Better Late Than Never?

Earlier this week, President Biden delivered a long overdue apology for the U.S. government's involvement in Native American boarding schools. For generations, Indigenous communities have endured the painful legacy of these institutions, where children were taken from their families, stripped of their culture, and subjected to numerous forms of abuse. These horrible institutions aimed to erase Indigenous cultures and identities under the false promise of “education,” leading to intergenerational trauma that still impacts Indigenous families today.

Many in the Indigenous communities have long awaited a formal acknowledgment of the harm done by these institutions. Despite Biden’s apology being long overdue, it is significant because it marks one of the first times a sitting U.S. president has explicitly addressed the role of the federal government in these assimilation efforts. However, for Indigenous people, this statement has come after decades of advocacy, countless testimonies of lived experiences, and many calling for recognition and reparation.

In Canada, apologies related to residential schools were issued as early as 1998, two years after the last residential school was closed, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivering a formal apology in 2008. The process was far from perfect and remains incomplete, but the Canadian government’s acknowledgment led to the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Calls to Action, which have since become benchmarks in ongoing conversations about Indigenous rights and justice.

Biden’s apology is indeed a long overdue first step, but like in Canada, it needs to be followed by action. The lateness of this apology emphasizes the urgency for meaningful progress, not just symbolic gestures. Moving forward, it will be essential to see how the U.S. government backs these words with resources, reparative programs, and policies that uphold the dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples. Without action, the apology is meaningless. It must be a catalyst for change, healing, and rebuilding of trust with Indigenous communities. All of these are things they have long deserved and waited for.

CTV News: Canadian Indigenous leaders call Biden's apology for residential schools 'first step'
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-indigenous-leaders-call-biden-s-apology-for-residential-schools-first-step-1.7088235
NPR: Biden apologizes for government's role in running Native American boarding schools
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/26/nx-s1-5165427/biden-apologizes-for-governments-role-in-running-native-american-boarding-schools

A lesson that I am learning is that the timing of comments is what usually creates the most meaning. This apology took place two weeks before an election. Biden is on the same side as Kamala, so anything he says would favour his side.

News is biased, so I found the primary source of this speech. The link is at the bottom of this post. You can also get it by Googling "biden apology white house," an a link for his Oct. 25 speech from whitehouse.gov should be near the top.

The first half of the speech is a generalized apology with narrowing, but not what I would call specific issues. The other half is a campaign speech. Two weeks before an election, he is telling everyone what his appointments and his administration has done.

I am going to focus on three quotes from the speech. There are many more for anyone who needs more to write about.

"special thanks I have for Deb Haaland, my Interior secretary."

Deb Haaland is introduced here. Her name comes up 5 times throughout the speech and he spends a lot of time on her background. Biden is very proud of appointing her because she is of Indigenous background. She occupies a senior leadership position who would have the power to hire more indigneous people. It gives hope to people. When he adverstises what he did to create a better place, there is a bit of a saviour complex and the great patriarch coming through.

"Secretary Haaland, whose grandparents were children at one of those boarding schools. "

Here is his emotional appeal to those he just apologised to. He wants to provide hope that his side will give directly back to those that suffered the most.

"my administration, Jill and I, Kamala and Secretary Haaland, our entire administration have worked to include Indigenous voices in all we do. "

This is the real message because now Kamala is being brought into the mix. He is making a historic apology, showing what hes done, and creating the impression that Kamala would continue to do the work that he is, "just starting."

Perhaps this was a heartfelt apology. Perhaps the timing was just incovenient. But the timing and content leaves me unconvinced that this "apology" is as forward thinking as some would hope.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/10/25/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-biden-harris-administrations-record-of-delivering-for-tribal-communities-including-keeping-his-promise-to-make-this-historic-visit-to-indian-country-lavee/