Apology for Abuses at US Indian Schools
The White Buffalo Prophecy tells of a time when a white buffalo calf would be born, and that birth would signal a time of Great Healing for All Nations. That white buffalo calf - the first of many - was born in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1994. Her name was Miracle.
It is in the spirit of the White Bison Prophecy, that we call upon all peoples to join us in signing this petition supporting a US apology and healing for the widespread abuse of Native American children at the nearly 500 schools funded by the US government to assimilate Native American people.
There is a growing body of evidence that the trauma Native American children carried home with them from the schools is an underlying cause of the suicides and substance abuse-related deaths that are killing young Native people today in alarming numbers.
This petition will be hand delivered to Washington, D.C., following a 6,800-mile, cross-country journey by White Bison to 23 present and former Indian school sites (http://www.wellbrietyjourney.org/). The vision is to promote awareness, dialogue and forgiveness for what happened at the schools so that we can collectively heal from this tragic chapter in United States history.
This petition calls upon the President of the United States to issue a formal apology for what the US government allowed to happen to Native American children at the schools and for the intergenerational trauma that is still negatively affecting Native individuals, families & communities to this day.
White Bison, Inc., is a non-profit organization that for the last 20 years has provided culturally-relevant assistance and resources to Native American communities in healing (http://www.whitebison.org/)
The White Buffalo Prophecy tells of a time when a white buffalo calf would be born, and that birth would signal a time of Great Healing for All Nations. That white buffalo calf - the first of many - was born in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1994. Her name was Miracle.
It is in the spirit of the White Bison Prophecy, that we call upon all peoples to join us in signing this petition supporting a US apology and healing for the widespread abuse of Native American children at the nearly 500 schools funded by the US government to assimilate Native American people.
There is a growing body of evidence that the trauma Native American children carried home with them from the schools is an underlying cause of the suicides and substance abuse-related deaths that are killing young Native people today in alarming numbers.
This petition will be hand delivered to Washington, D.C., following a 6,800-mile, cross-country journey by White Bison to 23 present and former Indian school sites (http://www.wellbrietyjourney.org/). The vision is to promote awareness, dialogue and forgiveness for what happened at the schools so that we can collectively heal from this tragic chapter in United States history.
This petition calls upon the President of the United States to issue a formal apology for what the US government allowed to happen to Native American children at the schools and for the intergenerational trauma that is still negatively affecting Native individuals, families & communities to this day.
White Bison, Inc., is a non-profit organization that for the last 20 years has provided culturally-relevant assistance and resources to Native American communities in healing (http://www.whitebison.org/)
We, the undersigned, call upon you to formally apologize on behalf of the US Federal Government and the People of this Great Nation for the widespread abuse of Native American children at the nearly 500 schools funded by the US government to assimilate Native American people.
There is a growing body of evidence that the traumas experienced by Native American children at the schools is largely responsible for the alarming levels of suicides, substance abuse, domestic violence and child sexual abuse in Native American communities today.
We ask you to join the leaders of Canada and Australia by apologizing to First Nations people here for what was allowed to happen to children at the schools, and for the scars of hurt and pain that it left on generations of Native American people.
We seek this apology not to go after monetary reparations from the government, but to promote a collective healing of all Americans for this tragic chapter in our nation's history.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
I think an apology would help heal all the hearts of all Indians. When I was in school we had a special class for all Indians. I was allowed to go even though I don't look Indian. I don't have dark skin, and I wanted to be darker. They accepted me just the way I look. That was also the time that busing started, which was the first time I had ever seen a black person. I was all excited and politely asked the teacher if we could touch their hair. We had a whole day dedicated to this social skill. It was a lot of fun We need to recognize everyone's differences and celebrate our own skin.
Dear President Obama, Healing any division can only truly begin with a sincere apology, and this particular apology and acknowlegement is long,long overdue. You, Sir, are the right president to sincerely comprehend and issue such an honorable proclamation. The world here, on our HOME GROUND, as well as abroad, awaits your healing words...... Mitakuye Oyasin.
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I strongly support the request for an apology from the US Government to Native American peoples for the mistreatment and abuse imposed on so many Native American children who were forced to leave their families and live in US Indian boarding schools. Separation from family, language, life style and traditions left so many Native Americans permanently wounded psychologically, emotionally, and physically. Issuing an apology for these acts of genocide could be a first effort to begin the process of healing.
I have many friends who were subjected to boarding schools away from their families and loved ones. The damage done as a consequence of these experiences is very deep.
The US government has an incumbent responsibility to make amends for the violent devastation, destabilization, and abuse caused as a result of the federal policies that regulated and forced Native American children into torture and concentration camps known as boarding schools. The admission of wrongdoing and apology will not only support the healing of American Indians, but of the US government and nation.
The legacy of American Indian boarding schools has caused inter-generational trauma and a post-colonial stress disorder in our families and communities evidenced by data that supports the disproportionate rate of incarceration, drug & alcohol abuse, poverty and many other social indicators that reflect the devastation of individuals, families, urban Indian communities, and tribal nations.
Please add your comments about why you support this petition.
How have US Indian schools impacted you, your family, your community, or the nation?
Don, It was an honor to meet you at The Purpose Prize Summit. Congratulations on the tremendous impact you are having and the preservation of cultural awareness. Kristal Wortham ROOT, Inc. Sustainability Program Coordinator
Dear President Obama, I am requesting that your good Office of The President of the United States, take a profound step forward in order to recognize the difficult History of the Native Americans or the American Indians. I am making this appeal for our brothers and sisters who have long endured the plight of harsh assimilations away from their culture, language and their true pathways of understanding and spiritualism. With your recognition of their historical significance for all of the People of our Nation to observe, I ask for a Presidential Apology for Abuses at U.S. Indian Schools in order to support the Healing of their hearts, mind and body which in turn will promote the Healing of our whole Nation! Thanking you in advance, Mark Inman
We not only need an apology, we need funding to help our people turn their lives around. A good place to start is with Don and the White Bison Organization.
Any of my relatives who went to these boarding schools still have problems with self esteem and trust.
It is a disgrace... How this country was founded. We fight wars all over this world protecting the "human rights" of other people. Why can't our government acknowledge what it did to the Native peoples of this country??? It's a disgrace. Sometimes I am ashamed to be an American.
enough is enough
Everyone doesn't hesitate to acknowledge what Hitler did to the Jews yet we are supposed to forget what the united states government did. My daughter had to read a book about captured by natives in the 1600's a girls diary. We live on a reservation and she has to read this book for school they don't acknowledge what had happened to the Natives for the 200 years before when Columbus "discovered" a land already inhabited by a people civilization has taught how to disrespect themselves their elders and their own brother and sisters. It is past time for recognition of what has happened. My childrens grandma didn't teach her children her native language because of the way she was punished and told it was evil in the school in St. Ignatious mt.
My children didn't learn there dads language as he didn't know it and wouldn't let teach my children cree as I waas just a breed
I believe we as not just one nation but one complete strong nations were sold short.And put on little corners of a state and told us how to live and raped and killed our woman.And gave us guys tat fire water and that made us and still does make our youth crazy.And slowly killen our selves with the drinks.When or what we do to get rite the way our ancestors wanted it???
My sisters and brothers didnt get as much as I did.
I am one eighth Cherokee, I do not appreciate the extermination act of early America and I don't appreciate the racist attitude of Americans. I don't like the way Natives are treated and I feel the schools were a way of exterminating the people. It goes back to the Roman attitude of distroy the local culture and replace it with Roman Culture. That never works with out total annialation. The schools were part of that mentality.
It helps to give the Constitution and Bill of Rights a black eye. It is hipocracy.
It is time to correct the inhuman treatment given the Native Americans and to honor the past Treaties that were never fullfilled.
Pope Benedict XVI has apologized for abuses to the"original people"and now it is time for the president of the U.S.A.to do the same!See our DVD"WHITE BUFFALO MESSAGE"at the H.J.Heinz History Center,Pittsburgh,Pa.(my book "WHITE BUFFALO SPIRIT"may also be of interest)
For a people to grow past hatred and prejudice, ask forgiveness and let us all grow together.
Our nation is the greatest nation on Mother Earth. Let her admit she made grave mistakes and stay the greatest nation on Mother Earth
I join in signing this petition in support of Native Americans because I believe that European emigres to this land behaved in the most immoral and cupidinous manner when they encountered the peoples of this continent. I believe they behave so today!
It's the only right thing and it's way, way, way overdue.
As a member of the recovery community, and an informed spiritual woman, I believe that this cause is long in coming. Our native people deserve to know that they who belong to the land have the country's support.
Please add your comments about why you support this petition. Native Americans have been abused and neglected for so long and have experienced such hardship. The U.S. Govt has been responsible for so much of this abuse. The time is way overdue for the govt. to be accountable for their actions, step up, apologize and begin treating Native Americans with the love and respect they so deserve. Let the healing begin.
How have US Indian schools impacted you, your family, your community, or the nation? I meet Native Americans who have experienced abuse. It saddens me.
Each one of us appreciates validation of our hurts, concerns, struggles, successes and joys. Please make a public apology to lead the way for more healing.
My mothers father was unable to attend school if it wasn't a boarding school so he ran away and lived in the mountains. He married my grandmother at age 14, they worked like slaves for a women just to survive. He never learned to read or write. He died from alcoholism when I was three. I work with adolescents in the community who have addictions. They have similar history. I worked at a boarding school and helped advocate it's closing and reformating to meet the needs of the native youth so they could stay home. Now there is an institute and other resources for the native community.
I am first generation off the rez in my family. There is need for a big healing in Indian Country. So many of us do not really understand why we are suffering so. The time has come, is long overdue, for acknowledgment by the government. It is crucial, to validate feelings, promote awareness, and begin the healing.
My Mother, all my aunties and uncles except the youngest were victims of boarding school. We lost our language. We lost our religion. We lost the greater part of our culture and ties to the community, because my family was so brainwashed. This had a direct effect on me & my siblings, and now....our children. The effects are far-reaching. I have been a native cultural educator for 16 years now. It has been a long, hard road, but we are traveling back to reclaim what was stolen, so we can move ahead with pride, and in dignity.
