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Line 1: − "'''Native American'''" is the collective name for the indigenous people living in North and South America before the coming of Europeans. Current anthropological and historical models have the first Native Americans crossing the Bering land bridge sometime after the [[Great Flood]] according to [[YEC]], or between 15,000 and 60,000 years ago according to various anthropological theories. + − − [[Hunter-gatherers]] from [[Asia]] migrated south to eventually inhabit all of North and South America. Indians in the New World developed complex societies and many were sedentary agriculturalists at the time of contact with [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]. − − Unfortunately, contact with Europeans led to a decrease in the Indian population due to lack of immunity to [[disease]], intermarriage, [[slavery]], and [[Wounded Knee Massacre|massacre]]. Native populations have been estimated to range from 8 to 18 million before contact. Since 1492, this population was estimated to have fallen by 95% before stabilizing and then reversing direction.<ref> Thornton, Russell. 1987. Aboriginal North American Population and Rates of Decline, ca. 1500-1900 CE. Current Anthropology 38(2):310 -315.</ref> − − ==References== − − <references/>
can either refer to an American Indian or to anyone born in America as an American
'''Native American''' is a term that can either refer to an [[American Indian]] or to anyone born in America as an American.