Also, I think Sourdough's explanation makes a lot of sense in a historical context: to the settlers, it would have seemed that the Indians were trying to "take back" land they had "given" or "sold" to the whites, when in fact for the Indians such a gift, or sale, was incomprehensible, because the land was not owned by people. I think that could explain how the term came into use. I find it fascinating, Diane, how emphasizing a different aspect of the history gives the term a completely different (and reasonable) connotation for you.

Mark