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, Wisc., 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., by Native American youth who will be participating in a 5,300-mile, cross-country bicycle relay in May and June 2009 (www.thewayhometour.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 new 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 curse it left on Native communities.
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, Wisc., 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., by Native American youth who will be participating in a 5,300-mile, cross-country bicycle relay in May and June 2009 (www.thewayhometour.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 new 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 curse it left on Native communities.
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.
|
Already a Care2 member? log in |
Because I'm Native American Indian.
We need Native American Indian Schools in my indian community.
they should apolige its only right
I believe in perserving the earth for our children and our future
President Obama, You are the president to help begin the healing of our nations First People. What the United States Government did to the Native Peoples of this country was nothing short of genocide. As a country there is so much shame that we refuse to even acknowledge that we were/are responsible. Shame on us again! As a nation we must accept responsibility for these atrocities and help our nations' First Peoples heal this historical trauma. We must apologize for the horrific things our ancestors did and look for ways that we may begin to make amends. Let the change you have promised us all begin here. As long as we continue to ignore the suffering of our own people our nation will never be the America we speak of, dream of-PEACE starts at home. Please do the right thing and start the healing process for all of Americas People.
I feel ashamed that we as a country have treated our own people so badly. My ancestors came on the trail of tears. The records of my family history have been lost because there was such shame attached to being Indian. My father remembers his mother telling him to not tell anyone they were part Indian, she refused to register. My dad remembers his great grandparents being full blooded Indian. I still can find no records of these people. I have read many accounts of the kinds of things that happened in these schools-my heart breaks for these peoples. I feel helpless to do any thing about it. It is time for our Nation to step out of the denial and move towards acceptance, amends and wholeness.
I request that the Government of the United States of America acknowledge and Publicly apologize for the subjugation of Native Peoples. Aho.
When any One person is dishonored, all are dishonored. In separating one society from another, all societies suffer and become vunerable. The dishonoring of the People of Native Tribes has weakened all of society. It is the Government's responsibility to acknowledge the dishonorable acts of the past by presenting a formal, humble, apology for Government's participation in all acts of hostility toward and subjugation of Native Peoples. Aho.
I support this petition because no child or human deserves abuse (verbal, mental or physical) - it continues today. The administrative government was greedy to own all the land and did whatever to inicent people to do so. Many Native American people of all tribal nations have served the US military to protect this land and all the people who live here regardless of the history of what the US government did many years ago to their ancestors.
The community still holds on to resentments and sorrow which is part of the underlying problems for the use of alcohol and drug use on reservations that is killing the young and had led to the manifestation of other serious problems (school drop outs, health issues, abuse, family problems, etc)
I was born in Santa Fe, NM. I spent many of my younger years on the the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. I have seen first hand what the government did and did not do. I'm glad to see a movement towards healing and forgiveness on hopefully on both sides.
The indian schools caused a lot of anger and bitterness among Native Americans and Whites. There is still a lot of segregation and one thinking they are better than the other.
|
2:23 pm PST, Nov 3,
April Hungary Reihm, California
I support this patition because I am a survivor of the attempted genocide of a Northern Arapahoe little boy named Vernon Hungary. aka John Smith student of St. Stevens Catholic school located on The Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. My father had his braids cut at the age of 5 there. He was hit for speaking his language. He lost is culture for "the great white father", grew up and became an alcoholic. Never spoke his language in from of 6 daughters and 3 sons. We each suffer loss on a daily basis for what was done to him, as do his grandchildren. He was a spiritual person in spite of what was attempted by "them"(you). so now it is up to me, as one, to forgive you. Lord have mercy on your pitiful souls. |
why can't the government acknowledge that it made a tragic mistake in dealing with native people.
Personally, I never even knew about the Indian Boarding Schools in America or in Canada, that is until I started my Native American History Class this semester 2008 and choose to do a report on the boarding schools. I'm like in total shock that this issue has not been talked about-and an apology has not been given to all Native American children that had attended these schools...It should not take a petition to get this done-our so called government for the people should have done it so many years ago. It's amazing that in todays world-that so many children had to suffer. There is a documentary called "Our Spirits Don't Speak English: Indian Boarding Schools" by Rich-Heape Films that everyone needs to see...and understand what the government keeps doing to others of different cultures and heritage. This has happened in the past with the Japanese Internment Camps-an apology was finally given, how many years later, along with monitary funds. Why don't we learn our lesson...each and everyone of us has something different to bring to this world...doing only what the "white-man" says just doesn't seem right. I will do my best to get the word out now that I know the US government has never made a formal apology. Just found out that Canada did recently for there treatment of Native Indians.
Now that I know about what happened at the Indian Boarding Schools-I feel that our governmnet should be making it a priority to apologize and admit they knew what was happening in these schools and do whatever is possible to never let it happen again.
An apology from a perpetrator, or in this case his representative, is a powerful first step in the healing process. It is time for a New World, one of True Brotherhood, but people must enter it as healed and whole beings. Forgiveness will more easily follow an apology than a lack of one.
My mother and her brothers & sisters attended an Indian Boarding School in South Dakota, where they learned that it was 'shameful' to be Indian.
It is a long overdue apology from the US to our Native people regarding the genocide and holocost in this country!!! The boarding school era was another of our nasty programs to take away children from loving family environments and force to be remain with strangers who didn't know/respect the Native culture.
My dear friend's parents were both raised in a boarding school and worked very hard as parents but acknowledged their lack of parental involvement in their lives when they needed it most and how it effected their children and now their grandchildren.
There was such thing as the Civil Rights Movement that was suppose to make it so all men and women were created equal and that brought some progress to our country, but our nation still will not live up to the biggest form of genocide that ever took place. This is suppose to be land of the free and yet the the original founders of this land don't receive the respect and rocognition they deserve. This Petition is one step towards change and if this is truely the land of the free, we should all be free and reconcile our differences and that has to begin with an apology!
I grew up next to a reservation and have found out I have Native American heritage, but my father's side will not tell me more about it, nor am I told which tribe my ancestor decends from, but I'm still proud and always will be. I've seen my friend's families show the obvious signs of historical trauma and just because the newest generation wasn't directly impacted by the genocide and bording schools, doesn't mean they won't see how it directly and indirectly impacted their parents and elders. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart's research shows the truth.
An apology is the least we can do to these peoples, who we who came to this country later, have so horribly wronged.
Namaste' ... my grandfather was a full blooded indian. He died in 1924. He was born in Mexico. He and our family heritage has always been a mystery.
I've never had a chance to enjoy this part of my heritage.
Please add your comments about why you support this petition. Acknowledgement is a small step but a necessary one toward our evolution, our growth as people, as two-leggeds sharing this gem of a planet together. The conquering mentality must evolve or surely entails it's own demise.
How have US Indian schools impacted you, your family, your community, or the nation? US Indian schools, as well as genocidal policies of assimilation, sterilization and a wide variety of others aimed at whitewashing reality of the strong healthy viable peoples and cultures that belong to this place impact everyone living in this country built upon those policies. There is no contentment, no satisfaction, no equality, no justice – no peace possible until that reality is as deeply instilled into all of our children and families, as deeply as the present mythological, propagandistic history of the United States of America is today.
How long must this be kept silenced ?
The Native America population will always remember the boarding schools and what was done. Healing and coming togather from the people is a must.
Everything that Andrew Jackson did needs to be ceremoniously stricken from the records of the United States and put in a place of dishonor for all to see and learn from. He needs to be impeached. This would show that the apology was genuine, not just words.
It is a blight on the history of this nation and has affected everyone.
As a American from European descent, I am horrified by the stories I have heard and for the atrocities that were committed upon the Native American children in the name of civilization. I have found the Native People I know to be much more civilized in their way of respecting the Creator, men, women, and all created beings. It is now time to make reparation.
Instead of helping to civilize our nation, the U.S. Indian schools actually have set back the progress of our nation. We came and settled on a nation that already existed and people who had things to teach us as well. Until we accept the gift that the Native Americans have to give us and apologize and make reparation for what we did, this nation cannot reach its full potential and take its rightful place in the world of respecting all people and not just saying but living "All people are created equal."
My grandfather was sent to a boarding school when he was young. The "assmilation" affected him deeply, he did not pass on the Cherokee language to his kids or grandchilden because he did not want us to go through what he did. He said we did not need it in the "white" world.
Even though a formal apology cannot undo the immeasurable harm done to countless innocent children in this nation and their lineages it is an essential first step in a process of healing not just for Native Americans but for everyone in this nation.
The suffering of these children echoes across time and will continue to echo until their pain is acknowledged and healed even if posthumously through their children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren.
i think that this should be changed so i signed 4 a good cause
My grandma has signed this and told me about it. Atfirst I thought wow. I really don't care. But I read. I read every single word. And I was amazed. We do really need to change. And if it can happen, it will be great.
I have worked in the addiction field for over 20 years and have seen personally the damage to native persons spirit from the impact of assimialtion. I have seen the pain on native faces when speaking about parents being told they didn't know how to raise their child. How 4 years old child were being removed from their family to be raised as white men said they should be. As a parent, child or as a people, how wrong for all this action was. We have a responsiblity to not ever allow this again. I am profoundly sadden that aggorance and ignorance by some allowed this to happen. It should never be forgotten and I never shall forget. I am only one but I apologize for those and many other actions I have learned about in the last 20 years of my work. I want healing for all and this is a beginning. I believe in healing and in the possiblity to heal. I admire the desire, dedication and committment to healing of the native people of this land. It is the beginning of healing for all people if we embace it has such.
The reality of these atrocities have revirbrated far too long. When I speak of what I have learned many people still do not know. The denial in the U.S.A. continues to be strong. We wonder why so many people of all colors and walks of life have chemical dependency problems. Much of the USA is in denial over these acts and the reality they represent. It appears we are a country of denial and it is time for the truth to be spoken. I wonder how many other things were not taught or were arranged to alter the truth and make the actions of some look like rightious acts when they were really acts of cowards. BE HONORABLE AND TEACH THE TRUTH! IT WILL SET THE RECORD RIGHT AND BEGIN THE HEALING FOR ALL!!
I had never really heard about or realized what happened to these children until I chose this as a research topic for a college English course. As I have worked on this paper, I have randomly asked people if they are aware of this, most people say, "no." The problem is more about awareness. I am an Arizona mother of 6, I would have never allowed my children out of my sight, much less taken away for years, but they weren't given a choice. I can't imagine the pain I would have felt as parents having to endure this seperation. Even if the people in charge thought they were helping,they were wrong, no one took the time to individualize the help that was needed. The Governments idea of helping was to change the children to be more white and provide minimal funding to accomplish this. In general during this time in history many children were mistreated not just Native American children. Children were used as farm hands, they were physically punished and no one really cared about a childs emotional state. It seems that before the outside interference, Native American parents regarded their children on a higher level than other American parents of the day. Through my research, I am realizing that a lot of the problems stemming from the trauma in early life in boarding schools has been passed down generationaly. More awareness is needed, more solutions from the Government that created this situation is needed, or the situation wil continue to be prepuated. Thank You, Lisa Stillwell
Everyone should be able to celebrate their own identity--gender, ethnicity, personality, values, gifts. The suppression the schools imposed we now know was born of ignorance, but still inexcusable in the context of what we know now. An apology is the least we can do.
I am a teacher and I believe that the history of native education at government schools still causes a rift in communication with native families. Even if the abuses occurred to grandparents, it still affects my ability to work closely and effectively with some native parents. There is a well-documented achievement gap between native students and the general population in some subjects and not being able to work as intimately with parents and native community leaders is slowing our ability to close that gap, despite good intentions from all.
My father went to a boarding school when he was young, he witnessed other kids being punished for speaking Cherokee, so he stopped speaking it in the open. He never taught his children to speak the language "You live in the white man's world you need to speak english" were his comments to us. He passed on a great shame for the color of his skin and his heritage. This in turn cause a shame that you can't wash off.
I also care deeply for our Native American Friends. I am truly sick of hearing what has been done to this community. We have given and taken away and they deserve much more from this country. It was them who were here first and they should be able to decide what is best for themselves.
The abuses are still going on at schools such as Mt. Edgcumbe in Sitka Alaska and other rural schools that serve Native Alaskan students. The quality of education is lower than that for White students. It is systematized racism.
If the quality of education were equal and culturally responsive for Native Alaskans and Native Americans we would have many more Native doctors, teachers, lawyers, writers and other creative artists and leaders. We have hurt are country and our workforce by not tapping the potential for all people, especially the first people who inhabited this continent of North America.
It is the right thing to do.
Roger A. Boyer II
I have losted my language, culture, and spirituality as per Indian Residential School
Don't get me started
We need to treat Native American with dignity and respect because they were here first. This is their land and we took it away from them
The Government spent a great deal of time and money to intentionally hurt the Native American tribes. What is appalling to me is that society knows more about the Holocaust than of this travesty....
I have long believed that the Native Americans were treated very poorly by the early settlers and I would like to see them restored to their rightful place. At the very least, we owe them an apology.
Finally a terrible wrong may be addressed by those responsible.
My mother attended a boarding school in Cherokee, NC.
It is long overdue and we should have offered this apology well before the Canadian people.
I have always felt the Indians were victims of horrible atrocities and crimes against them as a race. We react in horror when we talk about Hitler and what he did to the Jews, but yet we never seem to hold our government accountable for what they have done to the Indians. The time for our government to apologies (plus some) is well past due.
