Why were First Nations called savages?

First Nations peoples were often labeled as "savages" by European colonizers due to a combination of cultural misunderstandings, racism, and the tendency of colonizers to view their own way of life as superior. This term was used to justify the colonization, displacement, and violence inflicted upon Indigenous communities, as it framed them as primitive and in need of "civilization." This derogatory label ignored the rich cultures, societies, and governance systems that existed among First Nations peoples long before European contact.