In Russian language the difference between American and actual Indians is one letter in spelling (easily heard in pronunciation, so only small children maybe mix them up), historically it’s a variation of the same word.
For “turkey” the bird the feminine version of the former is used (and not used to refer to an American Indian woman).
The point is, it’s the main word to refer to Native Americans. “Настоящему индейцу завсегда везде ништяк” and all that.
In Russian language the difference between American and actual Indians is one letter in spelling (easily heard in pronunciation, so only small children maybe mix them up), historically it’s a variation of the same word.
For “turkey” the bird the feminine version of the former is used (and not used to refer to an American Indian woman).
The point is, it’s the main word to refer to Native Americans. “Настоящему индейцу завсегда везде ништяк” and all that.