S.J. 15 Resolution of Apology to the Native Peoples

Dear Mr. Brownback:
No... I will not support your initiative.
I will not:

· Join your circle of prayer
· Contact my state senators and representatives to urge their support for this resolution
· Join your coalition
· Send you money to support your cause
· Use my influence to encourage others to do any of the above

“Why?” you ask. I will tell you that.

Your apology reads: “Whereas officials of the United States Government and private United States citizens harmed Native Peoples by the unlawful acquisition of recognized tribal land and the theft of tribal resources and assets from recognized tribal land…”

And today’s newspaper reads: “Twin investigations of Abramoff by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and a multi-agency federal task force appear likely to tar a host of lawmakers… allegations against DeLay and nearly a dozen other lawmakers…House Administration Committee Chairman Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), a DeLay ally, is facing questions about ties to Abramoff... And Rove allies have also been entangled in the Abramoff investigation. One is Ralph Reed, the former Christian Coalition leader who has struggled…to shake off suggestions that he received Indian gambling money to mount a lobbying effort against rival casinos.” Washington Post October 14th

Last month’s feature was a typical report on U.S. Government and Indian interaction: “Federal officials are investigating how National Archives documents of interest to Indians suing the Interior Department were found discarded in a trash bin and a wastebasket...Taken together, the two dumping incidents "may be intentional acts aimed at unlawfully removing or disposing of permanent records from the Interior Department…Congress found problems in 1994 with Interior's administration of 260,000 Indian trust accounts containing $400 million. Two years later, Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet Indian tribe and others filed suit. They allege the department cheated about 500,000 Indians out of more than $100 billion, by mismanaging oil, gas, grazing, timber and other royalties from their lands dating to 1887. AP September, 21st

The apology says: “Whereas this Nation should address the broken treaties and many of the more ill-conceived Federal policies that followed, such as extermination, termination, forced removal and relocation, the outlawing of traditional religions, and the destruction of sacred places…”

And yet today the newspapers read: “A federal judge will decide whether wastewater will be used for snowmaking on San Francisco Peaks, a site sacred to American Indians…For Navajos, the peaks, ''Dook'o'sliid,'' are one of the four sacred mountains. For Hopi, the peaks are ''Nubatukyaovi,'' home of the Katsina spirit messengers and the source of rain and hope. For Hualapai, it is the place of creation and for 14 area Indian tribes, the peaks are a place of prayer, ceremony and medicine gathering. Arizona Indian tribes went to federal court in October, seeking protection of the sacred mountain, arguing that Coconino National Forest Service violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and other land and cultural protection laws. ''There was no good-faith effort in dealing with the tribes,'' Howard Shanker, attorney for Indian tribes, told the federal judge during hearing arguments on Oct. 6.” Indian Country Today October 14th

I could go on…but it is depressing. Sorry, but NO. I won’t be supporting #15.

True reconciliation and apology means a change of thought and action.

What I will do is continue to pray and work for true reconciliation and forgiveness between our peoples, replete with new mindsets and behaviors. To do otherwise is to give you false hope of reconciliation. I believe that you are a man who wants the real thing.
Let's pray and work together for this and not words without weight.

Sincerely,

Anita Miller Hensley
Stockbridge Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation