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Native America Calling: What’s in a (tribe’s) name?
Monday, March 16, 2026
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What’s in a (tribe’s) name?
The words “Sioux”, “Chippewa”, and “Crow” are some of the well-known names in the official lexicon that identify tribal nations.

But the tribal names are also among the monikers that arise from mispronunciations, errant assumptions, and even derogatory terms by outsiders that found their way into conventional use. Over the years, some tribes have undertaken the arduous process to change their official names to take back what they have always called themselves.

Others simply change how they present their names to the public, without updating the official record. Tune into Native America Calling to talk with representatives from tribes who seek to have their names better reflect their own culture and language.

Guests on Native America Calling
Jennifer Heminokeky, tribal chairwoman of the Fort Sill Chiricahua-Warm Springs Apache Tribe in Oklahoma and New Mexico

Vivian Juan-Saunders (Tohono O’odham), former chairwoman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, headquartered in Arizona

Jonathan Hale  (Diné), former tribal leader

Jason Salsman (Muscogee), press secretary for the Muscogee Nation, headquartered in Oklahoma

Allan Houser
A bronze sculpture by Chiricahua Apache artist Allan Houser is seen at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MOCNA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during a prior installation at MOCNA’s Allan Houser Art Park. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

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