bia

Millions of people have suffered injustice, and this has been so under nearly all the different forms of government that man has experienced. A reminder of this suffering came in a speech by the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of Indian Affairs.

He said that rather than a celebration, it was "time for contrition." He admitted that the first mission of the institution in the 1830's was to remove the southeastern tribal nations-the Cherokee, the Cree, the Choctaw, the Chickasaw, and the Seminole-from their lands. :By threat, deceit, and force, these great tribal nations were made to march 1,000 miles to the west, leaving thousands of their old, their young, and their infirm in hasty graves along the 'Trail of Tears."

He continued: "Yet, in these more enlightened times, it must be acknowledged that the deliberate spread of disease, the decimation of the mighty bison herds, the use of poison alcohol to destroy mind and body, and the cowardly killing of women and children made for a tragedy on a scale so ghastly that it cannot be dismissed as merely the inevitable consequence of the clash of competing ways of life. "*He admitted: "This agency set out to destroy all things Indian. This agency forbade the speaking of Indian languages. . .and made Indian people ashamed of who they were. Worst of all, the Bureau of Indian Affairs committed these acts against the children entrusted to its boarding schools, brutalizing them emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually."

He concluded by saying: "Let us begin by expressing our profound sorrow for what this agency has done in the past. . .never again will we be complicit in the theft of Indian property. . .Never again will we attack your religions, your languages, your rituals, or any of your tribal ways." Significantly, he said: "Together, we must wipe the tears of seven generations. Together, we must allow our broken hearts to mend." Vital Speeches of the Day, October 1, 2000.

*"The history of the American Indian confirms that the tribes were often in conflict among themselves, so that fighting for 'territory, horses, and buffalo became constant.' - The People Called Apache

The course of history confirms the truth of Ecclesiastes 8:9: "Man has dominated man to his injury." Or as the Jerusalem Bible expresses it, :man tyrannizes over man to his hurt.

The only true and lasting solution to man's inhumanity to man is God's Kingdom, which many-of all nations-pray for, yet ignore the meaning, in what is known as "The Lord's Prayer." Let your Kingdom come, let Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." (Kingdom is an equivalent term with government). This government will restore justice for all and 'will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." -Revelation21:1-4

BIA Index: This link will lead you to a Parent Driectory. If you scroll down and click on the 'reg' links, you might find some interesting information.

DOI: Site search page . The link to the BIA is not active, but, if you click on 'Seach www.doi.gov and type 'BIA' int he search box, you get some really interesting links.