Before the Spaniards reintroduced horses to America, the Native American (who are portrayed as quintessential environmentalists) drove both the woolly mammoth and the wild horse to extinction by their hunting techniques. Before the reintroduction of horses they hunted large mammals by stampeding herds over cliffs and bluffs.
The bison herds being much larger were holding out longer, but were destined to the same faith - but for the Spanish bringing the domesticated horses that allowed hunters to chase down individual animals.
So, in fact the white man saved the bison from extinction, before they ALMOST drove it to a later extinction.
The indians got even with their tobacco and casinos! : )
The indians were certainly not peaceful. They had their wars as the rest of the world did.