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 Watch Your Language
Tom Arviso Jr.
The field of journalism is a colorful one, especially when it comes to covering
the people and cultures of the world. Here in the United States, the culture
that seems to be the most misunderstood by reporters and editors is the Native
American people. That’s because what most of these journalists learned
and know about Native Americans probably came from watching old John Wayne westerns
on television. This is evident in the choice of words and terms used when writing
stories about Native Americans.
The most offensive term, used to address Native American women, is “squaw.”
This word came from French fur trappers and means female genitalia. Another
is “redskin,” which is the equivalent of using the “n-word”
when addressing a person of Native American ancestry. The word “chief”
is often misused when addressing tribal leaders — a chief is a person who
has earned his or her distinguished honor by displaying strong leadership skills
within his or her specific tribe. But not all Native tribes have chiefs. Some
tribes have a chairman or chairwoman, president, and principal chief. It is
disrespectful and insulting to call someone a “chief” when he or she
is not.
It is most appropriate and respectful to identify a Native American person
by their particular tribe, band or pueblo. I am of Navajo heritage and 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 just like African-American, Asian American or Hispanic, which
is too broad of a term and not generally used to identify someone unless absolutely
necessary.
Also, the use of American Indian and Native American are both basically correct,
as Native people use both. American Indian is the more modern term used but
the Native American Journalists Association endorses the use of Native American
as being the most appropriate, especially when covering a story.
It is important to always be aware and respectful of a person’s culture
and heritage when you are writing about them. If you are not, then your story
or broadcast is basically untrue and inaccurate, and you are adding to the longstanding
ignorance of non-Native media as well as perpetuating stereotypes of Native
Americans. Most importantly, though, you will lose the respect of the Native
person you are writing about as well as those who are aware of your ignorance.
Tom Arviso Jr. is the publisher and editor of The Navajo Times, the largest
Native American-owned weekly newspaper.
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On both chapter and national levels, SPJ provides an open forum for the discussion of diversity issues in journalism. This committee's purpose is to promote a broader voice in newsrooms across the country and expand the depth and quality of news reports through better sourcing. Its ongoing project is the compilation of experts — primarily women, gays and lesbians, people of color and people with disabilities — through the Society's Diversity Source Book. The Society's relevance to its member is based on inclusiveness.
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