"Native" is a bit of a confusing word, since according to archeologists we're immigrants to the majority of the world. It all depends on how far back you look.
The dictionary definition is broad enough to be interpreted in a number of ways, and a lot of that has to do with the common usage. In North America, when people say Native American, most mean people who did not migrate in recent history, recent being the past 1000 years (post-Columbian era), to North America, but were already settled when Europeans arrived. That's not to say you're not a native of America, but if you use the term Native American to virtually anybody in the US, it'll suggest something different to what you intended.
When scoula used the term native, he or she wasn't referring to Native Americans but citizens of America who were born and raised in the US. Like yourself. When Lynxikat said the only true native americans are the Native Americans he or she was wrong, because 'technically' doesn't exclude your definition of native. Technically you are a native of America. You're just not what most people would refer to as a native American.
So basically you're right to think of yourself as a native American, but if you want to avoid confusing people best to say "native OF America" to distinguish yourself from 'American Indians'.
Which country has the most interesting history?
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"Native" is a bit of a confusing word, since according to archeologists we're immigrants to the majority of the world. It all depends on how far back you look.
The dictionary definition is broad enough to be interpreted in a number of ways, and a lot of that has to do with the common usage. In North America, when people say Native American, most mean people who did not migrate in recent history, recent being the past 1000 years (post-Columbian era), to North America, but were already settled when Europeans arrived. That's not to say you're not a native of America, but if you use the term Native American to virtually anybody in the US, it'll suggest something different to what you intended.
When scoula used the term native, he or she wasn't referring to Native Americans but citizens of America who were born and raised in the US. Like yourself. When Lynxikat said the only true native americans are the Native Americans he or she was wrong, because 'technically' doesn't exclude your definition of native. Technically you are a native of America. You're just not what most people would refer to as a native American.
So basically you're right to think of yourself as a native American, but if you want to avoid confusing people best to say "native OF America" to distinguish yourself from 'American Indians'.