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I'm often asked about my home country by Japanese people and wish to discuss
the unique polynesian culture of the indigenous people there. How do I
describe them in Japanese? I understand that this is a sensitive topic in
Japan but there is much interest in foreign cultures and the pre-colonial past
of my country.

What's the difference between 土{ど}着{ちゃく}人{じん} and 先{せん}住{じゅう}民{みん}? Why is
土{ど}着{ちゃく}人{じん} considered to be offensive?

Are these terms appropriate to describe the native peoples of Japan such as
the Ainu and Ryukyu (Okinawan) peoples? Would it be appropriate for native
people of foreign countries?

What is a positive word (that doesn't imply that they're uncivilised) for
people who consider themselves to be belong to the land or be the original
guardians of it? For example, to describe cultures such as New Zealand Māori,
Hawai'ian, and native Americans that view themselves as belonging and European
settlers as foreign.
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2018-11-16T09:46:45.253
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question
meaning word-choice history culture offensive-words
Appropriate terms for indigenous people
I don't think 土着人 is a word. (On the other hand, you may be able to say 土着の人,
but it has little to do with ethnicity **of minority**. It rather stands for
local feature against global power these days.)

Indigineous people in japanese are 先住民, 原住民 or 土人. Among them, the safest one
is 先住民. 原住民 is less safe. Some people may not like it. 土人 is a derogatory word
today. You mustn't use it.

As for native Americans, they seem to regard themselves as 先住民. But I'm not
sure for the rest. In that sense, don't call Okinawan people 先住民, or they'll
get mad.
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answer