I don't know how calling someone "brave" could be construed as criticism or derogatory, but I suppose insults are often in the eye of the beholder. Makahs in general are brave people. Why they even have the courage to push women off docks and shoot friendly young whale cows (is that an insult to whales? Sorry, again, but it's another convention of language I was taught) with a .50 caliber anti-tank gun from an outboard-powered speedboat (to preserve their culture and tradition, of course). 

No, I don't have a lot of respect for their whale hunt, in general. I have known a few good Makahs, like an old guy (my age) who told me his grandmother's oral history of the 1700 tsunami, and the friendly woman who gave me a tour of their incredible senior center (huge overhead logs that are larger than their support pillars -- not a place to be in an earthquake, perhaps). So if any tribal members want to chime in and explain to me how being called "brave" is an insult, I will learn, at least.