Katherine Fogden/NMAI
Caroline Davis, assistant deputy minister of Indian affairs from Canada and Phil Fontaine, a national chief with the Assembly of First Nations, were part of a panel of leaders who spoke at a symposium on reconciliation at the National Museum of the American Indian.
Leaders meet to discuss reconciliation
By
Rob Capriccioso
Story Published:
Nov 28, 2008
Story Updated:
Dec 1, 2008
WASHINGTON – Indigenous leaders from North and Central America recently gathered to discuss the significance of governmental apologies involving historical injustices committed upon Natives.
The summit included tribal and Indian leaders from the United States, Canada and Guatemala who spoke at the National Museum of the American Indian Nov. 13.
Tim Johnson, director of programs at the museum, said it was in the spirit of Thanksgiving to discuss timely issues surrounding reconciliation and “to highlight national apologies made to Native peoples.” He said the event was an effort to educate society more deeply about the American Indian experience and “to identify mutual aspirations and opportunities for reconciliation.”
One of the main questions of the day, mentioned by Kevin Gover, director of NMAI, focused on what conditions can end up leading to national apologies to indigenous peoples or other peoples who have been oppressed. He noted that the U.S. offered an apology to Native Hawaiians for the overthrow of the kingdom of Hawaii and an apology and composition for Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II.
“And yet, there still seems to be some difficulty in our national politics about offering apologies to Native Americans [and] to African Americans for slavery,” Gover said.
Gover added that the pace of apologies to indigenous peoples worldwide has seemed to increase in recent years, especially in Australia and Canada.
A large portion of the program focused on the June 11, 2008 apology by the Canadian government for the abuse and cultural loss suffered by indigenous people in the country’s residential schools.
Similar to the experiences of many American Indians, several First Nations’ students were historically removed from their homes and families in an effort to rid them of their culture and language. The last federally-run residential school ceased operation in 1996. It’s estimated that there are 80,000 First Nations’ members alive today who attended a residential school.
Caroline Davis, an assistant deputy minister of Indian affairs from Canada, explained that the apology was over a decade in the making, and resulted from previously botched attempts by the government to work with First Nations’ members to make amends. She called the Canadian development “an ongoing effort toward healing and reconciliation.”
She noted that in the 1990s her country created a commission to explore the relationship of indigenous people with the Canadian government, and established the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to provide funding to those abused in the schools.
The Canadian government also issued an initial apology in the 1990s, but many indigenous folks felt it did not go far enough, and they did not feel that it created appropriate pathways for financial compensation.
Class action lawsuits ultimately saw the government decide to offer a stronger apology, and to take more financial responsibility. Thousands of lump sum payments have now been made, and financial compensation is based on the severity of abuse individuals suffered in the schools. Money has also been set aside to provide counseling and other emotional support to survivors of sexual, physical and other abuse.
Beyond monetary compensation, Davis said the government felt that an official strong apology, suitable to indigenous peoples, was necessary for reconciliation to fully occur.
Phil Fontaine, a national chief with the Assembly of First Nations, said at the event that he perceives the apology, which was offered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as a promise from Canada to “right the wrongs of the past” and to “help create a new beginning.”
“But an apology must be more than symbolic,” Fontaine continued, saying that the effects of the residential school experience has set back many First Nations’ people in terms of education and health. He said they need much more assistance and attention from the government to help make up for the problems.
“Reconciliation must restore our original relationship with Canada – a partnership based on mutual recognition and respect.”
A stark contrast between Canada’s approach to reconciliation to that of the United States was apparent when the discussion next turned to the Native American Apology Resolution recently passed this year by the U.S. Senate.
The resolution acknowledges “a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes” and offers “an apology to all Native peoples on behalf of the United States.”
The House has not acted on similar legislation to date, so the bill has made little progress since its initial advancement.
Former Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, of Northern Cheyenne descent, said that when he served in Congress, many of his peers told him they were concerned that financial payments to Indians would become necessary if the U.S. government offered a formal apology.
The Colorado politician also noted that the apology resolution passed in the Senate was attached to the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act this session, which several House leaders did not support due to a pro-life amendment attached to the legislation.
“I can say right from the start that I wish every member of the United States’ House and Senate could have heard the presentations of [Davis and Fontaine],” Nighthorse Campbell said.
“It’s very clear to me that the nation of Canada is way ahead of us from the standpoint of recognizing the past injustices and things we need to do to become whole again.”
Nighthorse Campbell said that some Congress members, like Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., who sponsored the apology in the Senate, recognize the importance of an apology.
The former senator also said a symbolic apology, sans financial compensation, “might not put food on the table,” but it could help bind people together.
Victor Montejo, a member of the Guatemalan National Congress, next spoke about the difficulties of the indigenous people of the Latin American country in achieving reconciliation.
Of Jakaltek Mayan descent, Montejo said that some indigenous people there are still looking for an apology, although many of the harmful effects of colonization took place long ago. He believes, too, that reconciliation should be accompanied by reparations, agreeing with Canada’s approach over that of the U.S.
After the presenters from the individual countries spoke, Gabrielle Tayac, a historian with the NMAI, noted that several Native cultures give great credence to the concept of apology accompanied with action.
“It is certainly quite apparent that in 2008, another world is possible,” Tayac said.
Many American Indians in attendance at the summit expressed hope that President-elect Barack Obama will lead the way in finalizing an apology in the U.S. To date, Obama has not expressed a firm timeline for doing so.
Tuesday, Dec 16 at 6:45 PM InTheSouthWest wrote ...
An apology means nothing if we as Indian people don't wake up and accept reality. We have to take care of ourselves. Does anyone really think the US Government sincerely cares? I don't think so. Suppose the US Government apologize...what changes? Nothing. So we have to continue our struggles one day at a time and we will survive.
13715909 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Dec 11 at 7:10 PM ska wrote ...
YUSB, you are a victim of your own irrational thinking. My son attended school on the rez with students who were as bright as he is. He is currently a doctor at Mayo Clinic while most of his classmates are trapped on the rez. With the victim mentality, you will suffer from your own hate forever. You need to precieve yourself a world class person, not limit yourself to a society or religion. I wish you well.
13488073 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Dec 11 at 3:27 PM WalksRedRoadwithStinkFeet wrote ...
AN apology will not be accepted until we are reimbursed the monetary loss of land and resources. Genocide, destruction of culture will never be forgiven.
13476978 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Dec 11 at 12:37 PM GreasyCurlyBEar08 wrote ...
Im full Blood Albama Black-Creek, ANd Not too long ago dey Apologized for Slavery but not Genocide, SO I still feel oppressed on the other side Knom'Sayin!!!...
13466638 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Dec 11 at 11:12 AM YUSB wrote ...
Also, Africans were raped by their slave owners therefore making them part White- that does not mean that they were less of a victim, actually more so. We are not destroying ourselves by wanting an apology, it's time that Native people are given the Respect owed to us. Those words will feel good whether we accept it or not. Maybe Ska needs to travel out of SD and see the rest of the country, talk to other Indians, if u are even Indian?
13461313 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Dec 11 at 11:04 AM YUSB wrote ...
So what-we have White Blood, not very much! And not by choice, some of us make sure to marry Indian and have Indian children! And that is not racist, it is preservation and pride in who we are. There are many of us born in the 80's that are now college educacted and teaching our kids the right way to carry themselves, all we can do is try! With a sorry defeated attitude nothing will be accomplished. We do deserve that apology because we are still paying the price for the Pilgrim Pride!
13460863 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Wednesday, Dec 10 at 2:51 PM ska wrote ...
This is the most racist publication I have ever read. Your comments are sick. If you want an appology, you can start by apologizing to yourselves. Almost all of you have white blood as well. You need to study science, not mythical religion. It takes a certain sperm and a certain egg at a certain time to make a certain person. If these tragedies didn't happen exactly as they did, you wouldn't be here to complain about them. I am sad to see a society destroying itself. Get educated.
13422578 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Dec 9 at 6:22 PM Young Urban Shoshone Bannock wrote ...
I would like to see an apology but it would have been more sweet to come from an evil White man like Bush. For my lil kids sake, they should hear it regardless of what it does for us from that point on. I live in Oklahoma and Natives here don't seem to have the anger I had growing up in a place like Seattle where we see Natives homeless everywhere! But in all that despairity we had community- and that's whats most important is teaching the youth traditions even if we are not the same tribe.
13384083 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Dec 9 at 4:15 PM ska wrote ...
It is time for you folks to get real. I knew survivors of Custer's Last Stand and you folks are nothing like them. They deserve an appology, but you don't. If anybody living deserves an appology, it's me. I lived on the three major reservations in South Dakota so I know what is really going on there. They are hell holes created by the tribal mentality. I've seen too many kids destroyed by you who claim to be the ones to protect them. There is more white blood in the members than acceptable
13377038 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 8 at 2:13 PM Pa-Cui-Ta-Mo-Ta wrote ...
If They Can't apologize to us,they need to start packing stuff and get of out.
13309243 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Dec 5 at 4:09 PM Celeste Strikes With A Gun wrote ...
Canada is not ahead. Canada is a "developed state" leading the way on our Genocide. Fontaine/AFN organized the first Summit of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Just prior to the next Summit, a group of Indigenous experts soundly criticized AFN. Fontaine/AFN usually work with white women instead of listening to us. I saw Harper's apology. It was not sincere. Instead of focuing on money, we need to heal our spirits from the exorcism of Christian baptisms and see how Christianity blocks us.
13208199 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Wednesday, Dec 3 at 3:04 PM Pam wrote ...
Where have you been? We, the non-federally reocognized tribes don't matter to the federally recognized much less the US government!
13105169 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Dec 2 at 10:03 PM Meee Nottellin wrote ...
Folks it's about money. If the Fed's apologize I'm sure they feel this will create lawsuits against the government, just like in Canada, and they don't want to get into that. Especially with the embarassment of the Cobel case still hanging over thier heads. Also allot has to do with white guilt. They can't deal with it yet. That's my take on the situation.
13071309 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Dec 2 at 1:17 PM ed gein wrote ...
How can there be an apology when the perpetrators are STILL making war on the original inhabitants of this Land? Check out the Prison Population and see the number of "Indians" that the Lislahs have locked up. Look at our Country that has been despoiled and degraded,look at the disease and poverty.
13043203 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Dec 2 at 10:11 AM lance henson wrote ...
the fragrancy of characteristic colonial attitudes and denial permeates all the apologies given to indigenous peoples..clearly these apologies are given with the knowledge that homeland and tribal rights must have priority over the pitiful governments that wish our compassion..its too late to accept apologies when everyday indigenous peoples and rights are abused..we as tribal peoples must hold accountable continuing injustices..
13029909 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 1 at 11:33 PM Allen Bruce Paquin wrote ...
International Community, U.S.Political System, Media, Exercising Tribal Sovereignty by Tribal Nations and People, United Nations, Educate Yourself, Live in Your Tribal Nation, Learn your Indigenous Language, Participate in your tribal dance and song, Pass it onto your children, Tribal Nations and People must reach out to your Indigenous People who live in the urban areas. Urban Indians return home. Are existence as Indigenous People depends on Tribal Nations and People to maintain culture.
13019109 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 1 at 11:06 PM Allen Bruce Paquin wrote ...
I believe it is important to hold the U.S. Government and other countries responsible for the millions of Indigenous People who were enslaved,murdered,and genocide for the taking of lands exemplified in the "Papel Bulls" and the "Doctrine of Discovery". These documents put into motion the combination of church and state to take lands from the savages and heathens. Assimilation Institutions(boarding school)are products of these conqueror-based doctrines. This country can't even conceive healing.
13018323 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 1 at 7:29 PM Paro Bruner wrote ...
How about adding the Five Civilized Tribes (Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole) to the list of governments who need to apologize to Africans for slavery.
13011694 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Dec 1 at 12:37 AM lilydiana wrote ...
Welcome to wow gold our wow Gold and wow power leveling store. We wow gold are specilized, wow power leveling professional and reliable wow power leveling website for Wow power leveling selling and wow gold service. By the World of Warcraft gold same token,cheapest power leveling,we offer wow power leveling the best WoW service wow power leveling for our long-term and wow powerleveling loyal customers. wow powerleveling You will find the cheapest power leveling the benefits and value powerleveli
12976448 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Nov 30 at 12:55 PM Walter Ogi Johnson wrote ...
I agree with Taber, a international court, A court that would be outside of the "oppressors"realm, the act of genocide is continuously perpetuated until it is recognized and acknowledged by the perpetrator, the non-indigenous.
12953198 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 29 at 12:17 PM south dakota granny wrote ...
Is the RECONCILIATION process to hard for the arrogant (USA) because there must be penance, self-abasement or in this context reparation. Empty apologies are a waste of time.
12927458 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 29 at 2:28 AM two feathers wrote ...
what about indians that live in the urban cities? what about indians that can prove by dna? how come there is no memorial in dc for the trail of tears? the long walk? why are indian tribes so exclusionary? why? why? why? where is my apologie?
12918713 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 29 at 1:57 AM two feathers wrote ...
what about urban indians?
12917893 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 29 at 1:38 AM Eric wrote ...
The Government just needs to stop being so full of pride and say sorry. If they were not so concerned about money then maybe they would be humble enough to admit that they need to say sorry.
12917538 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Nov 28 at 2:56 PM Festus wrote ...
What is meant by RECONCILIATION? Is reconciliation an apology from the government followed by a native acceptance...and then what? The political situation still exists. And exactly who is accepting these apologies. It's easy if you're a native nation who had little conflict with the U.S. If so, how are you going to push reconciliation on behalf of other native nations that actually suffered massacres and such? Who gives them the right to do that?
12904098 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Nov 28 at 12:36 PM Jay Taber wrote ...
Fontaine is correct that reconciliation involves more than rhetoric. In the US, even reparations would fall far short of the goal. In order to reconcile, that respectful relationship Fontaine spoke of would require that the US government cease actively undermining indigenous sovereignty. One key step would be to take disputes to a neutral arbiter or international court. Justice cannot be obtained in a venue of appointees loyal to one side of the dispute. Just look at Cobell.
12900268 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Nov 28 at 10:47 AM madeline thompson mclain muwekma ohlone wrote ...
have not heard anthing bout hundred or more tribes that are not feralderly recondized do these tribes matter too
12896533 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Add a comment
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