They were excellent executive time managers, too. They somehow managed to fit in this idyllic outlook with a busy schedule of bashing each other's brains, kidnapping, massacres, and other quaint and colorful war rituals.
South of the now non-existent border, other Native Americans were working on advanced open heart surgical techniques, which they doubtless would have mastered had their research not been stopped by the arrival of gold-crazy Spaniards and evil Christian Missionaries.
But I never understood this “one with nature” Iron eyes Cody the crying Sicilian Indian crap either.
History is what it was. As Teddy Roosevelt said ‘it was ridiculous to think that North America could remain the last great preserve of nomadic and horticultural society’.
They were going to be supplanted by a more productive agricultural society, as has been the history of mankind from the dawn of agriculture - and they were damn lucky it was by us. Because we are so damn good at killing that we had the power and inclination to have that most blessed of human qualities, mercy.
In the light of history we can also have understanding. Of both peoples, both on a collision course that would shape the world we live in today.
But no need to get all propaganda good guy bad buy with it. It was what it was.