> The word “natives” has also been replaced with the word “local”

If you call a negro a blackman, it changes nothing. Word negro is black in Portuguese and Spanish. In either case it's still racism - belief that there are human races.

For the case with indigenous americans. If a nation has lived in a general area for over 3'000 years, it's safe to assume, that they are native to it. Local - a person who lives in the particular small area. Calling indigenous americans locals is a bit cold, given the fact that a local can be your neighbor, who lived in the house for 20 years.