The first time Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) visited reservations in his state, he said he sensed a "depth of anger" among Native people.

"I didn't have personal relationships with Native Americans," he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The bitterness caught me by surprise."

The visit motivated the conservative lawmaker to introduce a resolution to apologize to all Native people for acts of the federal government. "[T]his is a moment that could be used, not to heal all old wounds, but to start building a new relationship," he told the paper.

The United States has never formally apologized for its treatment of American Indians or Alaska Natives. Former assistant secretary Kevin Gover offered his own apology in August 2000 during a 175th birthday celebration for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Get the Story:
Congress considers apology to Indians (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 5/25)
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Apology to Indians advocated (Cox News Service 5/25)

Relevant Documents:
Text of Apology Resolution [As Introduced] | Sen. Brownback Statement on Resolution | Link to S.J.RES.37

Relavent Links:
Sen. Sam Brownback - http://brownback.senate.gov

Related Stories:
Consideration of U.S. apology resolution delayed (05/20)
Apology from U.S. requested by Kansas Senator (5/19)