LC Subject Headings for Indians of the Americas

Introduction

The term "Indians" continues to be used in LCSH for inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere who have pre-European roots, rather than "aboriginal peoples," "indigenous peoples," "Native Americans," "First nations," etc.  This document outlines the use of the general subject heading "Indians"; the subject treatment of headings for Indians of places within the Americas; and the use of subject headings for specific Indian groups.

Please note:  For the inhabitants of the South Asian country of India, LC uses:

650  0  $a East Indians

General subject heading Indians

Indians

Use for works not limited to 3 or fewer of the five geographic regions designated in the following topical subject headings, for inhabitants of the Americas with pre-European roots.

E.g.    Title:  The ethnic identities of native peoples in the Americas.

650  0  $a Indians $x Ethnic identity.

Subject headings for Indians by place

Indians of North America

Used for inhabitants of North America with pre-European roots.

• North America:  Used without geographic subdivision for those inhabitants of North America in general.

• United States:  Also used without further geographic subdivision for Indians of the United States in general.

  Subdivided by state for individual states or for locations within individual states. Subdivided by region for regions of the US.

  E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of North America $z Arizona

  E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of North America $z Vermont $z Green Mountains Region

  E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of North America $z Southern States

• Canada:  Subdivided by $z Canada for Indians of Canada:

  650  0  $a Indians of North America $z Canada

  Subdivided by province for individual Canadian provinces or for locations within provinces.  Subdivided by region for regions of Canada.

  E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of North America $z British Columbia

  E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of North America $z Ontario $z Ogoki River Valley

  E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of North America $z Canada, Eastern

• Narrower heading:

  650  0  $a Indians of Mexico

  I.e., there is a separate heading for Indians of Mexico, but no separate headings for the US or Canada.

Indians of Mexico

The only “Indians” heading for an individual country.  Subdivided geographically for locations within Mexico.

Note that these subdivisions should all begin with: $z Mexico, except for regions that have names beginning with “Mexico” plus a general orientation.

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of Mexico $z Mexico $z Oaxaca (State)

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of Mexico $z Mexico $z Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of Mexico $z Mexico, North

Indians of Central America

As applicable, subdivided by country, then indirectly to local place.

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of Central America $z Panama

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of Central America $z Nicaragua $z Managua Metropolitan Area

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of Central America $z Guatemala $z Atitlán, Lake, Region

For Indians of Mesoamerica generally, use both:

• 650 0 Indians of Mexico

• 650 0 Indians of Central America

Indians of South America

As applicable, subdivided by country or region.  Subdivided indirectly through country to local place.

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of South America $z Ecuador

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of South America $z Andes Region

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of South America $z Brazil $z Marajó Island

Indians of the West Indies

As applicable, subdivided by country, island, or island group, then indirectly through country to local place.  (See also Geographic Headings and Subdivisions: Islands and Geographic Headings and Subdivisions: Places on Islands.)

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of the West Indies $z Dominican Republic

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of the West Indies $z Hispaniola

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of the West Indies $z Antilles, Lesser

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of the West Indies $z Cuba $z Matanzas (Province)

E.g.    650  0  $a Indians of the West Indies $z Netherlands Antilles $z Saba

Please note:  There is no subject heading as such for Indians of Latin America.  Instead, one to three of the above headings should be used.  If more than three apply, just use the general heading:  Indians.

Specific groups, peoples, etc.

In addition to the general Indians headings listed above, there are numerous more specific subject headings for individual groups / peoples / tribes / nations of Indians (including Eskimos).

E.g.    650  0  $a Cakchikel Indians

E.g.    650  0  $a Aztecs

E.g.    650  0  $a Quechua Indians

E.g.    650  0  $a Seminole Indians

E.g.    650  0  $a Inuit

If a work is about one to three specific groups, these specific subject headings should be assigned, rather than the more general "Indians of ... " headings.

HTML document last reviewed:  21 November 2007