"Like anyone who has been honest with themselves, I know I have made mistakes," the Massachusetts senator said at a forum on Native American issues in this pivotal early voting state. "I am sorry for the harm I have caused."

Monday's remarks were an effort to move past the fallout from her past claims of tribal ancestry, which culminated in a widely criticised release of a DNA analysis last year.

The issue nearly derailed her campaign in the early days as President Donald Trump began derisively referring to her as "Pocahontas."

Warren's DNA analysis - part of a pushback against Trump's disparaging nickname - showed evidence of a tribal ancestor as far as 10 generations back, but the Cherokee Nation rebuked the senator for attributing tribal membership to genetics. She has previously apologised privately to the Cherokee.

However, a detailed policy agenda to help Native Americans that she released last week helped her secure a warm reception at the tribal forum.

After drawing a standing ovation, Warren said "I have listened and I have learned a lot" from conversations with Native Americans in recent months, describing herself as "grateful" for the dialogue.

She fielded questions about her proposals, which include a legislative change for a Supreme Court ruling that impedes tribal governments' ability to prosecute crimes committed on tribal lands by those who don't belong to a tribe.

Later Monday, Warren campaigned in Minnesota, a state Trump hopes to take from Democrats.

Australian Associated Press