Native Americans were often important to missions because they served as guides and interpreters, providing valuable assistance to missionaries in navigating unfamiliar terrain and communicating with local populations. Their familiarity with the land and cultures of the regions where missions were established made them essential intermediaries in the process of evangelization. Additionally, Native Americans held significant influence within their communities, and their support for missionary efforts could sway others to convert to Christianity. Their conversion could also potentially serve as a symbol of the mission's success and could help attract further support from donors and the church hierarchy.