April 21, 2020
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting an online Gathering on Sunday, May 3rd from 1:00-3:30pm.
Why NOW? We will look at why the work of Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery is essential in this moment. As we collectively face multiple crises, we know that the Doctrine of Discovery, which theologically supported theft of land and genocide of Indigenous Peoples, is as alive as ever. We see this in the threat to Mashpee Wampanoag sovereignty and the ongoing struggle of Water and Land Protectors, including the Unist'ot'en, as oil workers on pipelines are declared "essential workers". The crisis of pandemic is being used to cover the egregious perpetuation of the Doctrine of Discovery.
We will not let this slip by unnoticed! We know that now as much as ever, the work of Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery is crucial and are actively seeking to engage a broad audience in this conversation. Join us on May 3rd for a screening of the movie The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code based on the book Pagans in the Promised Land by Steven Newcomb, Shawnee, Lenape scholar and co-founder and co-director of the Indigenous Law Institute. This important film is not available except through private screenings, and considered a landmark documentary, based on thirty years of research.
Screening will be followed by discussion with Deb Cruz, F/AIN (First/American Indian Nations) Issue Lead with JUUstice Washington, and Jonathan Neufeld from Seattle Mennonites, both working on efforts deeply related to the work of Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery regionally and nationally.
This screening and discussion are really just an introduction, and we do hope that everyone watching will be activated and inspired to get involved! Our Gathering will end with action steps and ways you can get engaged.
Click here to register for this event. You will be sent an email before our Gathering with instructions on how to join via Zoom.
Please continue reading for related news:
**TOMORROW**
The Condor & The Eagle
Documentary Film Screening & Discussion
Wednesday, April 22nd 6-8pm
Close out Earth Day with this award-winning documentary screening that showcases Indigenous environmental leaders embarking on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Boreal forest to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America in a spiritual renaissance that deepens the meaning of "Climate Justice". There will be a discussion with the film co-director & protagonists, and featured event partners, after the screening.
Sliding scale suggested donation: $10-50+ (all are welcome regardless of ability to pay)
Register: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/39/k6yx6h20
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/814941645666359/
A CLOSER LOOK: Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
In 2012, the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly passed, at the request of immigration justice partners, a resolution repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery and calling on Unitarian Universalists to study the doctrine and its impact on current-day policies, programs and beliefs. Click here to visit the UUA website devoted to the work of Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.
In keeping with this resolution, the Unitarian Universalist Association recently released a statement in support of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Click here to read the full statement: Unitarian Universalists Rise In Solidarity with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, which includes specific action steps to take in support of Mashpee Wampanoag sovereignty.
Click here to watch short video on the Doctrine of Discovery: The True Story of the Colonization of the United States of America
Support MMIWW - Order your In Solidarity with MMIWW T-Shirt for May 5th, National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered American Indians.
Suggestions for Staying Engaged from Beth Brownfield, Bellingham UU Fellowship, via Indigenous Intersections & Native Events:
Trans Mountain Pipeline
Support Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Coldwater Nations in their strategic lawsuits against the Trans Mountain Pipeline by donating to the RAVEN Trust. This petition is to stop Liberty Mutual from insuring Tar Sands projects like Trans Mountain.
Canadian tar sands and fracked gas pipelines to Xw'ullemy
Stay connected to Wet'suwet'en/Unist'ot'en and their fight against pipelines on their traditional, unceded territories. A petition to defund the Coast GasLink Pipeline is here.
Bristol Bay Salmon
The United Tribes of Bristol Bay is fighting to protect the abundant runs of wild salmon native to their territory. The fast-tracked Pebble Mine threatens the existence of these runs. Learn more and take action here.
Liquified Natural Gas Facility
The Puyallup Tribe opposes the LNG facility proposed for their territory. You can call 1-800-833-6388 or send a letter to Governor Inslee requesting that the Department of Ecology oversee the review of the Tacoma LNG fracked gas project.
Qwe'lhol'mechen and Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut
Learn about Sk'aliCh'elh-tenuat (Tokitae/Lolita), the qwe'lhol'mechen held captive at Miami Seaquarium and/or make a tax-deductible contribution to to the Tokitae Fund, which directly supports our efforts to release our relation Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) from captivity at the Miami Seaquarium and back home to the Salish Sea.
Seattle Cruise Ship Terminal
The Port of Seattle will soon release a draft Environmental Impact Statement & open up a comment period around their plans to build a new cruise ship terminal near Pioneer Square. Please follow Seattle Cruise Control on facebook or contact Stacy@350Seattle.org to receive email alerts about important dates and ways to engage. Cruise ships pollute water; This petition encourages Carnival Cruises to invest some of their profits into ocean restoration.
Snake River Salmon
Submit written comments to the Columbia Basin Salmon DEIS, which considers options for future management of federal dams in the Columbia Basin, including four dams on the Lower Snake River. Earth Ministry provides an overview of Snake River salmon here.
GRuB presents:
Cultural Ecosystems 1 - Camas Prairies
Monday April 27th 9:30am - 12:30pm
Online Zoom conferencing
This class is part of a series of one-day workshops for teachers of the Tend, Gather and Grow curriculum. Participants receive a lesson that fits best with grades 6-12 learning levels but can be adapted for younger children and adults. Learn about five ecosystems that Pacific Northwest regional tribes have cultivated since time immemorial including camas prairies, food forests, saltwater beaches, wetlands, and mountain huckleberry meadows. Many children grow up thinking that humans are harmful to the land. Through learning about cultural ecosystems, youth see how people can promote biodiversity and well-being through conscious stewardship.
This class will be taught on Zoom online conferencing - a free platform. Participants will need wifi internet and to download Zoom application on a computer or mobile device before class. You will receive information on how to login to class with your registration.
Click here to view event website and to register.
Centering Indigenous Wisdom in the Time of Covid-19:
"In times like this, we need to identify who in our community is most vulnerable and strategize the best ways to protect them. We need to think about food security, and not in a capitalist and individualistic sense, but in a collective sense." Click here to read full article by Jade Begay, Diné and Tesuque Pueblo, creative director of NDN Collective republished in Yes! Magazine on March 30th, 2020 - Community Care: An Indigenous Response to Coronavirus
RESOURCES:
Immune & Respiratory Herbs: A Resource for Tribal Communities During Covid-19 - created by Elise Krohn, Valerie Segrest, Renee Davis, Rhonda Grantham, and Sofie Geist. Some of you may remember Rhonda Grantham and Sofie Geist from their work with Canoe Journey Herbalists, as they presented last year at one of our Gatherings. Please share this amazing resource with your community!
Native America Calling Podcast - Conversations about national issues from a Native American perspective. Host Tara Gatewood, a Pueblo of Isleta tribal member, leads discussions on timber for profit in Indian Country, suicide, and new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, among other topics. The podcast is a production of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, a Native-operated media center in Alaska.
Book Discussion: As Long As Grass Grows - The Environmental Justice Practitioners Network webinar with Dina Gilio-Whitaker (Colville Confederated Tribes) last week was a tremendously rich discussion about pandemics, Indigenous legal struggles, and more. Please give the recording a listen - and read her book As Long As Grass Grows! It's well worth it.
Dina Gilio-Whitaker is the policy director and a senior research associate at the Center for World Indigenous Studies and teaches American Indian Studies at California State University-San Marcos.