On December 19, 2009, President Obama signed an appropriations bill into law.
Buried within it was an apology that remains unrecognized.
Timeline
Developed in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians, Senator Brownback introduced numerous legislative efforts between 2004–2009. Impassioned speeches, difficult negotiations, critical hearings, and countless hours of behind-the-scenes work led to multiple failed attempts to pass the apology in legislation. In October 2009, The Apology’s language was successfully added as an amendment to an appropriations bill. It looked like a great victory as President Obama signed it into law.
What happened?
Instead of celebrating the completion of a long legislative journey, events took a surprising and disappointing turn. The new law expressly urged “the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes in the history of the United States in order to bring healing to this land” (see here). Instead of publicly acknowledging The Apology he signed, the President’s administration chose to let it go unnoticed and without recognition. This inaction actually compounded the problem it sought to address. For many Native Americans, it only served to amplify their distrust. Buried within a 2009 spending bill, The Apology sits in the archives, and virtually no one is aware of its existence.
Opportunity at hand
Perhaps The Apology was ahead of its time. According to Fawn Sharp, President of National Congress of American Indians, America is in “a season of reconciliation” right now. All evidence seems to indicate that is true. The Apology is perfectly timed for the challenges we face today because its focus is on restoration instead of condemnation—on healing instead of hurt. A desire for a positive message that affirms all people’s dignity and value is sorely needed in the national public discussion.