Sweet shanks, because it was you doing the asking, my reaction was: a person or thing from India. My response was American Indians, and this probably would be my normal reaction, since the vast majority of the context in which I see this word relates to them.

Darling Bill, may I take gentle issue with something you said? (Red) Indian. Few Americans have had any contact with them Weren't they Americans (geography-wise) before you and I were?