President Barack Obama still has no plans to issue a public apology to Native people for their treatment by the federal government.
Congress passed the official apology resolution last December. Obama signed the bill into law but has yet to acknowledge it.
“For an apology to have any meaning at all, you do have to tell the people you’re apologizing to,” Robert T. Coulter, executive director of the Indian Law Resource Center, was quoted as saying.
The resolution cites a number of "official depredations and ill-conceived
policies" towards American Indians and Alaska Natives. Among them:
Get the Story:Hundreds of broken treaties with Indian nations. The Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced Eastern tribes from their homelands. The Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, in which the U.S. military killed 150 Cheyenne men, women and children. The Long Walk of 1868, which caused the deaths of hundreds of Navajos. The General Allotment Act of 1887, which broke up the tribal land base. The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, in which the U.S. military killed 300 Sioux men, women and children. The failed 19th- and 20th-century policies of assimilation, termination and relocation.
Native apology said out loud (Indian Country Today 6/1) 2010 Defense Appropriations Act:
Bill Text | H.R.3326 Apology Resolution:
H.J.Res.46 | S.J.Res.14 Related Stories:
Sen. Brownback hosts ceremony to read apology resolution (5/20)
Rob Capriccioso: Obama remains silent on Native apology (4/27)
Brownback pushes White House for apology ceremony (4/26)
White House silent on official apology to Native peoples (1/14)
Laverne Beech: Apology to Native people long overdue (1/12)
Opinion: Obama should issue apology to Natives (11/25)
Robert Coulter: 'No thanks' to U.S. apology (10/12)
Marty Two Bulls Cartoon: Hey, we're sorry! (10/9)
Apology included in Defense spending bill (10/8)
Kevin Abourezk: Apology does little good (10/8)
Senate passes Native apology resolution (10/7)
Editorial: Native apology a chance for healing (08/07)
Senate panel backs Native apology resolution (8/7)
Opinion: Don't wait on an apology to Indian people (7/6)
Senate resolution apologizes for slavery (6/19)
Apology resolution leaves out trust mismanagement (5/11)
Apology resolution introduced in House and Senate (5/4)
Apology from U.S. requested by Kansas Senator (5/19)