Outcome Documents for
200 Years of Johnson v. M’Intosh (JvM): Indigenous Responses to the Religious Foundations of Racism
This website is the official archive of the outcome publications from the Henry J. Luce Foundation Grant Funded project “200 Years of Johnson v. M’Intosh (JvM): Indigenous Responses to the Religious Foundations of Racism". Professor Philip P. Arnold was the PI on this project which ran from 2022-2024. Project activities included a conference, podcasts, and various types of publications.
Summary
“200 Years of Johnson v. M’Intosh (JvM): Indigenous Responses to the Religious Foundations of Racism,” is a collaborative initiative made possible through relationships developed over 30 years between academic and Indigenous communities. At its core, the project seeks to interrogate and critically examine connections between the Doctrine of Christian Discovery (DOCD), the Catholic Papal Bulls that undergird the Doctrine, and the Doctrine’s pernicious influence on United States Indian Law today.
The 200th anniversary of JvM provides an excellent moment to challenge the theology and jurisprudence of DOCD and this critical Supreme Court decision. The project will deliver a range of digital products and written works combined with a host of public outreach activities to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of the DOCD and provide support for a global movement of Indigenous People’s that seek to repudiate it.
Before Religion
A poem is presented - It is a classic misinterpretation to refer to allNatives as always being in harmony withthemselves and their surroundings. As in, categorizing, denomination, caste, grade,order and grouping. With the above sentences in mind, I'll refer to only my people's past. We weren't always at peace or in harmony with ourselves and the earth. We struggled and fought with our own people. We suffered insult and reproach and turned toviolence in return for that insult and reproach.
Sawatis Frushell
Statement on the Doctrine of Discovery
The Episcopal Church's commitment to justice and equality is challenged by its historical complicity in the Doctrine of Discovery. The Episcopal Diocese of Central New York acknowledges its presence on unceded lands of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and seeks to repent for past injustices. Through dialogue and advocacy, the church aims to heal divisions and honor the dignity of all individuals. Refuting the Doctrine of Discovery is fundamental to the faith of TEC, despite past failures to fulfill vows. The diocese is actively working to amend its past complicity in injustice, recognizing the complexity and harm caused. The story of Rev. David Pendleton Oakerhater serves as a reminder of this complexity, as the church continues its work for justice and peace while praying for redemption.
Bishop Dede Duncan-Probe
Cultivating a G.R.A.C.E. Mindset: Adaptive Leadership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America acknowledges and repents for its complicity in the harms of colonialism towards Native American and Alaska Native peoples. The church commits to undoing the ongoing evils of the Doctrine of Discovery and building right relationships with indigenous nations. The Upstate New York Synod confesses and repents for its complicity in the harm done to indigenous peoples and strives to strengthen anti-oppression efforts for justice and equity.
Rev Lee M. Miller II
Joint Statement Of The Dicasteries For Culture And Education And For Promoting Integral Human Development On The "Doctrine Of Discovery"
The Catholic Church strives to promote universal fraternity and respect for the dignity of every human being, condemning acts of violence, oppression, and social injustice. While acknowledging past wrongs committed against indigenous peoples, the Church is committed to reconciliation, healing, and promoting the rights and cultural values of all individuals. The Church rejects the concept of the "doctrine of discovery" and upholds the inherent human rights of indigenous peoples, supporting principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Holy See Press Office
