What does the term 'Indian giver' mean?

Tabby Tom

A person who gives a gift and then asks for it back or takes it back. Jan 06 02, 3:53 PM

Calpurnia

Universal dictionary says: Indian giver, n. Chiefly U.S. Informal. One who gives something as a gift to another and then takes or demands it back. Jan 06 02, 3:58 PM

Senior Moments

Just to add that it came about from the fact that North American Indians would ask for the return of their gifts if they received nothing in exchange. (Brewer's) Jan 06 02, 4:21 PM

Saon

Indian Giver: the understanding of First People traditions relates to three things in life: land, language and law. First Nations (Indians) are on reservations both in USA and in Canada. The land was taken, the language outlawed during residential school era and at the same time, the laws (in my case-Wet'swuet'en and Gitxshan Nations) which is the "bal'Latch" (potlatch) were outlawed by the Canadian Indian Act of 1885. The Indian Act was not amended until 1927 when potlatching and sun-dancing were allowed again. SO, if we gave "land, language and law", we are now asking for it all back or at least to an agreeable "treaty" form. In B.C., such treaties were never concluded. Thus, the process of B.C. Treaty Commission and the Canadian Government and the First Nations communities throughout B.C. Therefore, Indians gave and got reservations with no resources and now through treaties in BC, Indians are asking back what was rightfully shared as an organized community before contact. My sources are based on facts which were dealt with through the Supreme Court of B.C., over-turned by one Judge in 1991 and appealed and was successfully recognized at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) and you can google: delgamuukw or Moricetown or Wetsuweten or Gitkshan and you will get results that may lead you to the 1997 SCC decision December 11 as "DELGAMUUKW". May 28 08, 3:15 PM