I'm reading Richter's book 'Trade, Land, Power' and in one chapter he talks about the seven years war and states that during the war between the French and English the Indians were constantly divided about who they were to support. The Iroquois after being neutral sided with the British who they "played" to gain payments for lands they believed they had won in wars of conquest during the previous century. While the Delawares (who hated Pennsylvanians and the Iroquois), Shawnees and other tribes were forced to settle west in Ohio and sided with the French who allowed them to raid British encroachments west. Once the French are defeated the book quickly summarizes that:

"Race war became the norm in Susquehanna and Ohio countries. When colonial resistance to British imperial authority turned the corner to revolution, the hatreds burst into the open again. This time the ally that Ohio country Indians reluctantly embraced was not the French but the British."

My question is why did the natives side with the British over the colonials knowing the British equally (along with the colonials) had defined them as savages constantly during the seven years war? Were the British promising them an area of land to be independent on that they so desired? Or was it again like in the sevens years war not so black and white a statement that they simply sided with the British?

Thanks.