Alaska Natives received an official apology from the Presbyterian Church of America during the final session of the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Saturday at the Carlson Center.
Members of an Alaska Presbyterian church delivered the apology.
“We apologize for the pain and suffering that the Indian boarding schools system has caused,” the apology says. “We are aware of the damage that this cruel and ill conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on United States citizens of Native American ancestry.
“For this we are truly and humbly sorry. For those individuals who were physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at the Indian boarding schools of which the PCA was involved, we offer you our most sincere apology. You did nothing wrong. You were the victims of evil acts that cannot be justified or excused.”
AFN Co-chairman Jerry Isaac thanked the church for the apology. He then said he hopes other governments and organizations, particularly the federal government, would apologize to Alaska Natives.
Shirley Lee, of Fairbanks, was awarded one of AFN’s prestigious presidents awards. Lee earned the Hannah Paul Solomon Woman of Courage Award for her work with male inmates.
As an ordained minister of the Episcopal Church, Lee has visited inmates, mentored them and helped inmates around the state re-enter society after being released from prison.
Lee also advocated for overturning the convictions and releasing the Fairbanks Four — Marvin Roberts, George Frese, Kevin Pease and Eugene Vent — who were wrongly convicted of the murder of teenager John Hartmann in 1997. The Fairbanks Four were released from prison last year after state attorney’s reviewed new evidence proving their innocence.
Upon receiving the award, Lee focused her comments on criminal justice.
“Justice was not served when these four were sent to jail for 18 years,” Lee said. “Justice was not served for John Hartmann. Shame on the state of Alaska.”
Lee said as residents of state of Alaska, Natives should be engaged to prevent injustice such as what happened to the Fairbanks Four.
“We as Native people do not take action. We do not vote. We do not elect enough good people into office. We need to be more active and vocal for justice.”
Lee said a conviction integrity unit should be formed to review wrongful convictions and prevent further injustices.
“Every person in jail started out as an innocent baby,” Lee said.
Lee said the amount of drug and alcohol abuse among inmates points toward unresolved traumas.
Lee encouraged everyone to improve the environments in which they raise their children.
Will Mayo was elected co-chair of AFN. He is a former head of the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
On final day of AFN convention, Presbyterian Church apologizes for boarding schools | Alaska Federation of Natives | newsminer.com
Members of an Alaska Presbyterian church delivered the apology.
“We apologize for the pain and suffering that the Indian boarding schools system has caused,” the apology says. “We are aware of the damage that this cruel and ill conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on United States citizens of Native American ancestry.
“For this we are truly and humbly sorry. For those individuals who were physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at the Indian boarding schools of which the PCA was involved, we offer you our most sincere apology. You did nothing wrong. You were the victims of evil acts that cannot be justified or excused.”
AFN Co-chairman Jerry Isaac thanked the church for the apology. He then said he hopes other governments and organizations, particularly the federal government, would apologize to Alaska Natives.
Shirley Lee, of Fairbanks, was awarded one of AFN’s prestigious presidents awards. Lee earned the Hannah Paul Solomon Woman of Courage Award for her work with male inmates.
As an ordained minister of the Episcopal Church, Lee has visited inmates, mentored them and helped inmates around the state re-enter society after being released from prison.
Lee also advocated for overturning the convictions and releasing the Fairbanks Four — Marvin Roberts, George Frese, Kevin Pease and Eugene Vent — who were wrongly convicted of the murder of teenager John Hartmann in 1997. The Fairbanks Four were released from prison last year after state attorney’s reviewed new evidence proving their innocence.
Upon receiving the award, Lee focused her comments on criminal justice.
“Justice was not served when these four were sent to jail for 18 years,” Lee said. “Justice was not served for John Hartmann. Shame on the state of Alaska.”
Lee said as residents of state of Alaska, Natives should be engaged to prevent injustice such as what happened to the Fairbanks Four.
“We as Native people do not take action. We do not vote. We do not elect enough good people into office. We need to be more active and vocal for justice.”
Lee said a conviction integrity unit should be formed to review wrongful convictions and prevent further injustices.
“Every person in jail started out as an innocent baby,” Lee said.
Lee said the amount of drug and alcohol abuse among inmates points toward unresolved traumas.
Lee encouraged everyone to improve the environments in which they raise their children.
Will Mayo was elected co-chair of AFN. He is a former head of the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
On final day of AFN convention, Presbyterian Church apologizes for boarding schools | Alaska Federation of Natives | newsminer.com
