Apology to Native Peoples (contained in defense bill)

Defense Appropriations Bill ^ | December 16, 2009 | Congress

[BruceS]

apology to native peoples of the united states

Sec. 8113. (a) Acknowledgment and Apology- The United States, acting through Congress--

(1) recognizes the special legal and political relationship Indian tribes have with the United States and the solemn covenant with the land we share;

(2) commends and honors Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land;

(3) recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes;

(4) apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by citizens of the United States;

(5) expresses its regret for the ramifications of former wrongs and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward a brighter future where all the people of this land live reconciled as brothers and sisters, and harmoniously steward and protect this land together;

(6) urges the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes in the history of the United States in order to bring healing to this land; and

(7) commends the State governments that have begun reconciliation efforts with recognized Indian tribes located in their boundaries and encourages all State governments similarly to work toward reconciling relationships with Indian tribes within their boundaries.

(b) Disclaimer- Nothing in this section--

(1) authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or

(2) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.

[sergeantdave]

The racist crypto-Nazi, Bruce “Seig Heil!” Babbitt, secretary of interior under clinton, did everything possible to rip off the Indian’s trust fund.

Is that mentioned in this “apology?”

Thought not. I want to be at the hanging when the Indians get around to hanging that SOB. Bet they’ll bring honey and ants.

[Irish Eyes]

............I am tired of the Federal Government continuing to help “Natives” feel sorry for themselves. Get a life!

They are helping themselves very nicely now.

CASINOS !!!

[fish hawk]

I didn't even read all the way through your post as it is so lame. Let me say once and for all time: what the native Americans did to each other before there were any Whites on this Continent has absolutely nothing to do with after Whites came. Ever heard that old saying, Two wrongs don't make a right. Most of what went on back then like killing Indians, cutting down forests , taking tons of gold and silver and all of the above , then, were on Indian land not US government land. (not counting the oil that was taken without compensation) Yes , your government owes an apology, and you are part of this government, like it or not.

[exDemMom]

I wonder how many of them could ever go back and live as their pre-colombian ancestors did.

The question is not whether they can, but whether they want to. Indoor plumbing and climate control is a heck of a lot more comfy than a smoky uninsulated tepee.

It seems to me that if the first American peoples weren't so impressed by the newer settlers from Europe, they wouldn't have been so quick to get themselves married into European style families. Really--isn't it fairly common to have an ancestor from some tribe or another?

Offering apologies for things that happened a century or more ago, over which no living person has any control, is ridiculous. If one wants to keep fanning the flames of racial hatred, though, it's a pretty good strategy.

[fish hawk]

That is a European problem, settle it over there.

[gettinolder]

A question for you fish hawk.

Do you use traditional native harvesting methods when you go back to harvest your salmon? Or do you use modern methods...just asking.

I grew up seeing first hand western washington tribes netting the rivers and watching gill nets (poly nets btw) literally sinking to the bottom because some lazy net owner wouldn’t take the time to tend his net strung accross the river.

I lived among the Yupik Eskimoe in Western Alaska, watching them hunt caribou and moose from snowmobiles until there were none left accessible by machine.

I live here in S.E. Alaska now and watch a tribe of Indians from Canada fish their “own” island, compliments of the Fed government (they weren’t even Alaskan indians, go figure) with modern diesel boats and poly nets, stopping only when told to do so....do I need to go on about how I have no respect for Indians and their “traditional” harvesting methods?

Maybe you are an exception, if so I respect you for it.

[fish hawk]

Shove any where you please but Your Government is still guilty. And by the way try to keep a civil tongue in your mouth for Christmas if not for decency.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Really—isn’t it fairly common to have an ancestor from some tribe or another?***

True, expecially in this part of the USA. My wife’s cousin is part Cherokee married to a full blood, her friends in Tulsa are Choctaw/Semimole. and my distant coulsin in NM was married to a full blood Navajo.

[fish hawk]

I except your respect then as , even though I can lay a net on the river legally , I use a pole and line and a spinner and troll right beside a bunch of white guys doing the same thing. I admit though that I do not condemn those out there catching subsistence fish. Now commercial is another story. I have been against the Indians commercial fishing on the rivers since they first started that many years ago.That got started because some lawyers told the courts, isn't netting fish and selling them for money and then buying flour and sugar etc. “subsistence”? The courts ruled in favor of the Indians. I don't like it and never did.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Obama’s law professor, Charles Ogletree is one of the legal fathers of reparations for blacks. I think Holder also studied under a reparationist. He is as anti-white as any public official has ever been, plus he is pro-terrorist re the Clinton pardons of Weathermen and FALN bombers and supporters.

[SoldierDad]

Yep, lets just overlook the behavior of those “peace” loving indians who raided their neighbors, killed the men, raped and took captive the women and children - and all this occurred prior to the arrival of Europeans. And, of course, after Europeans arrived, all the Native Americans became peaceful and it was the mean evil White man who did all the killing. I love revisionist historians.

[SoldierDad]

Well, hell. I believe that the Blacks should receive reparations - from the Arabs and African Americans who enslaved them in order they be sold to Europeans.

[CondorFlight]

“We did not ask you white men to come here. The Great Spirit gave us this country as a home. You had yours...we did not interfere with you....we do not want your civilization...” Crazy Horse, Lakota Tribe

Hate to say it, but the Lakota migrated from the north and the land they had when Custer was around was basically land they stole from the Crows, whom they pushed out...

[SoldierDad]

Amazing how such facts are kept out of the public discourse.

[gettinolder]

Fish Hawk;

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

I serve the same God as you do, I believe He has a plan and a purpose for each of us.

I will admit, I probably resent the Federal Government more than you do, although not for the same reasons. I also admit, I resent reverse discrimination, giving people of certain ethnic groups job preference over a better qualified individual. I resent “pay-offs” and I wish all the peoples who were here before Europeans showed up could support themselves rather than depend on the government for that.

As you say about yourself, you are indeed a minority (a conservative Indian)

In the long run, I think we will all be sorry we let the Federal Government overstep their bounds.

You will be my brother in the eternal life, and I am sure our eyes will be open and we will have understanding.

Good luck on your next salmon trip....

Gettinolder

[UnwashedPeasant]

What good is an “apology” anyway, when it is hidden in an unrelated bill?

Liberals are just obsessed with apologizing for the U.S. Does anyone think that Liberals really give a hoot about the Indians?

[fish hawk]

And while all that was going on there were no wars or murders or rapes or enslaving people in Europe, not counting the Bubonic Plague from your people living in filth. You are so far off base in your thinking that there cannot even be a debate. Talking to your about this is like telling Al Gore there is no such thing as man made global warming. Do you think he will listen? Neither will you people that go through life denying something that really did happen.

[fish hawk]

So that makes it okay in your books to kill them, move them onto prisoner of war camps, steal not only their land but all the riches that go with it with no compensation. It's back to that old white man trick “manifest destiny”. How do you like what Pelosi, Reid, and Obama are doing to you now? That my friend is not far from manifest destiny coming around and biting you on the ass.

[fish hawk]

Thank you and may our God and Savior bless you and your family throughout the coming year. Maranatha

[deadsteve]

My mother and grandmother were treated horribly by white men
and the last time I checked they are both still alive.