The US Congress is very quick to pass Resolutions pointing out towards Human Rights Violations by other Governments. However, its turns its eyes when it comes to passing Resolution for the Rights of Native Americans, i.e. Red Indians, the real residents of America.
The Native American Tribes are asking President Barack Hussain Obama to protect the Rights of Native Americans and express Apology to the Native Americans.
Native American Apology Resolution was originated in US Congress and had passed the Senate as Stand-alone Legislation in the fall.
Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kan., originally introduced the measure intending "To Officially Apologize for the past ill-conceived policies by the US Government toward the Native Peoples of this land and re-affirm our commitment toward healing our nation’s wounds and working toward establishing better relationships rooted in reconciliation." His bill passed the Senate in 2008 and 2009.
However, the version signed by Obama became watered down, not making a Direct Apology from the Government, but rather apologizing "On behalf of the People of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native Peoples by Citizens of the United States."
The resolution also includes a "Disclaimer: Nothing in it authorizes or supports any Legal Claims against the United States, and the resolution does not settle any Claims."
At the White House Tribal Nations Conference, Obama noted, among other observations, that treaties were violated with tribes and injustices had been done against them, but he did not offer an Explicit Apology.
Native Americans are concerned over the fate of the Resolution and Robert T. Coulter, Executive Director of the Indian Law Resource Center, said there has been an "Overwhelming Silence" regarding the Resolution.
"There were no public announcements, there were no press conferences, there was no national attention, much less international," said the Citizen Potawatomi Nation member.
"You might think that something would be announced, that something would be said about it. After all, they’re apologizing to Native Americans, and yet, I don’t know that people have really heard about it.
"What kind of an apology is it when they don’t tell the people they are apologizing to? For an apology to have any meaning at all, you do have to tell the people you’re apologizing to.
"I have had my doubts on whether this is a true or meaningful apology, and this silence seems to speak very loudly on that point."
Still, Coulter said the resolution doesn’t have any legal meaning, no matter if Obama and Congress members say it out loud or not.
No matter the Politics of the Situation, some tribes have already inserted their histories into the Congressional Record, and plan to bring that record, coupled with the Resolution, to state and local leaders, using the documents to remind and educate them on tribes’ historical presence and sovereign status.
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