NationTalk: Canadian Museums Association – Following significant advocacy efforts by Indigenous communities, the Catholic Church released a statement on March 30 that rejects the “Doctrine of Discovery,” saying it “repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political ‘doctrine of discovery’.”
As referenced in the CMA’s Moved to Action Report, the Doctrine of Discovery was one of the colonial decrees that justified European colonization and the seizure of lands, peoples, and belongings around the world, including North America. This validated the removal of Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral remains and belongings, many of which remain in museums across the globe.
CMA Executive Director and CEO, Janis Monture stated, “The rejection of the Doctrine of Discovery is a step toward acknowledging over five hundred years of colonial harm this concept had on Indigenous cultural heritage. As well, it is a testament to the strength of the Indigenous peoples who advocated for this change.”
Learn more about the Indigenous actions that led to this development: