Final answer:
Tisquantum would not call himself an Indian because this term originated from Christopher Columbus's mistake and does not accurately reflect his true identity as a native of the Americas. The use of the term is also tied to colonialism and power dynamics, which many indigenous people reject in favor of self-determination and sovereignty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tisquantum, commonly known as Squanto, would not call himself an Indian because the term is an exonym that stems from a historical mistake by European explorers, particularly Christopher Columbus. When Columbus arrived in the Americas, he mistakenly thought he had reached South Asia and called the indigenous people he encountered "Indians," believing they were from India. Over time, the term Indian became ingrained in politics, social use, and legal jargon and came to refer to indigenous peoples throughout the western hemisphere.
The identity of naming is also a sensitive subject reflecting power dynamics and the impact of colonial policy. Indigenous individuals and tribes have fought to retain sovereignty and define their own identities, often in opposition to the titles imposed by colonial and government entities. As such, using the term "Indian" could potentially be viewed as accepting a mislabel and an identity defined by the colonizers rather than self-identified terms consistent with their culture and history.
Furthermore, the term Native American is more accurate and preferred by many as it captures the essence of being native to the Americas. Nonetheless, the choice of self-identification varies among individuals and tribes, with some embracing pan-tribal identities, local tribal names, or rejecting labels altogether.