Navy issues apology for destroying Alaska Native village in 1882

In 1882, the U.S. Navy bombed and destroyed the Tlingit village of Angoon in Alaska, resulting in deaths, loss of resources, and intergenerational trauma. 142 years later, Rear Adm. Mark Sucato issued an apology for the atrocity, acknowledging the pain inflicted on the Tlingit people. The village received a settlement in 1973, but leaders have long sought an apology. Similar apologies have been issued for other attacks on Alaska Natives. The Navy’s version of events conflicts with Tlingit oral tradition, but they defer to the tribe’s account. The apology is seen as a step towards healing for the community.