Yell "Fire!"
Reflections on Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition meeting
Change happens one person, one tiny group at a time.
Last weekend I participated in an event for the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. No big deal, we're just trying to undo the harms done to indigenous communities by the land-grabbing and attempts to erase entire cultures that were a feature, not a glitch, of colonialism.
What obligations do organizations have to repair the historic damage done by the Doctrine of Discovery? DoD is the political and religious framework that justified European colonization starting in the late 1400s. These are laws that exist in American jurisprudence to this day, so this ain’t no far-off history some overwrought libs are grumbling about. This is the way things are, and things should definitely not be this way. Hence the need to dismantle.
The Coalition’s goal is to do more than acknowledge that the lands we live on were lived on long (centuries and centuries) before European and other immigrants arrived in the Americas, and those native communities still exist.
The goal is to move beyond acknowledgment to literally join in the struggle led by indigenous communities to get land back and have their sovereignty - not to mention their right to exist as distinct cultures - acknowledged.
Here are just a few things I learned and/or was reminded of:
🌻 Activism is Work
I was reminded that activism is a lot of tedious behind the scenes work. So I joined a committee. The Coalition has been around for about 10 years now, working on a number of fronts. They have been supporting indigenous groups like Apache Stronghold at a site known as Oak Flats, who are working against a massive copper mining operation that would decimate Oak Flats and surrounding areas.
🌻 Can We Make a Difference?
I wondered what the work of a tiny group could do to move the needle on undoing colonial harm. Then I heard stories about joining the struggle engaged by indigenous communities in Mexico and the United States and I realized that it happens one person, one tiny group at a time. Faith communities can join the Repair Network to start the process of engaging with and offering restitution for harms of colonialism on the land your congregation holds.
🌻 Well-Meaning White People
The Coalition is led by an indigenous person and has members in the global majority, but many of us are well-meaning white people. How do we make sure indigenous voices are guiding the work? But as coalition director Sarah Augustine reminded us it's not just up to indigenous people to fix the harms. The descendants of colonizers need to engage in the work.
🌻 This is Current Events, Not Just History
Harms of colonization - attempts at genocide, stealing land, attempts at erasing cultures here centuries before white settlers - these harms are evident all around us. How can other organizations engage in undoing the Doctrine of Discovery?
🌻 How Do Organizations Live out Core Values?
I was reminded on a LinkedIn post last week that a business case for DEI is not necessary. While a business case can definitely be made, you don't make a business case for all of your core values. You just live out your core values. How can organizations live out the value of repair especially regarding the harms of colonialism codified into law by the Doctrine of Discovery?
Learn more about the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition here, and imagine what organizations you are involved with could do to actively engage in this work.
And why did I title this edition “Yell Fire!”? Because revolution doesn’t happen without people waking up and getting involved, one person, one tiny group at a time. This song from Michael Franti and Spearhead is from about 20 years ago, during the Iraq invasion. It rings true on a number of levels today. Ring the alarm, we’ve got to wake up the snoring. Yell Fire!