Senator Dan Inouye, a World War II Medal of Honor winner and Hero of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, said:
“In our early days as a nation, we entered into treaties with Native Americans pursuant to the provisions of the U.S. Constitution that recognize them as sovereigns. But later, we abandoned the path of an honorable course of dealings, and turned to war. Thousands lost their lives through these battles and horrific massacres. The native population everywhere was decimated.
“Forced marches to relocate the native people from their traditional homelands to areas west of the Mississippi in the dead of winter cost thousands of more lives…. The treaties could have signaled a return to a course of honorable dealings … had the United States not proceeded to break provisions in every single one of the treaties….”
Senator Daniel Akaka, another World War II veteran, said:
“In many ways, the United States broke these treaties and engaged in acts of war against our Native peoples, taking lands by force, displacing Native peoples and leaving them in poverty and suffering. At times, the United States informed indigenous, Native peoples that their continued residence on their original lands would be considered an act of war against the U.S. and if they did not leave, U.S. military forces commenced wars, imprisoned and killed Native leaders and people, and tragically at places like Sand Creek and Wounded Knee massacred Native men, women and children.”
Senator Brownback, now the Governor-elect of Kansas, said:
“What this amendment achieves is recognition, honor, and the importance of Native Americans to this land and to the United States in the past and today and offers an official apology for the poor and painful path the U.S. Government sometimes made in relation to our Native brothers and sisters by disregarding our solemn word to Native peoples. It recognizes the negative impact of numerous destructive Federal acts and policies on Native Americans and their culture, and it begins — begins — the effort of reconciliation.”
At the time of its passage, U.S. Representatives Kildee, Cole, Napolitano, Honda, Boren, Walz, Reyes, Richardson, Kennedy, Teague, McCollum, Baca, and Herseth-Sandlin wrote to the President in favor of the Resolution, and said:
“Indian tribes aided George Washington and his troops during the American Revolution, and through more than 370 treaties, our Nation pledged to protect Indian tribes and Indian lands. Yet as a Nation, we later … engaged in warfare to seize Indian lands, destroyed Indian villages, and thousands lost their lives through battles and horrific massacres, at places like Sand Creek and Wounded Knee. Many Indian leaders, Osceola, Mangus Colorado, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and many others died at the hands of, or in the custody of, Federal officers and agents. Thousands died on forced marches from their homelands….”