i would say it has more to do with an active effort to keep native americans out of the limelight and away from bringing attention to their own matters themselves. john trudell is a good example.

also worth mentioning, the cherokee were a southeastern and much more to the east than the south, Tennessee , Georgia, North Carolina. Southern tribes where more like the Apache.

WRONG! I'm half muskogee indian and i live in dallas this show has NO relevance for me what so ever nor do i dress like i grew up at the "western warehouse". Not to mention Lou Diamond Philips is mostly Filipino. Thanks for stereotyping though very 21st century.