Discovery to Recovery

(Public Domain)

Many consider the word “reconciliation” to be soothing.  Yet indigenous North Americans have found it to be a cause for alarm.

That’s because the term has been wrongly used by colonizers to invoke the Doctrine of Discovery, which basically claims that indigenous lands are up for grabs.  The rationale has been that non-Christians are soulless nonentities, and therefore their lands are owned by no one (terra nullius).

“Member of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)” recently petitioned Pope Francis to revoke the 15th- century papal bulls that have supported this unjust Doctrine.  As Oneida representative Kaluhyanu;wes   Michelle Schenandoah rightfully asked, “What gives any human or nation the right to claim dominion over any other human or nation anywhere in this world?”

Resources

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/assembly-of-first-nations-meets-pope-francis-vatican-1.6402798

Copyright March 31, 2022 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved