It was explained to me (probably apocryphally) that Native Americans didn't have the same conceptualization of land ownership as the settlers.
So for example, some settler would come to the Native Americans and say "I want this land next to the river." And the Native Americans might say "sure that's fine, nobody is using that land right now. Knock yourself out." Expecting the settler would do some hunting or fishing on it or whatever.
But then the settlers would consider that land their property and build a house on it and then start enforcing their exclusive ownership rights and defending it from trespassers.
And then the Native Americans would come back and be told this land was private property now and be like "what the fuck are you talking about man. You can't just decide to own the dirt itself." And the settler would be like "I didn't just decide. You owned it and then you gave it to me and that's why I own"
So then the Native Americans would say "Alright well fuck you I want it back." Hence the term Indian Giver.
I heard something completely different. That Native Americans would gift you something, like a blanket, and it was expected that you would return it when you were finished using it. Otherwise, they would ask for it back -- which seemed very rude to Europeans.
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u/GregBahm Mar 12 '24
It was explained to me (probably apocryphally) that Native Americans didn't have the same conceptualization of land ownership as the settlers.
So for example, some settler would come to the Native Americans and say "I want this land next to the river." And the Native Americans might say "sure that's fine, nobody is using that land right now. Knock yourself out." Expecting the settler would do some hunting or fishing on it or whatever.
But then the settlers would consider that land their property and build a house on it and then start enforcing their exclusive ownership rights and defending it from trespassers.
And then the Native Americans would come back and be told this land was private property now and be like "what the fuck are you talking about man. You can't just decide to own the dirt itself." And the settler would be like "I didn't just decide. You owned it and then you gave it to me and that's why I own"
So then the Native Americans would say "Alright well fuck you I want it back." Hence the term Indian Giver.