Lizzie, I find the 19th century-ish romantic stereotyping expressed in your opening statement patronizing and offensive, even though I don't believe that is your intent.

Good foil to Lizzie's link, pdq.

People are people. Some "get" the need for sound environmental protections and practices to increase the probability of long-term survival of current life forms on earth, including humans, and some don't. It doesn't have anything to do with race, ethnicity, or "indigenisity."