Latest news with #DoctrineofDiscovery
Los Angeles Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: U.S.' history of injustice against Indigenous people has lasting consequences
To the editor: As an Indigenous citizen, I commend guest contributor Tony Platt's excellent article about UC's role in shaping a distorted and incomplete history of the Indigenous inhabitants in and around its Berkeley campus ('The California story we keep erasing,' June 29). Sadly, UC's history is a microcosm of the national history of untold native tribal injustices inflicted by the U.S. government. I was roused by Yurok Tribal Court Chief Judge Abby Abinanti's admonition: 'The hardest mistakes to correct are those that are ingrained.' What mistakes are ingrained and how did it occur? In the 15th century, Pope Nicholas V gave European explorers the legal and moral right to possess Indigenous lands, to 'invade, search out, capture and subdue all … pagans' in the name of religion. That dubious right became known as the Doctrine of Discovery. It was based on the principle that presumed the superiority of European Christians. This doctrine empowered the settling and colonizing of this continent. The Doctrine of Discovery's dehumanizing principles were ingrained in our foundational documents. The language of the Declaration of Independence excludes Indigenous people ('merciless Indian savages'), and African Americans were deemed three-fifths of a person in the electoral college. The Doctrine of Discovery was referenced as legal precedent by the Supreme Court as recently as 2005 in the City of Sherrill vs. Oneida Indian Nation case. This ingrained supremacy principle is all too evident in the appalling events happening now. Woefully, the Yurok Tribal Court judge was spot-on. Harold Printup, Mar Vista
Winnipeg Free Press
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Calls to action
A trio of books on reconciliation were all released within the span of a few weeks ahead of the summer publishing season. Who are they each for? Readers wanting to learn more about their role in the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), but who are unsure where to start, might find one or more of these titles a valuable resource, depending on their current base of knowledge and what they hope to get out of it. ● ● ● Kathryne Langsford photo Bruce McIvor Kathryne Langsford photo Bruce McIvor Bruce McIvor (Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It) is Red River Métis, an adjunct professor at UBC law school and a founder and senior partner at First Peoples Law. He wrote Indigenous Rights in One Minute which covers, concisely, over 100 different legal concepts, court decisions and pieces of legislation related to Indigenous rights. The central conceit, from which McIvor does not waver, is that each item — from the Doctrine of Discovery to Section 35 to the Haida Decision — is covered in about one minute of reading or less. Indigenous Rights in One Minute Indigenous Rights in One Minute The attorney and author briefly covers the history and current legal relevance of every legal footnote that contributes to the current judicial and legislative understanding of the rights of Indigenous people as well as Indigenous Peoples, each one in a page or two. With a detailed table of contents as well as a glossary, index and list of further reading, the book is certainly set up to act as a handy reference text for non-lawyers who nevertheless may be affected by, or otherwise desiring to be aware of, the relevant case law. It might also be a crucial resource for many working in or with advocacy organizations, or Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments. While it is very possible to jump around in the text, there is a throughline here. Reading the book from front to back builds in the reader a sense of the general shape of Indigenous rights in Canada, its current state, the historical forces that have shaped those rights and the directions it might move towards in the future. McIvor warns at the very beginning that he has a point of view and that he will share it. But even his editorial comments are brief and evidence-based. The one-minute constraint doesn't allow him to add many rhetorical flourishes, and blunt observations, such as that Aboriginal title is intentionally limited 'to ensure it doesn't become an insurmountable obstacle to removing Indigenous people from their lands so those lands can be exploited by non-Indigenous people,' are hard to deny on the facts. The courtroom battles Indigenous individuals and communities have been taking on against the Canadian government mirror the extensive legal work taken on by American Civil Rights activists since the 1960s. For a non-lawyer to make a proper survey of even a small field of law is not easy, and there's so much hard-to-find information packed in here, it's easy to imagine this slim layperson's reference volume will become a permanent resident of any shelves it lands upon. ● ● ● Supplied photo Rose LeMay Supplied photo Rose LeMay For first-time author Rose LeMay, the complete opposite approach made the most sense when writing Ally Is a Verb. LeMay is Tlingit, still operates in her First Nation's homeland in B.C. and has made a career as a speaker and corporate trainer specializing in practical steps allies can take in implementing the TRC's Calls to Action for reconciliation. Her book often reads like it could be spoken aloud in a meeting space — the writing is dynamic, conversational and passionate. If McIvor thought it necessary to note that he is not impartial on the topics he writes about, LeMay's point of view is so immediately clear that any such disclaimer would be unnecessary. In her second chapter, Unpacking the Great Canadian Lie, LeMay muses about whether a bloodier but briefer direct military conflict — such as occurred between Indigenous Peoples and the United States army, especially throughout the 19th century — might actually have been preferable in some ways to what actually occurred in this country. At least then, she reckons, the enemy would have been clearly identifiable. Instead, bearing the pretended benevolence of the Indian Act, LeMay writes that, 'Canada walked in smiling and held out its hand to shake, while the other hand was stealing our children and our land.' Ally is a Verb Ally is a Verb LeMay modelled her book on the change management approach she uses as a trainer: you explain the problem, present a solution and get people on board with being part of that solution. So she spends some of the first few chapters with a primer on the history of Indigenous Peoples' mistreatment at the hands of the Canadian government, from pre-Confederation to the Indian Act to residential schools, of which many in her own family were survivors. But before even this, LeMay spends some time in the opening chapter discussing the idea of reconciliation itself and how it can look, comparing Canada to three other countries that went through this process: Germany took a court-based approach post-Holocaust in the Nuremberg Trials, South Africa formed its own Truth and Reconciliation Commission after apartheid and Rwanda, after the 1994 genocide, landed somewhere in between. LeMay makes some thoughtful observations about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, noting that our own government-created TRC had the effect of casting Canada itself as an observer and facilitator, neatly sidestepping the role of either perpetrator or defendant. These comparisons comprise some of the strongest insights of the book, and it's a good initial framing to set up subsequent chapters. The book also has some weak spots that probably stem from being adapted from oral content polished over the course of many live workshops and keynotes, and not undergoing all the changes appropriate to a written book-length format. Some chapters are veritably packed with a minutiae of stray observations that would make a real-time discussion more dynamic but make a written argument more muddled. At times quotes that aren't real quotes but rather air-quoted imitations of a hypothetical person or anthropomorphized institution (e.g., the Government of Canada) are written down using actual quotation marks. LeMay's book seems geared towards use in organizations for internal training. The chapters each end with a list of next steps and resources for further reading, making them well-suited as a ready-out-of-the-box corporate training program, wherein a facilitator or team leader might assign a chapter and set a meeting each week to discuss. Though one imagines most organizations would do better to hire LeMay to run the training herself, if they have the budget. ● ● ● Mike Deal / Free Press files David A. Robertson Mike Deal / Free Press files David A. Robertson David. A Robertson (the Misewa Saga; 7 Generations, a Plains Cree Saga) is the most experienced author of the group, having written numerous graphic novels as well as several works of fiction and non-fiction. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation on his father's side but was raised mainly in Winnipeg, where he is still based. The idea of 52 Ways to Reconcile is to take one step towards reconciliation every week, with enough chapters to fill a full year, though that doesn't mean the book can't be read faster than that. Indeed, the engaging style makes it hard to stop after one short chapter. 52 Ways to Reconcile 52 Ways to Reconcile As with McIvor's book, 52 Ways could potentially be read out of order; after all, there's no reason that checking out an Indigenous restaurant (Week #33) can't come before engaging with Indigenous social media (Week #3). But there is a personal narrative threaded throughout 52 Ways, and to pick and choose chapters and not read the whole thing would be a shame. Robertson provides a mix of ways to advance reconciliation, some easier and others more involved. They may include putting either your time or money where your mouth is by supporting Indigenous communities or groups, learning an important lesson on land acknowledgements or unchecked idioms, or supporting and enjoying Indigenous creators in a variety of contexts, from film to music to podcasts to food to tourism to comics. Every chapter includes both a heartfelt case for why a given task is worth doing, another little bit of the author's personal journey in advancing reconciliation and a number of specific examples of where you can get started on any given week's suggestion. Robertson already consumes a lot of Indigenous media, supports a lot of Indigenous organizations and follows a lot of Indigenous sport teams, so he is not short on examples. Want a good podcast that will teach you about missing and murdered Indigenous women; a good Indigenous non-fiction, fiction or comic book writer; country band; jazz band; or electronica band? Robertson has at least one suggestion, but usually offers several. Of the three books covered here, Robertson's 52 Ways to Reconcile is probably the most universally accessible; indeed it should appeal to almost anyone. Of course that doesn't mean that any two, or even all three, of these books aren't worth picking up depending on what the reader wants to get out of each title, and how much reading time they have available. Joel Boyce is a Winnipeg writer and educator.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pope Leo XIV just took office, but Canada has a big request already
As Pope Leo XIV officially begins his papacy on May 18 in Vatican City, Indigenous leaders in Canada are urging the Catholic Church to return sacred items taken from their communities, artifacts they say are long overdue for repatriation. The Catholic Church has played a central role in colonial history. Through the 'Doctrine of Discovery', a controversial legal principle rooted in 15th-century papal bulls, the Church once justified the colonization and forced conversion of Indigenous peoples worldwide, including in Canada. Catholic missionaries collected thousands of items from Indigenous communities under the belief they were "preserving" culture, often without consent. Also Read: Canada is hosting King Charles and Camilla. What this visit tells us about its future These artifacts now sit in the Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum. Many hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning to the Métis, First Nations, and Inuit peoples. Pope Leo XIV inaugurated his papacy today during a grand Mass at St. Peter's Square. Among the 200,000 attendees were Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Victoria Pruden, President of the Métis National Council . Live Events Indigenous leaders in Canada see this new beginning as a moment to act. "This is a critical opportunity," said Lyndon Linklater, a knowledge keeper from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatchewan. "The artifacts hold our ancestors' voices. They should come home." In 2022, Pope Francis, during a visit to Canada, acknowledged the harm caused by residential schools and pledged to return the sacred items. Since then, however, progress has been slow. Also Read: Kristina Michaud tops MP travel spending list, reason Ottawa's location; check the other top spenders in the $32M bill President Pruden, who represented the Métis at the Vatican today, reaffirmed the community's expectations. 'Returning the items is more than symbolic—it is about restoring dignity and healing relationships,' she said. Indigenous communities across Canada now hope Pope Leo XIV will fulfill the Vatican's promises. While today's inauguration marks a historic change in Church leadership, many are watching closely to see if it will also bring long-awaited justice.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Pruden to Attend Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, Calls for Return of Métis Artifacts from Vatican Museum
OTTAWA, ON, May 15, 2025 /CNW/ - President Victoria Pruden of the Métis National Council (MNC) will travel with the Canadian Delegation to Vatican City this Sunday to attend the inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. As the Catholic Church enters a new chapter, the MNC is renewing its call for the return of Métis cultural artifacts held in the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum. These items are not simply historical objects, they are part of the living identity, memory, and spirit of the Métis Nation. "We are asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers, historians, and experts to identify which items in their collection belong to our people and to return them," said President Pruden. "These artifacts were taken during eras of profound injustice. Their return is an essential step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms caused by colonial policies, including the role the Church played in the residential school system." President Pruden emphasized that the legacy of residential schools continues to affect generations of Métis families. "Many of our Survivors are still waiting for justice. Others have already passed without seeing the Church live up to its responsibilities. Returning these sacred items would be a concrete act of accountability, one that aligns with the Church's rejection of the Doctrine of Discovery and its stated support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." The MNC stands ready to engage in this work in partnership with the Catholic Church, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Indigenous leaders across the country. Since 1983, the Métis National Council has been the national and international voice of the Métis Nation within Canada. Through national research and policy development, the MNC advocates to advance the rights and interests of Métis Governments, including the implementation of the Métis Nation's inherent right to self-determination and self-government. The MNC is committed to accountability and transparency within its operations, and to its relationships with its Governing Members and other partners. SOURCE Métis National Council View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
President Pruden to Attend Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, Calls for Return of Métis Artifacts from Vatican Museum
OTTAWA, ON, May 15, 2025 /CNW/ - President Victoria Pruden of the Métis National Council (MNC) will travel with the Canadian Delegation to Vatican City this Sunday to attend the inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. As the Catholic Church enters a new chapter, the MNC is renewing its call for the return of Métis cultural artifacts held in the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum. These items are not simply historical objects, they are part of the living identity, memory, and spirit of the Métis Nation. "We are asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers, historians, and experts to identify which items in their collection belong to our people and to return them," said President Pruden. "These artifacts were taken during eras of profound injustice. Their return is an essential step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms caused by colonial policies, including the role the Church played in the residential school system." President Pruden emphasized that the legacy of residential schools continues to affect generations of Métis families. "Many of our Survivors are still waiting for justice. Others have already passed without seeing the Church live up to its responsibilities. Returning these sacred items would be a concrete act of accountability, one that aligns with the Church's rejection of the Doctrine of Discovery and its stated support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." The MNC stands ready to engage in this work in partnership with the Catholic Church, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Indigenous leaders across the country. Since 1983, the Métis National Council has been the national and international voice of the Métis Nation within Canada. Through national research and policy development, the MNC advocates to advance the rights and interests of Métis Governments, including the implementation of the Métis Nation's inherent right to self-determination and self-government. The MNC is committed to accountability and transparency within its operations, and to its relationships with its Governing Members and other partners.
