Natives refer to people born and raised in any geographical area, not only 'native Americans'.  Columbus discovered the America's and thought he had sailed clear around the world right into India, thus the name 'Indian'. it was used to describe the people who were already living here for centuries until the politically correct crowd started referring to them as Native Americans. The term wasn't 'jacked' by anyone.
Most of the original people here had tribal names, such as Cherokee, Lummi, Apache, Seminole and on and on. They never did refer to themselves as  Native Americans. I have many friends from different tribes and they laugh at that term. Its such a liberal thing to do. Putting a label on people. They just can't accept the fact we are simply all Americans here. 
'Gangs of New York' was very violent and  told a Hollywood version of the '5-corners' in New York City before and up to the Civil War. I thought it was B-movie.