I am a Native American.  The term Indian was incorrect when the Europeans first came to this land, and it remains incorrect.  To be absolutely precise about it, I am a human being that is indigenous to this continent.  The term American was brought by those who conquered our identities along with our lands.  In all honesty, I don’t know much about what being Native American is, except that it means to stand firm that I am distinct from those who are not.  My family raised me to be proud of being Native American even more than of being Cherokee.  I’ve never understood that, but it is how I’ve come to assert myself.  Maybe I will start to explore the Cherokee nation more, go to where there are old men and women who resisted as much change as they could over their lives.  But until then, I know I am Native American and that this feels important to me whenever I hear terms like African-American, Asian-American, Latino, and every other blend that comes along.