Discontinue the use of 'powwow'.

Paul Lambert wrote:

Perhaps more than anyone else, those of us in the language professions should have a sense for metaphors.

Eric Zink wrote:

I see no correlation between the use of "powwow" and someone asking "how do I say thank you in European". Even if I did, I don't see how the latter would be disrespectful of anyone. It would at worst be a misunderstanding of culture.

There are tons of examples of word-borrowing at the culture intersection that I happen to know (German and American). Germans often simply get it wrong when they try to use English (handy for cell phone, beamer for projector). But if anything, the term preferences indicate admiration for the culture in question, not the opposite.

[Edited at 2014-08-30 18:56 GMT]

Woodstock wrote:

US website (political), and am on more than casual terms with a number of the Native American members. They have said many times that there is profound resentment among their peoples and tribes regarding the misappropriation of their cultural heritage by non-Indians, including language. Many Native Americans and organizations are in my Twitter feed, and I would be ashamed to announce a "powwow" for translators on Twitter, for example, out of deference to my NA friends. I have always been bothered by the use of the term here, but not enough to bring it up. Therefore I'm very glad that someone finally did.

It's quite obvious that the people here who have no problem with the term don't have any contact to the North American indigenous cultures, and thus are ignorant of the offense it gives. It should be clear by now that it IS deeply offensive to a large group of people to use a term designating a specific type of gathering, sacred or otherwise, for a casual "meet-up" or "get-together" of other cultures. The Indians (and they are fine with that term) I know are deeply spiritual people, and their culture is absolutely sacred to them, especially in view of the fact so much effort was put into destroying it.

I therefore feel strongly that the term should be dropped as soon as possible, and am happy with quite a few of the absolutely acceptable alternatives mentioned.