In The Wind Is My Mother Bear Heart tells this story of his friend Billy Osceola: Keeping one’s word is a core teaching of Native American culture. So “Indian givers” were our ancestors who gave to the Indians and then took away. government who gave reservation land to Native peoples, then took it back when they found a more lucrative use for it. I have come to learn that the term “Indian giver” actually refers to the U.S. These treaties gave the Natives guarantees of land where they could live and hunt in peace, without intrusion by European settlers.Īll the treaties were broken by the U.S. There were over 500 treaties signed between the U.S. It means “fat taker” – one who takes the best for themselves. In fact, the term for “white man” among the Lakota is wasichu. Something that was considered a “good trade.”Ī typical complaint among Native Americans about the Europeans was that they like to take, but not to give in return. Given a reminder of tribal custom, the man was encouraged to give something to the Lieutenant in exchange for the hat. He didn’t want it.”īut it was clear the Lieutenant did want it back. You might recall the scene in “Dances with Wolves” where, after a hunt, one of the Natives was wearing the hat of the Lieutenant and didn’t want to give it back: Hence the teaching, “It’s hard for us to say, ‘Thank you,’ without something in our hand.” Native Americans are very conscious of fair exchange. Why would the Europeans complain about that? Why wouldn’t they expect to give a fair exchange? A Good Trade The origin of the term is a bit murky: there are references back in the 1790s of Europeans complaining about Natives asking for remuneration for things they gave the Europeans. When I was a child, the term “Indian giver” was thrown around as a derogatory term when someone gave something and then wanted it back.Īt the time, I thought it meant that Native Americans used to do that: give gifts then take them back. 2 Do you keep your word? Or are you an “indian giver?”ĭo you keep your word? Or are you an “Indian Giver?” Do you even know what that means?