“If you have come to help me, you are are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” 

From the ‘collective wisdom’, Lila Watson, Aboriginal woman of Australia. “Mawiyane!”

What is the Doctrine of Discovery?

The Doctrine of Discovery is the worldview that a certain group of people have dominion over lands because of their religious and gender identity. It is based on the racist ideas that some people are more valuable than other people. When white European Christian male explorers came to the Americas in the 15th century and onward, they believed that they had authority to seize land that other people used and respected. These explorers identified with a doctrine set by the Church of Europe. Their belief system was based on three documents written by the Pope.

In the 15th century, this belief system made its way into U.S. and Indian Property law. As a result, people of European descent repeatedly cheated and stole land with the support of the courts. The Doctrine of Discovery continues to echo into more recent decisios about rights.

For instance, in 1823, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Johnson v. M’intosh that Native people could not rightfully sell land to U.S. citizens. Only the federal government could buy lands from Native people. Later, in 2005, the Supreme Court weighed in on a matter of Native rights in City of Sherrill vs. Oneida Indian Nation of New York. This Supreme Court case was about tribal sovereignty. At the time, the Oneida Indian Nation had re-purchased lands that once belonged to them. A nearby city argued that they must pay property tax on this land. The Oneida Indian Nation argued that the lands that were once theirs, so no tax was owed. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited the Doctrine of Discovery in arguing that yes, the Oneida Indian Nation must pay tax on the land.

Quakers and the Doctrine of Discovery

The history of Quakers and Indigenous people is both long and complicated. William Penn, known for being a friend to Indigenous peoples, was also an enslaver. He came to the Americas and took land from members of the Lenape nation. He took the land using a charter from King Charles II. Because the land had not been colonized and cultivated by people who followed Christianity, he felt entitled to take it.

Thus began a difficult and painful history between Friends and Indigenous peoples. This history includes the colonialization of Indigenous land and cultural genocide of Indigenous cultures in Quaker boarding schools. It also includes the relocation of First Nation people away from their tribal lands—lands where many Quakers now live. The legacy of colonialization continues to today. In some cases, Friends are co-creating a path towards racial and economic justice with Indigenous peoples. Learn more at Toward Right Relationship, a project by Friends Peace Teams.

What can I do?

In 2015, the Towards Right Relationship Project has created a Resource kit that provides concrete actions Friends can take to the journey towards healing. Some Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly in North America have taken steps to dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. On this webpage, you can find some of the actions being taken by many different meetings to challenge the Doctrine of Discovery.

Monthly Meetings

Quarterly Meetings

Yearly Meetings

Additional Resources

Please contact The Ministry on Racism to add resources to this page. 

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