History Native Americans - or American Indian - unique, tragic and at the same time full of optimism . It is unique because the Indians were the original inhabitants of the American continent , and experienced all the stages of its settlement by Europeans since the first colonies in the 17th century and ending with the completion of the development of the western borders by the end of the 19th century. It is tragic, because the conflict between Indians and whites is a repetition of the experience of other nations whose traditions have come into conflict with the expanding industrialized society. This story at the same time full of optimism , because Native Americans even though they are deprived of the 19th century most of their ancestral lands , survived, they were able to establish themselves in their political and economic rights , they retained their national identity and culture in spite of the invasion of modern civilization .