Apology Accepted?
By Roseanna Renaud

Concealed inside the 2010 defense appropriations bill amid the billions earmarked for military spending was a long-awaited formal apology from the United States to Tribal governments and Native people nationwide.  You had to hunt for it, but there it was on page 109 of the 161 page bill.  While the statement does not resolve many challenges still facing Indian Country, the words within Section 8113(a) were a long time coming.  Senators Sam Brownback (R., Kan.) and Byron Dorgan (D., N.D.) crossed party lines and several years to lead the campaign for the Native American Apology Resolution, which had been introduced in previous Congresses without success.  President Barack Obama signed the first public admission of remorse to Native Americans into law on Monday, December 21.  "The resolution seeks reconciliation and offers an official apology to Native peoples for the poor choices the federal government made in the past," said Brownback. "I firmly believe that in order to move forward and have a true reconciliation, the federal government needs to formally apologize." Brownback continued, "While we cannot erase the past, it is time for us to heal past wounds. We should acknowledge previous failures, express sincere regrets, and work toward establishing a brighter future for all Americans." Senator Brownback’s April 30, 2009 joint resolution contains additional historical details on the “long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes”.  The official apology is printed here in its entirety.  At the end of the statement is a clause regarding non-support of any lawsuit claims against the government.  Also included in the bill are other items of interest to Indian Country, such as contracts with Tribal Governments and the Operation Walking Shield Program, which provides Air Force housing units to tribes.
The official statement praises state governments that have brought about reconciliation with the tribal administrations inside state borders.  Twenty years ago, then South Dakota Governor George Mickelson and representatives of the state’s nine tribal governments proclaimed 1990 a Year of Reconciliation and called for the first Native American Day observance, now held annually on Columbus Day.  A Century of Reconciliation was declared in 1991.

Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2010
APOLOGY TO NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED STATES
SEC. 8113. (a) ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APOLOGY.—
The United States, acting through Congress—recognizes the special legal and political relationship Indian tribes have with the United States and the solemn covenant with the land we share; commends and honors Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land; recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes; 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; 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; 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 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.

DISCLAIMER.—Nothing in this section—authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.