Are native americans asian?

Question:

Are native americans asian?

I heard that native americans are of asian decsent, so shouldnt they be classed as asian? I also heard navajos have been traced back to some japanese groups. I want to know about that.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It is more or less archaeologically established that the ancestors of Native Americans came across "Berengia" during the last ice age (either walking or crossing in boats); and these people were likely of the same stock who are the ancestors of modern Central Asians (Kazkaks, Kyrgryz, etc.).

So genetically, they share common ancestry. However, since this commonality is some 100,000+ years ago and the cultures radically diverged from that point, it is not very useful to just lump them together for most purposes racial or ethnic data is gathered for (which itself may or may not be appropriate).