The Doctrine of Discovery and its grip on Indigenous lands
Are cracks forming in Canada’s acceptance of the Doctrine of Discovery?
Would something come along to take its place?
These are some of the questions surrounding the controversial Roman Catholic claim that cleared the way for Europeans to “discover” and seize what we now call North America.
The “colonial land grab” as some see it was made possible by a series of papal bulls – decrees issued by the Vatican in the late 1400s.
The doctrine acted as international law and outlined principles to justify European expropriation and colonization of lands and resources despite the presence of non-Christians or Indigenous Peoples.
It said Peoples who were not Christian were not people and the lands they occupied were “terra nullius” or vacant and open to “discovery”.
APTN News asked experts to help explain the doctrine and whether it can be rescinded, renounced or revoked.
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