United States President Joe Biden, on Friday, in a formal address, apologized to Native Americans for what he refers to as the sin of a government in the run of a boarding school system which for years has taken children away from their parents forcefully. The president apologized for his first presidential visit to India.
The president explained that the decision had been a sin in the government’s soul, speaking in an angered voice and showing no sign of remorse. He noted that no amount of apology could justify why the apology had taken 50 years to be made.
The president noted that it was a moment of both repentance and frustration as the president sought to recognize one of the “most horrific chapters” in the national story. The president regretted the decision after a number of children in the country had died from a series of abuses which resulted from the abuse of keeping them away from their families for a long time. He noted that great nations will always have to recognise the good, the bad, and the truth of who they are.
He emphasized that he was speaking as the president of the United States of America for what was done. He noted that The government’s removal of children from their Native American community for boarding schools has always shown some sort of shame in American history for a long time. He noted that the decision was taken without any form of attention from anyone not written in the history.
The recent visit of the president has provided optimism that it will boost Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances of winning the trust of the Gila River Indian Community’s land on the outskirts of Phoenix’s metro area in the November elections. The area has been seen as a key battleground in the election. The visit was a moment when Biden spoke about the support he and Kamala have for the Tribal nation. The group historically favoured Democrats in a state he won just by 10,000 votes in 2020.
The election between Harris and former President Donald Trump, according to several reports, is expected to be a close fight between the two individuals who are doing their best to get maximum votes from different individuals in the country from different states and regions. The two individuals have continued to make comments that will improve the support at every given opportunity.
Biden since leaving the president al race has been at the centre stage of he Harris and other Democrats campaigns since he took a bow in July, But analysts suggest that Biden could help Harris in her appeal with Native American voters — a group that has trailed others in turnout rates.
In 2020, voter turnout on some tribal land in Arizona surged as Biden beat Trump and became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Bill Clinton did in 1996. Biden, whose presidency is winding down, had promised tribal leaders nearly two years ago that he would visit Indian Country.
In the past years, the federal boarding schools were platforms used to incorporate children into white society; as noted by the white house, it was learnt that not every individual saw the apology as sufficient for them.
Chase Iron Eyes, director of the Lakota People’s Law Project and Sacred Defense Fund, explained the president’s decision to offer the apology was a nice start. However, so many people still have taken the apology as not sufficient remedy for the long history of colonial violence.
Ramona Charette Klein, 77, a boarding school survivor and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, noted that it was important to applaud the present for taking his attention to the issues raised by the community. He expressed optimism that the same act will be carried out by the vice president Kamala Harris if elected as the president of the nation. In recent weeks, the Democrats have stepped up outreach to Native American communities to appeal for more votes in the November election.
Also Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, engaged the tribal leaders in Arizona and Nevada this month with an intention to convince for votes also Clinton, who has been serving as a surrogate for Harris, last week met in North Carolina with the chairman of the Lumbee Tribe.
