Kim, there's not much sympathy for the Indians in "The Searchers," especially in the point of view of its principal character, Ethan Edwards (John Wayne). Consider, also, "Red River." Indians are nothing more than murdering savages in this film, though they're only in the first reel. And you might consider "The Stalking Moon," too. Much is made of the Indian's strength in this film, but he is nothing more than a source of evil. Generally, I'd say the western films of the 1930s and '40s paint the native Americans as subhuman. Ernie.