Amerindian
Amerindian is a term used to refer to Indigenous peoples of the American continents. Historically an umbrella label, it has encompassed a broad range of cultures, languages, and communities across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. In modern usage, the term appears mainly in older ethnographic writing and in some regional contexts, but it is less common in contemporary policy discussions.
Because the Americas span diverse regions, there is no single Amerindian culture. Hundreds of nations and ethnic
Pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Maya, Aztec, and Andean cultures built sophisticated societies before European contact.
In current usage, preferences vary. Some communities prefer the terms associated with their specific nations or