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Historically and systemically oppressed people are always expected to display quiet grace and dignity in the face of violence, terror, and intimidation. Think about why that is.
If Nathan Philips had punched that stupid fucking kid in his stupid fucking face like he probably should have, the news cycle would be quite different right now. The onus is always on the oppressed to maintain decorum; never are the colonists expected to behave differently.
Empathy and perseverance, non-violence and dialogue - these are always demanded of the victims of violence, never of the perpetrators. This is how resistance is twisted into terrorism, self-defense and survival redefined as aggression and savagery.
The silent, suffering native is a trope that both displays the inordinate strength and resilience of routinely harrassed and terrorized people, but also allows those committing and enabling that violence to ignore the harm and damage done.
If Philips had acted differently, we'd be hearing about the fault on "both sides." The demand that the oppressed show deference and respect to their oppressors is itself white supremacy.
