Jay Silverheels was at least an actual Indian (from Canada, I just learned) who always played it straight.
He died in 1980. Was cremated and had his ashes scattered over the Six Nations Reservation.
I remember the TV show from when I was a kid. Jay Silverheels was a friend to children and a character to look up to. He was never an Uncle Tom. He was the first positive image of Native Americans for me. The other was Ed Ames on Daniel Boone, as Daniel’s Indian friend - a show currently shown on ME-TV.