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.
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