The United States has formally apologised to American Indian tribes for “ill-conceived policies” and acts of violence against them.

Republican Senator Sam Brownback read the congressional resolution at an event attended by representatives of five Indian nations at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington: the Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and Pawnee nations.

Four of the five are based in Oklahoma and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate are in South Dakota.

The Cherokee originally were from the south-eastern United States but were forced to migrate to Oklahoma in the early 1800s.

from Press Association