Final answer:
Past Navajo President Albert Hale recommended referring to Native populations as 'Indigenous people' to promote sovereignty and respect their status as the original inhabitants of their lands with distinct cultural identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Past Navajo President Albert Hale suggested that we refer to Native populations as Indigenous people to help promote and advance the ideas of sovereignty. This terminology acknowledges their status as the original human populations of their lands and helps establish their rights and distinct cultural identities. It is important to respect the preferred terms of different Indigenous groups. For example, in the U.S. and Canada, "Native Americans" or "First Nations" are used, while in Australia, the terms are "Aboriginal peoples" and "Torres Strait Islander peoples". Specific tribal affiliations, like "Cherokee" or "Navajo", can be even more respectful and accurate when known.
Indigenous peoples globally seek to maintain their unique cultures and way of life. The United Nations classifies Indigenous people based on historical continuity with pre-invasion societies and their determination to preserve their ethnic identity, cultural patterns, and legal systems. It is widely recognized that Indigenous peoples should not be categorized as 'minority groups' within their own lands as this does not recognize their sovereign rights and unique status.