Biden apologizes for forced Native American boarding school policy that caused abuse and deaths of children.

[elleng]

Source: NBC

The president's apology comes after a bombshell Interior Department investigation.

"I formally apologize as president of the United States of America for what we did," Biden said in strident remarks. "It's long overdue."

The president's apology comes in the wake of a years-long investigation commissioned by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary. Haaland’s grandparents were separated from their families because of the policy.

"We know that the federal government failed," Haaland said in emotional remarks before Biden was introduced.

"It failed to violate our languages, our traditions, our life ways. It failed to destroy us because we persevered," she added.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-apologizes-forced-native-american-boarding-school-policy-caused-rcna177242

[Bayard]

1. A shameful part of our history

Assimilate, or die.

[efhmc]

8. Been reading several books that cover this shameful part of our history.

What kind of people actually settled our country? We like to think we were good freedom loving people, but we were not and with the candidacy of TFG, we are proving it again.

[Bayard]

13. There are a number of good ones

Canada did the same thing to their indigenous people.

[verargert]

2. President Joe Biden, Thank you

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. K & R!

[Ramsey Barner]

4. Well done, Mr. President.

Also, when he was interrupted by a protester yelling "Free Palestine," he said "Let her go" and that too many innocent people were being killed.

[LisaM]

6. How disrespectful.

That protestor clearly had no inkling of the gravity of this event.

[Moebym]

15. I don't understand the motive behind this kind of behavior.

Was this supposed to be productive in any way?

[Marthe48]

5. I'm glad President Biden sets the example of great leadership

I wonder if humans will ever stop treating children in ways that we have to apologize for at some point?

[riversedge]

9. Only time will tell.

[in2herbs]

7. Here's an under-reported article showing how the Biden-Harris Administration is furthering respect for Native healing tr

healing traditions. It states, in part:

Biden-Harris Administration Takes Groundbreaking Action to Expand Health Care Access by Covering Traditional Health Care Practices
Oct. 17, 2024
CMS
Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), approved section 1115 demonstration amendments that allow, for the first time ever, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of traditional health care practices provided by Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, Tribal facilities, and urban Indian organizations (UIO). Today’s action is expected to improve access to culturally appropriate health care and improve the quality of care and health outcomes for tribal communities in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon, and will support IHS, Tribal, and UIO facilities in serving their patients.

“Traditional health care practices have been a way of life in many communities. And they are extremely important for American Indian and Alaska Native populations,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “But, too often, health insurance does not cover them. With Medicaid and CHIP’s inclusion of traditional health care practices at certain IHS facilities, we are extending access to culturally appropriate, quality health care in Tribal communities."

***snip

The new coverage includes practices such as music therapy, sweat lodges, and drumming, which are integral to Native healing traditions.

Here’s a link to another article: https://www.kjzz.org/npr-top-stories/2024-10-19/medicaid-will-cover-traditional-healing-practices-for-native-americans-in-4-states

[electric_blue68]

11. This is great news. So many Native Americans cherish their culture, and this is a central part of it for millenia.

[niyad]

10. I am glad that this horrific, disgusting, shameful, hate-filled episode in

this nation's history is at long last beung addressed. Thank you, Biden-Harris administration, including Native American Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

The talking head with scott mcfarlane on cbs could not pronounce "Gila" correctly.

[electric_blue68]

12. Very important to -finally- officially acknowledge these shameful actions on Native American childen, and the trauma....

of forced separation from their families, and communities, along with forced the assimilation!

Thank you President Biden, and Sec Haaland.

[polichick]

14. This is wonderful!

[James48]

16. This is big news

Here in northern Michigan, where we had a history of these schools.

This is the first time any President has acknowledged the wrongs.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. Biden apology for Indian boarding schools interrupted by Gaza war protester

President Joe Biden formally apologized on Friday for the U.S. government's role in running abusive Native American boarding schools for more than 150 years, and was heckled at the event over his support for Israel's war in Gaza.

source