Sociologists use the concept of social distance, that is, the extent to which people are willing to interact and establish relationship with members of racial and ethnic groups other than their own. There are actual scale, using such variable as minimal contact or marriage. Some groups, interestingly, have less social distance than others. Indians are one group that generally has a lower level of social distance from the dominant society. This may be the result of the fact that they are native to the land, not some sort of import like African or Asian Americans.
Social distance varies from time to time.
Now it's cool to be Indian or part Indian, but that has not always been the case. Whereas prejudice is an attitude, discrimination involves actions or practices of the dominant groups members that have a harmful effect on members of a subordinate group. Prejudice doesn't always lead to discrimination. Severity of discrimination can vary, and this is well demonstrated by the history of the dominant society toward Indians. Genocide is the most dramatic form and is the deliberate, systematic killing of an entire nation or people.