Senate Committee Apologizes to All Native Americans for Violence and Maltreatment by U.S. Citizens

CNSNEWS ^ | August 10, 2009 | Penny Starr

[yoe]

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs passed a resolution by voice vote last week apologizing "on behalf of American people" to all Indian tribes for the mistreatment and violence by American citizens.

Senate Joint Resolution 14, sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), states that its purpose is “to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding Indian Tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States.”

In Section 1A, No. 4 of the resolution states that the apology is on behalf of U.S. citizens for harm they have done to “Native Peoples.” In the resolution, native peoples are defined as people who “inhabited the land of the present-day United States since time immemorial and for thousands of years before the arrival of people of European descent.”

“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,” the resolution reads.

Requests by CNSNews.com for clarification of the language in the bill were not answered by Brownback’s office by press time, but Brownback issued a statement on Friday about the passage of his resolution.

“I am pleased that my colleagues have decided to move forward with a formal apology from the federal government to Native Americans," Brownback said. "This is a resolution of apology and reconciliation, and is a step toward healing divisive wounds.

“With this resolution we have the potential to start a new era of positive relations between tribal governments and the federal government,” Brownback said.

“For too much of our history, federal-tribal relations have been marked by broken treaties, mistreatment and dishonorable dealings. With this resolution, we can acknowledge past failures, express sincere regrets and establish a brighter future for all Americans,” he added.

Neither Brownback’s statement nor the resolution says whether the apology is on behalf of U.S. citizens who are alive today or U.S. citizens who lived in the past.

Co-sponsors of the resolution were Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.),Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.).

[Rebelbase]

Has Spain apologized to Mexico yet?

[ought-six]

“So what does that have to do with what your white ancestors did???”

My white ancestors didn’t do a damn thing (though a couple of them did kill some Yankees during the unpleasantness of 1861-65). Before that, all my ancestors (on my father’s side) were in Germany. On my mother’s side, they never left England (and my mother didn’t leave England for the US until after WWII). Not one of my ancestors ever fought an Indian, and in all probability never even saw one.

[Eleutheria5]

Actually, the tribes that sided with the French in the French & Indian War, with the British in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and with the South during the Civil War were choosing between invaders, and consistently choosing the invaders who lost each of these conflicts. Once you do that, you’re no longer defending your land, but playing power games within the given framework of living with your invaders. It’s a dangerous game. Play with matches and you might get burned.

[fish hawk]

The Natives that died from conquest and diseases from the Spanish is estimated at 70,000,000. (it is in one of my books but can’t find it right now)

[Eleutheria5]

No. They’ll only apologize to Todd Palin’s descendants after they kill him.

[fish hawk]

Then I guess this has nothing to do with you. Move along, you are not involved here.

[ought-six]

It’s ironic that Brownback from Kansas should support such a resolution, as white settlers in Kansas were all the time getting set upon and butchered by Indians. Kansas was known as Red Kansas because of the Indian depradations (it was also known as Bloody Kansas because of the internecine fighting during the Civil War). Kansas saw its share of gore.

[GraceG]

I want an apology from the Europeans for driving the Neanderthals to extinction....

[dog breath]

The Native Americans were not children, many tribes respected individual accomplishments combined with individual charity. A Comanche for example was possibly closer to a conservative then a liberal, in believing that the deeds of the individual outshone any collective “we”. It was not the tribe that defeated enemies, procured goods and food but the warrior. This is similar to the concept that it is private enterprise drives an economy. The true decline of most tribes is when individual liberty became subservient to the Federal Government. Many of these people had believed also that the uncontrolled influx of foreigners would destroy their culture, which it most often did. There is no apology sufficient to the many different proud peoples who found themselves on the wrong side of the forces of history. The best apology would be to honor current agreements and stay the heck out of their lives.

[GraceG]

No race is immune to a stain of blood, every race has it’s share of blood. The real lesson is not to look back and obsess about what has happened, the only right thing to do is to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

[RC2]

I understand. My ancestory goes to the Rosebud Sioux, which is very poor. The Miwoks, in my area, are not an approved Tribe, therefore don’t get the same rights concerning casinos. The casino’s in the area do not pay federal taxes but the money must go to the tribe that runs the casino.

Have you contacted the BIA concerning Federal pay?

[Oldpuppymax]

When I want you to “apologize” on my behalf, I’ll let you know. I suggest you on the left apologize TO the American people, not FOR them!!!

[ought-six]

“Move along, you are not involved here.”

Who appointed you as the arbiter of who can and cannot participate on any given thread?

[donna]

Where is the apology from the “Native Peoples” for introducing tobacco to the world?

Where are the tobacco reparations?

[fish hawk]

Although I am Indian, my motto is, pick yourself up by the bootstraps and go on with life, trying to make a better world for yourself and your family (and tribe also). It’s not easy as I have emotional problems of past history but try my best to study it and move on. I’m making progress as I am a conservative. LOL that proves something.

[FreepShop1]

It is well past time for American settlers to stop all settlment activity in the occupied territories and withdraw to the pre-1619 borders.

[paulycy]

It’s official: The current crop of elected officials area “sorry” lot.

[Eleutheria5]

Now that you mention it, shouldn’t all those plaintiffs be revving up their lawyers? Apology? Nuts!

[Rebelbase]

I saw on the History Channel that venereal disease was brought to Europe from the New World. A morbid tit for tat.