We Are Still Here: The Anti-Doctrine of Discovery

Part 2: Environmental Justice and Native Peoples – A Conversation with Doreen Simmonds

by Doreen Nutaaq Simmonds

Lee: Yeah. And it’s so many ways that people don’t realize like when you were just talking about the snow and the ice and the caribou, that’s not something that I would think about. Those are the kinds of things that I feel like a lot of people don’t realize what
More
Witness and Recovery on Long Island: An Interview with Mike Smith

by Mike Smith

Chris:We were asked by the General Assembly of the church to look at the Doctrine of Discovery to understand its implications historically and the contemporary damage that it continues to do. I don’t think there is any more historic perspective among the Native American Presbyterians than yours and that of
More
Syria: The Burden of Memory

by Cecilia Blewer

Does the name Mohammed Mossadegh ring a bell for you? For your congregation? It did not for the New York Times when it published the article “The Tension between America and Iran, Explained”. A major boulevard in Tehran is named for this historical figure of the 20th century, but in
More
The Trilemma of Settler Colonialism

by Noushin Framke

The words “settlers” and “territories” harken back to the earliest stories that came from the Europeans who sailed to the “New World.” They have complicated histories which go back to our nation’s original sins of slavery and the genocide of indigenous peoples. But Americans don’t have a monopoly on these
More
Syria and the Challenge to the Church: Dealing with Exceptionalism, Past and Present

by Pauline Coffman

As we look across the different issues discussed in this series of articles in Unbound on the Doctrine of Discovery and how it relates to the Middle East today, one common theme emerges. Those of us who are white, American, and Christian have historically seen ourselves as special, as exceptional,
More
Part 2: Integrating Native Voice in Education – An Interview with Elona Street Stewart

by Elona Street-Stewart

Lee:I spoke to colleague who is Native American the other day and we had a conversation about who to connect with and who would be interested in contributing to this issue. And she told me that a lot of native people have been told that the way in which native
More
Part 1: Integration of Native Voices in Education- An Interview with Elona Street- Stewart

by Elona Street-Stewart

Lee: Elona, please introduce yourself to the Unbound audience and tell us a little bit about the work you are doing. Elona: Well, my name is Elona Street-Stewart. Delaware Nanticoke is my tribe, and I am the Synod Executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies here
More
Reflections on the Doctrine of Discovery on World Communion Sunday

by June L. Lorenzo

“Singing in a strange land” was the sermon title for our World Communion Service on October 6, 2019. Taking from the story in Psalm 137:1-9, Rev. James Roghair preached about the pain of the Israelites as they were taunted by the Babylonians to sing their songs and asked them to
More
Part 1: Environmental Justice and Native Peoples – A Conversation with Doreen Simmonds

by Doreen Nutaaq Simmonds

Lee: Doreen please introduce yourself and tell us about yourself and what kind of work you’re doing, just so we can get to know you a little bit. Doreen: Uvafa Nutaaq, Utqiabvigmiu. Aapaga Samuel Simmonds, aakaga Martha Afupqana Simmonds, suli Hester Tugli Simmonds. Translation: My name is Nutaaq,
More
Reverberations of Conquest

by Ron McKinney

Scrawled on a page of my Choctaw Hymn book is the Choctaw version of Matthew 7:7, “Hvsh asilhhakma, hvch ima he; hvsh hoyokmvt, hvsh ahayucha he; hvsh soko hakma, hvchin tiwa he oke.” Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will
More

We Are Still Here: The Anti-Doctrine of Discovery is the current issue of Unbound (Fall 2019). In the intentional work of dismantling the systemic oppressions of our native siblings spurred by the Doctrine of Discovery and its ideologies, Unbound brings to you the voices, perspectives, concerns, and resilience of our Native American siblings who are still with us, telling their stories and being as the Creator created them to be. We invite you to absorb these stories for we are called to listen and to truly hear our siblings.

First Installment of Content

Reflections on the Doctrine of Discovery on World Communion Sunday by June L. Lorenzo

Reverberations of Conquest by Ron McKinney

Part 1: Integration of Native Voices in Education – An Interview with Elona Street-Stewart
Interview conducted by Lee Catoe, Managing Editor of Unbound

Part 1: Environmental Justice and Native Peoples – A Conversation with Doreen Nutaaq Simmonds
Interview conducted by Lee Catoe, Managing Editor of Unbound

2nd Installment of Content

Witness and Recovery on Long Island: An Interview with Mike Smith
Interview conducted by Chris Iosso and Lee Catoe

Part 2: Integration of Native Voices in Education – An Interview with Elona Street-Stewart
Interview conducted by Lee Catoe, Managing Editor of Unbound

Part 2: Environmental Justice and Native Peoples – A Conversation with Dorreen Nutaag Simmonds
Interview conducted by Lee Catoe, Managing Editor of Unbound

Manifestations of the Doctrine of Discovery Around the World

Syria and the Challenge to the Church: Dealing with Exceptionalism, Past and Present by Pauline Coffman and Donald Mead

Syria: The Burden of Memory by Cecilia Blewer

The Trilemma of Settler Colonialism by Noushin Framke

Archived Articles of Native Voices

All of my Relations by Madison McKinney

Law and Theology III by Vine Deloria Jr.

Resources

Doctrine of Discovery: Steve Newcomb discussing Standing Rock explains the intentionality of Christian imperialism and the ramifications of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Mission Coordination Committee information from the 223rd General Assembly concerning the relationship between Native American peoples and the church.

Presbyterian Mission Agency resources concerning the Doctrine of Discovery

The Doctrine of Discovery: A Review of Its Origins and Implications for
Congregations in the PC(USA) and Support for Native American Sovereignty

Facing Racism resources concerning Native American experiences and the Doctrine of Discovery