see page 545 herein) ; he was followed by Maj. J. W. Powell who advocated the substitution of the name Amerind recently suggested in a conference with lexicographers. A communica- tion by Dr O. T. Mason followed, in which the various schemes of ethnologic classification and nomenclature were summarized and dis- cussed. Contributions to the symposium were made also by Dr Albert S. Gatschet, Dr Thomas Wilson, and Miss Alice C. Fletcher. At the close of the discussion the contributions were summarized (by President McGee) as follows :

1. There is no satisfactory denotive term in use to designate the native American tribes. Most biologists and many ethnologists employ the term " American " ; but this term is inappropriate, in that it con- notes, and is commonly used for, the present predominantly Caucasian population. The term " Indian " is used in popular speech and writing and to a slight extent in ethnologic literature ; but it is seriously objec- tionable in that it perpetuates an error, and for the further reason that it connotes, and so confuses, distinct peoples. Various descriptive or connotive terms are also in use, such as " North American savages," " Red Men," etc. ; but these designations are often misleading, and never adapted to convenient employment in a denotive way.

2. In most cases the classifications on which current nomenclature are based, and many terms depending on them for definition, are ob- solete ; and the retention of the unsuitable nomenclature of the past tends to perpetuate misleading classifications.

3. While the name " Indian " is firmly fixed in American literature and speech, and must long retain its current meaning (at least as a synonym), the need of scientific students for a definite designation is

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