Merciless Savages: A How-to Guide to Help You Write and Talk Respectfully About American Indians

This guide by Dr. Phil Bellfy provides an accessible, often humorous yet sharply critical reference for understanding how to speak and write respectfully about Indigenous Peoples of North America. The title reclaims and critiques the phrase "merciless savages" from the U.S. Declaration of Independence, exposing centuries of derogatory language and stereotypes.

The book offers a comprehensive glossary of commonly misused, outdated, or offensive terms-such as "Indian," "Eskimo," "Chief," "Squaw," and "Papoose"-explaining their origins, harmful implications, and preferred alternatives. It also addresses modern missteps like the use of acronyms like BIPOC, military equipment named after tribes, and idioms such as "off the reservation" or "circle the wagons."

Bellfy urges specificity: instead of general terms, use tribal names that Indigenous peoples use for themselves (e.g., Anishinaabeg, Ojibway). He emphasizes that language reflects and reinforces colonial power dynamics, and that respectful, informed usage is an essential step toward decolonization.

The appendix includes the classic anthropological satire "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema," encouraging reflection on cultural relativism and the absurdity of ethnocentric judgments.

Ultimately, Merciless Savages (Not) A How-to Guide to Help You Write and Talk Respectfully About American Indians is an educational and provocative guide designed to challenge readers to think critically, speak respectfully, and do the work of understanding Indigenous realities and perspectives.

From Ziibi Press

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