Native American

While American Indian is in use and part of proper names (such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the American Indian Movement), the term Native American is preferred in editorial copy.  

Be sensitive to individual preference when using these terms and whenever possible use a specific group or tribal name.

Capitalize Native in reference to a member of an Indigenous group of people. 

Whenever possible use a specific group or tribal nation name. 

Use accents on names and words if the Indigenous language is written in the Latin alphabet:

            Gwich'in, Tse Nashchii'

            (Note that the symbol for a glottal stop is the same as an opening single quote—a 6 and not a 9 in many fonts.)

For a specific group follow the spelling in Webster's or the Style Manual. For tribal plurals do not add s:

            Comanche        Aztec            Shoshone

            Cuna                  Maya            The Apache were later dispersed by the Comanche.

Some groups have a preferred tribal name, which should be used first, followed by the more common English name in parentheses. Examples: Kainai (Blood), Nakoda (Assiniboine), Aaniiih (Gros Ventre). A tribe may prefer another name because in some cases the more popularly known name was derived from an unflattering or derogatory label given to it by other tribes (sometimes meaning "enemy," such as with Apache and Comanche). This can be complicated when the U.S. official reservation or nation name is one that some consider derogatory; it's simply best to ask for preference.

Lakota is preferred to Lakota Sioux by many members of that Native American tribe who consider Sioux—the Cheyenne word for "snake" assigned to the Lakota by the U.S. government—derogatory. Note that not all Sioux are Lakota, so it’s best to check with the tribal member on name preference.

For individuals, s may be added:

            three Comanches

but     a Blackfeet [in U.S. context]; a Blackfoot [in Canadian context]

            the Blackfeet nation [U.S.]; Blackfoot (Siksika Nation) [Canada]

            the Blackfeet [U.S.]

See also Papago, Amerindian, nation, Algonquin, First Nations