The California Indians suffered holocaustal population declines, as a result of colonial intrusions by the Spanish, Mexicans, and Americans.
World religious leaders have taken the initiative in formally apologizing to victims of genocide, and the example of the Catholic Pope and other Christian theologians have stimulated discussion of apologies and related financial compensation to victims of genocide.
Persons interested in studying genocide in California may find recent international developments of interest, particularly in the area of reparation negotiations. The ethics of reparation receive headlines in Europe but are seldom discussed in the context of America's holocaust against native peoples. Below, you will find information and internet sites that discuss some of the issues involved in this often emotional dialogue. [John Anderson, October 2, 2000]
Catholic Pope Apologizes for Genocide
Pope Paul visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel and told a world-wide audience that the Roman Catholic Church "is deeply saddened by the hatred and displays of antisemitism directed against [Jewish people] by Christians at any time and in any place." Paul stated that the Holocaust "lives on, and burns itself into our souls."
These comments came only a short time after the Pope made a historic appeal, asking forgiveness of non-Catholics for two thousand years of sins committed by Catholics. (March, '2000).
Germany Allocated $5 Billion for Reparations
In the same week that the Catholic Pope asked forgiveness in Israel for its antisemitism, the German government in Berlin finalized an agreement allocating $5 billion dollars to the surviving slave and forced laborers of Hitler's Germany. Critics objected to this settlement package, saying that it did not even begin to compensate the victims for their financial losses, much less deal with the complex moral issues of punitive damages.
And ongoing violence by neo-Nazis against immigrant workers continued to grow in Germany, as issues of national and 'race' identity continued to divide the country. (March, '2000).
Dutch Apology to Jewish Victims of Genocide
The Amsterdam stock exchange apologized for allowing Jewish-owned equity to be systematically confiscated under the German holocaust of the second world war. A federal commission led the way in urging negotiations between the Jewish community and the national stock exchange. Included in the negotiations were financial compensation issues, such as nonreturned assets and suffering (February '2000).
These Dutch negotiations were taking place at a time when other European nations were struggling with their own collaboration with Nazi policies. Under Dutch law, many assets were returned to Jewish families after the defeat of the Germans but the Dutch banking and commercial interests refused to publicaly admit their complicity with the Nazi genocidal regulations.
U.S. Congress Apologizes For Conquest of Hawaii
Public law 103-150 was passed November 23, 1993 by a joint resolution of Congress. Its purpose was "to acknowledge the one hundredth anniversary of the January 17, 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and to offer an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii." See Hawaii Apology for further information.
Since the passing of this official apology, some progress has been made in expanding the public dialogue over returning land and natural resources to the native Hawaiians. Native Americans living on the mainland have joined hands with the native Hawaiians in their struggles, including some Chumash. For information on the Hawaiian independence movement, see Independence.
Austria's Political System Shaken by Resurgence of Neo-Naziism
The election of a popular Austrian political figure to a position of power in the country, sparked a series of negative diplomatic reactions from the rest of Western Europe. For background information on the role of Austria in the Jewish holocaust, see Austria
the views of the Chumash Indians, either individually or in a group.
The California Holocaust & the Chumash Indians
Genocide & the Calif. Gold Rush
San Jose Mercury Newspaper
M. Jaffe on Calif. Genocide
