Exploring Theme: "What is the Doctrine of Discovery?"

APTN: The Vatican responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery.” There are many questions surrounding the doctrine. APTN News asked experts to help explain whether it actually can be rescinded, renounced or revoked....

First Peoples Law Report by Bruce McIvor This week marks the 200th anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s 1823 decision Johnson v. M’Intosh. In the decision, Chief Justice Marshall relied on the racist doctrine of discovery as the basis for European nations’ asserted sovereignty over Indigenous Peoples’ lands upon ‘discovering’ them. The doctrine was imported into Canadian law through...

First Peoples Law Report: Indigenous Rights In One Minute Welcome to “Indigenous Rights in One Minute: Clear, Plain Answers to all Your Questions”. Stay tuned for monthly answers to frequently asked questions, summaries of fundamental court decisions and more. You can also read it on our website. WHY IS THE ST. CATHERINE’S MILLING DECISION IMPORTANT? The St. Catherine’s Milling (1888)...

APTN: The principle is entrenched in Canadian and U.S. law and may be a challenge to dismantle. Chelsea Brunelle, left, her mother Kim and Sarain Fox hold up a banner calling on the Pope to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery outside the cathedral in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Que. Photo: Emelia Fournier/APTN.  Pope Francis and his entourage of...