I keep forgetting the derivation of this word; perhaps I am not alone in this.
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--autochthonous
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 1994 00:03:15 -0400 (EDT)
au.toch.tho.nous \o_.-'ta_:k-th*-n*s\ adj : INDIGENOUS, NATIVE

Dear jheem: I simply could not find a good etymology of
this word. Please comment.

Bill-- chthon means earth in Greek. It's related to Sanskrit ksham 'earth' from *ghðem- 'earth, ground, soil'.

Dear jheem: how does the "auto" part fit in?

Auto means 'self' and is used in a reflexive manner. Automobile 'self moving', autodidact 'self-taught person', etc. Here it means something like sprung from 'the very earth itself'. Aboriginal.

Or either an autochthone is someone who drives an SUV off road.