Longest Walk: Apology to Indians is diversion

By Brenda Norrell
Human right editor
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report

BAKER, Nevada – The apology to American Indians which passed the U.S. Senate is a diversion, said Jimbo Simmons, coordinator of the Longest Walk 2 Northern Route, which crosses the Nevada border into Utah today.

"It is meant to diffuse our efforts," Simmons said.

Simmons said if the United States is sincere about issuing an apology to American Indians, it should begin with the descendants of the original treaty signers and include the peoples of the world whose relatives have been murdered and massacred by the United States.

Simmons said this is a critical time and not just for humanity. “They should also have an apology for the earth itself. This is connected to all us.”

“The apology should be to all the people of the world. Millions have died around the world,” he said, pointing out the U.S. legacy of murder and massacre.

he Senate passed the Indian Health Care Improvement Act that included an apology to American Indians for the violation of Indian treaties, massacres and other atrocities.

Simmons said the apology as it now stands is directed at the IRA Indian tribal governments or “puppet governments,” organized under the Indian Reorganization Act, which have caused so much suffering for Indian people.

Simmons said the apology should go to the original treaty signers. His comments were made on the Longest Walk Northern Route’s live broadcast on Earth Cycles on Monday morning, March 3.

Simmons pointed out that when the original Longest Walk was making its way across the United States in 1978, a similar diversion was created to diffuse the impact of the walk at that time.

Indian representatives came out and told the Long Walkers that their walk was not necessary because the anti-Indian legislation underway would be defeated without their march into Washington.

Now, 30 years later, another effort is underway to diffuse the impact of this Longest Walk.

“The United ‘Snakes’ of America thinks this would be enough for us,” Simmons said. “There are still problems across Indian country.

We’re talking much more than just treaty rights.“It goes beyond human rights and civil rights, we are talking about our natural rights since the beginning of time.

“Our traditional and spiritual leaders have been silenced for so long.. The apology should be directed to them.

”Simmons said the IRA Indian tribal governments created by the United States are “puppet governments” which are “victimizing our people.”

“They continue to perpetuate the bureaucracy in Indian country.”

The U.S. apology to American Indians was inserted in the health care bill by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas. Kansas is on the route of the Longest Walk Northern Route, as American Indians walk from Utah through Colorado to Kansas and Pennsylvania before reaching D.C.

The U.S. apology approved by the US Senate includes the violation of treaties with Indian tribes; forced removal of Indians from their traditional homelands; armed confrontations and massacres, such as those at Sand Creek and Wounded Knee; condemnation of Indian traditions, beliefs and customs; and unlawful acquisition of tribal land and theft of tribal resources and assets.

Urging the masses to march into Washington with the Longest Walk, Simmons said, “This is the time for us to be in Washington DC.”

Simmons said the original Longest Walk in 1978 started with about 17 people from Alcatraz and by the time the walk reached Washington, the walk was 40,000 people strong.

“All of those people who are sincere in their apology, let us see them in Washington. Passing a bill won’t make it all alright,” he said.

Simmons said when the southern and northern routes of the Longest Walk 2 arrive in Washington on July 11, there will be a cultural survival gathering there. He pointed out that there are 400 million Indigenous peoples who maintain their traditional cultures around the world. “Indigenous Peoples will teach the world how to be human again.”

In 1978, when the Longest Walk reached Washington, 50 spiritual leaders were selected to meet with President Carter. However, President Carter refused to meet with the Longest Walk spiritual leaders.

Now, Simmons said if today’s U.S. leaders refuse to meet with the Longest Walkers, there will be others waiting there to greet them.

World leaders are ready to meet and listen to American Indians on the Longest Walk 2. “Much progress has been made with countries around the world. The world will be meeting us,” Simmons said. The Longest Walk 2 will also send a declaration to the United Nations.

Special thanks to Tepaatu for the lead.

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March 2008 News Reports

Last updated on March 13, 2008