A few years ago, our band played at a benefit to raise funds so that the Lakota of the Wounded Knee Reservation could build their own memorial and museum without having the Feds put their stamp on it. The Lakota gentleman who spoke to the crowd referred to himself as an "Indian". He said that "Native American" is really a stupid term because anyone who was born in instead of immigrated to America is a "Native American", regardless of race. I have since seen this same sentiment expressed by others, including author Tony Hillerman who, though white himself, seems to have a pretty good grasp of the Indian psyche.