Final answer:
Dr. Augustine viewed the native population as a group that could benefit from the understanding and application of anthropology to address the impact of colonial histories. Like Helen Hunt Jackson and other reformers, she harbored sympathies but operated within a framework that sometimes supported the assimilation of native cultures into mainstream American society with all the complexities and limitations of that era.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Augustine's view of the native population was one of recognition and respect for their experiences under the effects of colonialism. Observing the exploitation and oppression the indigenous peoples faced, she believed in the power of anthropology to heal and restore the indigenous communities by understanding their past and contributing positively to their future. Quite similar to the views and goals of Helen Hunt Jackson, who aimed for the assimilation of the Native Americans into American society, albeit with genuine concern for their welfare. While Jackson had good intentions, her perspective was limited by her time's prevalent beliefs that native cultures needed to assimilate to become 'civilized'. Similarly, historical figures like Pratt also held sympathetic views towards the natives but supported educational policies designed to eradicate native culture, encapsulated in his infamous phrase to "kill the Indian and save the man." These paternalistic attitudes, portraying conquest as a necessary step in civilization, were common among reformers who sought to transform native populations into images of American society, reflecting the broader sentiment of the era that ranged from paternalism to explicit racism.