Why are native American Indians often portrayed as the baddies in Hollywood films?

Answer 1

Because the creators of the film were most likely white. The Indians saw the white as the bad guys, the white saw the Indians as the bad guys. The white people did horrible things to the Indiansa and truthfully, the Indians only attacked in retailiation, but the truth isn't publicized as it should be in most movies anyway.

Answer 2

Because native Americans could be extremely savage in certain circumstances.

Read about the treatment of Colonel William Crawford at the hands of his Delaware (Lenni Lenape) captors in 1782.

Read the account of the French lieutenant Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac about the way natives treated captives.

Read about the raid on the settlement at Drapers Meads and the capture of Mary Ingles and Bettie Draper, their treatment and subsequent escape.

Read the account of Colonel Henry Carrington regarding the discovery of Captain Fetterman's command in December 1866, killed, butchered and mutilated at the hands of Red Cloud's Lakotas.

Study photographs of the body of Sgt Frederick Wyllyams killed near Fort Wallace by Cheyenne and Lakota warriors in 1867.

Read the harrowing accounts of Catherine German Sarah Morris and Fanny Kelly who were all captured by native Americans and raped, beaten and treated savagely.

Try and find a copy of the book "Scalp Dance" by Thomas Goodrich, which includes the first-hand accounts of settlers, soldiers, railwaymen and others subjected to savage treatment at the hands of Plains tribes.

Then weigh up the evidence for yourself.