This is not in reference to any South American/Caribbean native, so please pardon my answer pertaining to North America, but it's my area.

Squanto and some of the members of his tribe were captured and taken to England in the early 1600s (pre-Jamestown and Plymouth). There, they were received much like King Kong was received by the New Yorkers. Poor analogy, but it's fitting. They were treated like exhibits at an exposition, but were generally treated with "awe", but still understood to be "sauvages". Also of note is that while Squanto was in England, he was taught the basics of the English language. When he returned to North America years later, he was able to use those skills to assist those bumbling Pilgrims in planting/harvesting food so that they didn't starve to death like other failed colonies had done.