The word Indian is for people from the country of India. The word indigenous is used to describe native peoples of the land who lived there before the arrival of colonizers.

However, some people use "Indian" for indigenous people. It is not correct, but people do it anyway - this is because the earliest European colonizers of the Americas mistakenly called the native people "Indians."

Members of the indigenous peoples of the United States can be called Native Americans.

You can read more about the history of names for native peoples here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native American name controversy

Xmas Facts

Poinsettias

A native Mexican plant, poinsettias were named after Joel R. Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico who brought the plant to America in 1828. Poinsettias were likely used by Mexican Franciscans in their 17th century Christmas celebrations. One legend has it that a young Mexican boy, on his way to visit the village Nativity scene, realized he had no gift for the Christ child. He gathered pretty green branches from along the road and brought them to the church. Though the other children mocked him, when the leaves were laid at the manger, a beautiful star shaped flower appeared on each branch. The bright red petals, often mistaken for flowers, are actually the upper leaves of the plant.