I agree it can be used in the way described as above. Again I agree characterizing all Native Americans as savages is wrong and racist. If someone made the two above statements I would agree 100% they are wrong.
Using the word to describe a specific group of people conducting violent attacks on others I think is a fair use of the word. Again, if these exact same attacks were performed by white people NO ONE would care the word savage was used. While one could find a less harsh term (hostiles?), it fits the definition. (fun fact, word root is from the Latin for “from the woods”)
Though I don’t know why I am even attempting to defend this use. I guess I like to argue for one, and for two I hate the labeling of words. I am not here to defend their specific use. I can even see why it is offensive and I personally would have used something different. My big beef and point was the bolded line I made several posts ago.
