American Indians Aren't Waiting for Apology from US Government for Abuse at Schools

The Canadian prime minister’s apology to First Nations June 11 comes one year after the government’s agreement to pay $1.9 billion to survivors of Indian residential schools; the Australian prime minister’s formal apology in February to aboriginal people did not include any mention of reparations.

A bill seeking a formal apology to Americans Indians was twice introduced in 2006 and 2007 by the late Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-Virginia). A resolution of apology first introduced by US Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) back in 2004 has finally stuck as an attachment to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act passed by the Senate Feb. 26. It is now before the House and, if approved, it will likely sit on the president’s desk until after the election for consideration.

Brownback’s resolution includes wording that apologizes for the “forcible removal of Indian children from their families to faraway boarding schools where their Indian practices and languages were degraded and forbidden.”

Indian people are hopeful that the new president will do the right thing and approve the resolution, but they also say a first gesture of forgiveness by the first Americans would go far in extending an olive branch to the many fellow non-Indians who still carry the guilt and shame for what their ancestors did.

“An elder Indian woman in Oklahoma once commented that if Indian people could forgive what happened at the schools, it would open the door for this nation to forgive and heal its collective hurt,” said Coyhis. “We believe that.”

White Bison’s name as an organization comes from the ancient American Indian prophecy that came to life when a white buffalo calf named Miracle was born in Janesville, Wis., in 1994. The prophecy tells of a time when a “great healing” would sweep through the nation and wipe away the pain of the past. Many believe that time is now, and that Indian people will lead the way.

Intensely Personal 

While much can be done on a national level to raise awareness, those who’ve already traveled the path say the healing journey is intensely personal and must happen at the individual level before its effects can be seen at the level of the family and community.

“To heal from this affliction, you have to ask for forgiveness and recognize and understand the historical trauma. That doesn’t mean you live in the past, but you remember it. And you have to acknowledge it in order to move on,” said Robert DesJarlait (Ojibwe), a cultural educator and writer, who attended the Minneapolis conference.

In an article about his experience at the conference, DesJarlait says he was inspired to do his personal healing work so that he wouldn’t pass the intergenerational trauma on to his children.

Staff joins Sacred Hoop 

Both relay teams will begin the ride in Oregon and will meet up again in Carlisle before going on to Washington, DC, said Beech.

The Wellbriety Movement’s newly-donated eagle staff will lead one relay team cross country and the Movement’s Sacred Hoop of 100 Eagle Feathers will lead the other team.

The staff of 36 feathers was donated by Nancy Kingbird, a member of the Leech Lake Ojibwe Tribe and grassroots community activist, during the conference’s general assembly April 18. The staff was made for the movement in remembrance of Kingbird’s husband, Warren Bradley Tibbetts, who was murdered at their home in 2005.

Coyhis said the ability of Indian people to forgive what happened at the schools would be their greatest test.

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