I don't know the answer to that one, but I do know that the Indians were neither more nor less environmentally aware than any other group of humans. If they didn't over-exploit their resources it was only because they didn't need to.
Correct!
Thats why I want to wretch when either some self-important Indian 'spokesman/woman' or environmentral wacko uses/attaches the term "American Indian" synonymously with "higher environmental conciousness" implying that the 'noble savage' was somehow better.