[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 197 (Monday, December 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13695-S13696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIVE AMERICAN APOLOGY RESOLUTION

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today, I want to speak about a matter of 
significance to our Nation. As part of the Defense appropriations bill, 
Congress has enacted an apology to our Native Peoples for the 
historical wrongs that our Nation has committed against them. I am 
proud to have served as a cosponsor of the stand-alone apology 
resolution, S.J. Res 14, and commend Senators Brownback, Dorgan, and 
Inouye for ensuring this needed apology will be made.
  From the beginning, Native peoples welcomed early colonists at 
Plymouth Rock and in Virginia, and in my home State of Hawaii, the 
Kingdom of Hawaii extended the aloha spirit to our visitors. During the 
American Revolution, the United States entered into military alliances 
with Indian nations to secure assistance in winning our independence. 
As a nation, we pledged to respect the rights of Indian nations to 
self-government, self-determination and territorial integrity.

[[Page S13696]]

  Our Constitution recognizes native nations as prior sovereigns, with 
a continuing right to self-government in the Indian commerce, 
apportionment, treaty and supremacy clauses. The United States entered 
into 370 treaties with Indian nations and treaties of peace, friendship 
and commerce with the Kingdom of Hawaii. In many ways, the United 
States broke these treaties and engaged in acts of war against our 
Native peoples, taking lands by force, displacing Native peoples and 
leaving them in poverty and suffering. At times, the United States 
informed indigenous, Native peoples that their continued residence on 
their original lands would be considered an act of war against the U.S. 
and if they did not leave, U.S. military forces commenced wars, 
imprisoned and killed Native leaders and people, and tragically, at 
places like Sand Creek and Wounded Knee massacred Native men, women, 
and children.
  Congress and the executive branch enacted laws and policies that took 
Native children out of their homes and forced them to attend boarding 
schools, far from their families in an effort to suppress Native 
cultures and languages. Our Nation denied Indian nations religious 
freedom. And these wrongs did not end in the 19th century. The United 
States continued to take Native lands for various purposes, and in many 
cases has failed to safeguard Native lands, waters, and resources.
  For these things, our Nation should and now does apologize. I commend 
my colleagues, Senator Brownback, Senator Dorgan and our Senate 
Appropriations chairman, Senator Inouye, for leadership on this 
important and historic apology. I know from experience that an apology 
can bring healing and reconciliation. Congress passed the Native 
Hawaiian Apology Resolution, Public Law 103-150, in 1993 and it has had 
a profound impact.
  I encourage President Obama to issue an apology to our Native peoples 
that truly reflects the many wrongs that we should apologize for to 
Native peoples. The strength and resilience of our indigenous people, 
America's first people must be acknowledged. Despite the many 
transgressions made against our Nation's first people, American 
Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians continue to make 
meaningful contributions to the United States. This apology will be a 
historic act that can bring reconciliation and healing between our 
Native peoples and the American people as a whole.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I would also like to highlight a 
section of this conference report that means a great deal to many 
American Indian tribal leaders in this country, to several of my 
colleagues and to me personally, the Native American apology 
resolution.
  I am very pleased to report that with the addition of this language 
in the defense appropriations conference report, we--the United States 
of America--will officially apologize for the past ill-conceived 
policies and maltreatment by the United States toward the Native 
peoples of this land.
  With the passage of this language, we, as a Nation, will reaffirm our 
commitment toward healing our Nation's wounds rooted in a difficult 
past of Federal-tribal relations and work toward establishing better 
relationships rooted in reconciliation and forgiveness.
  Native Americans have a vast and proud legacy on this continent. Long 
before 1776 and the establishment of the United States of America, 
native peoples inhabited this land and maintained a powerful physical 
and spiritual connection to it. In service to the Creator, Native 
peoples sowed the land, journeyed it, and protected it. The people from 
my State of Kansas have a similar strong attachment to the land.
  Like many in my State, I was raised on the land. I grew up farming 
and caring for the land. I and many in my State established a 
connection to this land as well. We care for our Nation and the land of 
our forefathers so greatly that we too are willing to serve and protect 
it, as faithful stewards of the creation with which God has blessed us. 
I believe without a doubt citizens across this great Nation share this 
sentiment and know its unifying power. Americans have stood side by 
side for centuries to defend this land we love.
  Both the Founding Fathers of the United States and the indigenous 
tribes that lived here were attached to this land. Both sought to 
steward and protect it. There were several instances of collegiality 
and cooperation between our forbears--for example, in Jamestown, VA, 
Plymouth, MA, and in aid to explorers Lewis and Clark.
  Yet, sadly, since the formation of the American Republic, numerous 
conflicts have ensued between our government, the Federal Government, 
and many of these tribes, conflicts in which warriors on all sides 
fought courageously and which all sides suffered. Even from the 
earliest days of our Republic there existed a sentiment that honorable 
dealings and a peaceful coexistence were clearly preferable to 
bloodshed. Indeed, our predecessors in congress in 1787 stated in the 
northwest ordinance:
  ``The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the 
Indians.''
  Today we live up to this goal, today, we right a wrong that has been 
committed in this Nation.
  This amendment extends a formal apology from the United States to 
tribal governments and Native peoples nationwide--something we have 
never done; something we should have done years and years ago.
  Further, this resolution will not resolve the many challenges still 
facing Native Americans, nor will it authorize, support or settle any 
claims against the United States. It doesn't have anything to do with 
any property claims against the United States. That is specifically set 
aside and not in this bill.
  What this amendment achieves is recognition, honor, and the 
importance of Native Americans to this land and to the United States in 
the past and today and offers an official apology for the poor and 
painful path the U.S. Government sometimes made in relation to our 
Native brothers and sisters by disregarding our solemn word to Native 
peoples. It recognizes the negative impact of numerous destructive 
Federal acts and policies on Native Americans and their culture, and it 
begins--begins--the effort of reconciliation.
  Apologies are oftentimes difficult, but like treaties, go beyond mere 
words and usher in a true spirit of reconciling past differences and 
help to pave the way toward a united future--a future that transcends 
the individual but strives to reach into eternity. The notion of the 
creation of the ``Beloved Community'' that Dr. King spoke of . . . that 
my good friend representative John Lewis speaks of is very appropriate 
at this moment for this time. ``The end is reconciliation, the end is 
redemption, the end is the creation of the beloved community.'' This is 
our goal; this is my hope for our Nation united as one people.

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