In a heartfelt ceremony, the US Navy has apologized to the Tlingit people of southern Alaska for an attack that happened 142 years ago. This apology came after a painful reminder of the destruction of their village, Angoon, which was shelled by American warships on October 26, 1882.

Back then, tensions were high between the Tlingit people and a whaling company. The Navy claimed there was an “uprising” after a Tlingit shaman named Tith Klane died in an accident on a whaling ship. The Tlin...