Senate approves apology

Indian Health Bill Passed, Oh And Apology, TooWhile the Indian leaders and senators rejoiced the act's passage Tuesday, the Senate's passage of a resolution attached to the act calling for a formal apology to Native people elicited about as much celebration as a slice of stale, truckstop frybread.

Even the resolution's sponsor, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who has been calling for the apology since 2004, said nothing about the resolution's passage Tuesday.

Last week, however, Brownback offered these words:

"With this apology, the federal government can repair and improve our relationship with Native Americans. While we cannot erase the past, this amendment hopefully helps heal the wounds that have divided America for too long."

Naïve at best, the resolution epitomizes the government's reliance on good words in dealing with Indian issues.

Only a formal Indian apology uttered by a sitting president, something this president never would do, and then followed by immediate action to improve Indian communities, could ever begin to repair the federal government's fractured relationship with tribes.