So... they guys were right.
You can only help those who will help themselves. Regrettably, a large part of the aboriginal American population has been burdened by their cultural constraints and have been dragged unwillingly into our European/American cultural system. You cannot force cultural change.
However, now our European/American culture is willingly changing from its roots and rejecting its Judeo-Christian heritage. Instead of being a good example for dysfunctional cultures we are crawling back into the primitive slime with them.
Devolution is in progress.
So... they guys were right.