Obama to Indians: "I'm sorry"
Dionysus
HEAD: Obama should give nation's apology to Native peoples
SUB-HEAD: Proclamation is no substitute for actual contrition
By Thomas Costello, president of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and
Inclusion in Detroit
President Obama recently signed a proclamation making November Native
American Heritage Month. Addressing some 500 leaders from federally
recognized Native American tribes, he committed the United States to
fulfilling its trust responsibilities and called for a new beginning to
address issues that confront Native Americans.
The president stated that history must be acknowledged for the country to
move forward. Recognition of history is vital to make progress against
forces impeding Native Americans. Obama might start that process by issuing
an apology for actions taken by governments that devastated native peoples
throughout our nation - including Michigan.
The arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 ushered in centuries of terror
for indigenous people of the Western Hemisphere. Estimates range up to 112.5
million native people killed by white people - at least 15 million in the
United States alone. The Native American population has been reduced by 97
percent!
When Native Americans were not killed by direct military or citizenry
action, they were decimated by other means, including European diseases
unknown to Native Americans. British generals in the Ohio Valley sought to
eliminate the indigenous population completely by giving the Native
Americans "gifts" of blankets infected with smallpox.
After realizing all Native American peoples couldn't be exterminated or
converted by religious entities, the next strategy was to kidnap native
children and segregate them in boarding schools - including government-run
schools in Mount Pleasant and Harbor Springs in Michigan - to make them
"white" and ready for assimilation into a white society that had little
interest in accepting them. Children were abused, physically, sexually and
mentally, in boarding schools. Separated from their brothers and sisters,
their hair was cut and they were dressed like a "normal white child." These
children never saw their families until adulthood.
This past must be acknowledged because while some may know that the Native
American population in this country was "mistreated" most don't know the
extent of actions taken by our government and citizens. Instead of embracing
the beauty of the Native American culture, whites destroyed what they could
not understand. Even today, schools use many Native American symbols in a
demeaning and disrespectful way.
Most Michigan citizens don't understand Indian nationalism and sovereignty,
the fact that our Constitution requires the government of the United States
to recognize the governments of tribes as an equal. We must illuminate the
past to accomplish this.
A start is for the United States to formally apologize for the boarding
schools and the intergenerational trauma that still negatively impacts
native individuals, families and communities.
Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper in 2008 issued such an apology for
similar actions of that nation's government. It is time for President Obama
to begin the healing by doing the same.
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Uhm, Kemo sabe, Tonto plenty pissed at Lyin' Prick, white man's black
President for not saying he sorry, uhm. No smoke um peace pipe with him at
firewater beer summit on White House lawn 'til he does. We endeavor to
persevere! Getum up, Scout.
No Surrender!
Dionysus