Actually, new evidence suggests human existence in the Americas before the land bridge through the bearing straits. Strong evidence suggest they were from Europe. So... Were Europeans just taking their shit back then?
I'm not sure how strong that evidence is. There are some compelling arguments though. Not the least of which is that Shawnee had a mythology built around a blond haired blue eyed demi-god and this myth predates Columbus.

There are a lot of competing theories right now including one which says that the first human settlement of the Americas was by Pac. Islanders landing in S. America by boat. It'll be interesting to see how these ideas end up shaking out.