North Dakota tribe holds ceremony to accept official US apology

The Members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota held a ceremony to accept the U.S. apology resolution.

Tribal members said they wanted to acknowledge the past injustices committed by the U.S. government. Carol Laroque said she suffered abuse after being taken to a boarding school.

"It wasn't much fun," Laroque told WDAY-TV. "They took our language away from us."

Les Thomas said the resolution should be used to educate people about the Indian issues. "We work together and we want to educate the world about the native population and the United States coming together because we are the role models to the world; as the United States goes the world goes," he said.

Congress passed the apology as part of an appropriations bill last December. But President Barack Obama has yet to acknowledge it.

Get the Story:
Turtle Mountain Band members accept apology from Congress (WDAY TV 7/11)

2010 Defense Appropriations Act:
Bill Text | H.R.3326

Apology Resolution:
H.J.Res.46 | S.J.Res.14

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