Second Episode of The Apology Docuseries Explores Personal Experiences in Native American Boarding School

New Short Film Follows Historical Passing of the ‘Law of the Land,’ Which has Yet to be Fulfilled

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2021 – The second episode of The Apology follows Dr. Negiel Bigpond and Amb. Sam Brownback as they dive into the significance of their collective historical journeys toward achieving a national apology to Native American people.

“The Apology: Part II,” the second episode in a three-part docuseries, follows Bigpond, a full-blooded Yuchi Native American, as he revisits the Chilocco Indian School, a Native American Boarding School in Oklahoma, for the first time since attending as a young boy. 

“There were tribes from everywhere – all over the country,” said Bigpond. “I’m sure these walls and these buildings can tell you many stories that I can’t even mention, can’t even talk about – I  wouldn’t want to talk about.” 

Walking through the overgrown grounds of the now-closed school, Bigpond speaks of the burdensome emotions and experiences he suffered at the school with his Native American classmates.

“Tears just come to my eyes because of what went on. As a young man I shouldn’t have had to go through those things,” said Dr. Bigpond. “Now when I think of it as an elder, I wouldn’t want my children or my grandchildren to ever go through something like this. I would have never brought them here.”

Juxtapositioned against Bigpond’s recollections are Brownback’s grueling efforts to legislate an apology to the Native Americans as a U.S. Senator for Kansas.

“I thought this is a pretty clear case but I just hadn’t really calculated how hard it still is even on a clear case to actually say the words, ‘I did something wrong. I apologize,’” Brownback recalled. 

Brownback recalls the  many “invisible walls” he began to hit before eventually succeeding in adding the “Apology to the Native Peoples of the United States” amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 3326). While the law was signed by President Barack Obama, the public apology portion has never been fulfilled.

“The apology is about honoring one another. I have to honor you because you asked me for forgiveness. You honor me because you ask me for forgiveness. It’s all about honor,” Bigpond said. “When you don’t put words to what you write and what you sign, that’s another story.” 

“The Apology: Part II” releases at noon CT on Sept. 22 on TheApologyNow.com. “The Apology: Part I” is also available now on The Apology website.

The Apology movement is led by Bigpond and Brownback. It calls the public to join in urging President Joe Biden and his administration to acknowledge a formal apology and extend an ask of forgiveness in the form of a special White House Rose Garden Ceremony for the years of injustice, broken treaties and mistreatment toward Native Americans of the past, present and future in order to bring reconciliation and healing throughout our nation. 

To learn more visit TheApologyNow.com.

-30-

Movement Seeks to Encourage White House to Publicly Acknowledge Existing Law

The Apology Movement Launched to Achieve Long-Awaited Healing Between U.S. and Native Americans Past, Present and Future

WASHINGTON D.C., July 20, 2021 – The Apology, a movement led by Dr. Negiel Bigpond and Amb. Sam Brownback, is bringing attention to a law that was initially signed into action by President Barack Obama in December of 2009 to acknowledge the damages, wrongs and broken covenants by the United States inflicted upon the Native American people. Because this legislation was never publicly recognized, movement organizers are calling Americans to join them in urging President Joe Biden to issue a formal apology to Native Americans of the past, present and future during a special White House Rose Garden Ceremony.

“This apology to the Native American people sits in the U.S. archives and is unknown to the American public as well as many lawmakers,” said Brownback, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and Kansas governor. “The Apology is designed to educate individuals about this unacknowledged law and call the White House to action. In order for our nation to fully heal, the President has to make a public apology that will fulfill an apology that’s long overdue. It’s the law of the land, and nobody knows about it.”

In 2009, an “Apology to the Native Peoples of the United States” was added as an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 3326). This portion of the appropriations bill ultimately served as an official apology to all Native people for the mistreatment they received from the United States throughout history. Although the bill was signed by President Obama, the formal apology was never issued toward Native Peoples nor presented to tribal leaders in the form of a public ceremony. 

“To many Native people, an apology not expressed is worse than no apology at all, just another set of meaningless words buried in official treaties and broken promises,” Bigpond said. 

As part of a public awareness campaign, The Apology will release a multiple-part film series that takes a deeper dive into the history of the injustices committed against the Native American people and the apology that was written but has yet to be publicly spoken. The first episode, which features Bigpond and Brownback, releases Aug. 15 on TheApologyNow.com.

Bigpond, a full-blooded member of the Yuchi Indian Tribe whose family was subjected to the Trail of Tears, has worked hand-in-hand with Brownback, who was a senator when the bill passed in 2009, to ultimately bring this situation to light. 

“It is crucial to realize that we are not asking for a new law to be written but rather for recognition of a formal apology that already exists,” Bigpond said. “It’s time to gather the good hearts, honor the first people of this land and acknowledge their history.”

The launch of The Apology comes as news regarding graves found at Native American Boarding Schools in Canada has sparked violence and controversy across North America. 

“We need healing now more than ever,” Bigpond said. “I think it’s time for the United States of America to ask for forgiveness from our people. Healing can happen but not if we continue to ignore it.” 

To learn more about The Apology and the film series visit TheApologyNow.com.

-30-