The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery

The Basics

For a quick breakdown of Doctrine of Discovery facts, see our DoD Facts page
For an overview of the Doctrine of Discovery in international and US law, check out the Wikipedia article on the Doctrine of Discovery

For a deeper dive, here is a growing list of helpful resources:

Blogs

A Blog Series on the Doctrine of Discovery, published by Mennonite Church USA
By Coalition Co-Chair Sarah Augustine

• “My Commissioning,”
• “Walking Culture,”
• “A Story from My Family,”
• “Agents of Change,”
• “In Spite of All This…”

An interview with Coalition Co-Chair Sarah Augustine

• “Current & Historical Harms Fueled by the Doctrine of Discovery”

Blog by Jenn Carreto

• “Deep Calls Out to Deep”

Academic papers and reports

Indigenous Law Institute

• “Five Hundred Years of Injustice: The Legacy of Fifteenth Century Religious Prejudice”

United Nations

• United Nations Preliminary Study on the Doctrine of Discovery

Church Resources

Mennonite Church Canada: Indigenous-Settler Relations Resources

Mennonite Word Conference’s Statement on Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Special Intotemak Trilogy, edited by Steve Heinrichs

Here are 3 studies that look specifically at ways the Church can engage in the reconciliation process: adopt and comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery; respect Indigenous spirituality. Honoring the call of Indigenous peoples from around the world, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has specifically summoned, not only the State, but all churches to embrace the TRC’s Calls to Action. 

Short articles written by both Indigenous and Settler authors, combined with poetry and visual arts provide a rich, engaging and accessible resource for individual and group conversation. Study guides are included in each volume. Several Coalition members are among the contributors.

“Wrongs to Rights: How churches can engage the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”

“Yours, Mine, Ours: Unravelling the Doctrine of Discovery”

“Quest for Respect: The Church and Indigenous Spirituality”

Get a copy of the series at CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Center.

Books

By Vine Deloria Jr.

• “Conquest Masquerading as Law,” in Unlearning the Language of Conquest

By Robert J. Miller

• Native America, Discovered and Conquered, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and Manifest Destiny

By Steven T. Newcomb

• Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery

By Blake Watson

• Buying America from the Indians: Johnson v. McIntosh and the History of Native Land Rights

 

This is a growing list. Please let us know of any other resources we should add!