Politically correct, and Lovecraftian.

[elfs]

I'm sorry we missed it, but August 9th was... well, a U.N. holiday. The problem with it is that nobody knows what to call it. It was once called "The International Day of Recoginition for the World's Native Peoples," but the term "native" became perjorative, and then it was called "International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples", because the French term "indigene" didn't yet carry the same term as "native." But the French have since objected since it apparently is somewhat perjorative in their language, and an ancient Greek term will be used in the future. What a great name:

"International Day of the World's Autocthonians."

One wag suggests we Americans should refer to members of the Sioux or Cherokee as "autochthonous-Americans". Seems a bit of a mouthful.

Comments

[ai731.livejournal.com]

Here in the french part of .ca, we've always used 'autochtone' to refer collectively to the native peoples of North America. I've often been frustrated that 'autochthonous' is such a mouthful in English, that that there isn't a better translation for such a useful term that connotes "they were doing just fine on their own until us white folks showed up".

Autochthonous

[(Anonymous)]

You know, whenever I see that word, I immediately associate it with words like "chthonic" (= underground, or subterranian) and "Cthulhu" (Ayeee!). Sort of unfortunate, as it tends to make native peoples sound like some sort of Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers.

Just my warped mind at work, I guess.

-Malthus