Doctrine of Discovery: Study and Discussion Resources

At the 2012 General Assembly in Phoenix, AZ, delegates of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) passed a resolution repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery.

In the months leading up to the vote, the UUA Board and headquarters staff honored the request of our immigration justice partner organizations and led the association in a period of study and discussion about the Doctrine of Discovery. The resources below can help Unitarian Universalist congregations, groups, and individuals continue to learn more and take action on the 2012 resolution.

*NEW* Seed grants of $500–$1,000 each are now available for Unitarian Universalist congregations, groups, and organizations engaging in projects that teach about, repudiate, and mitigate the current-day effects of the Doctrine of Discovery. Find out more and apply for a grant!

Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery: From Call to Resolution

• Report from the Board (PDF, 5 pages) on the Doctrine of Discovery
   
• Open letter from Oren Lyons (PDF, 3 pages), Faith Keeper, Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation
   
• “A Call from our Arizona Immigration Justice Partners” from Cooking Together, the UUA immigration justice blog
   
• “UUA Board and the Doctrine of Discovery: Accountability in Action” from the UUA Board’s blog
   
• “Building a Web of Relationship: Two Stories of Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery” from the UUA Board’s blog
   
• 2012 Responsive Resolution: The Doctrine of Discovery (English), Sobre la Doctrina del Descubrimento (Spanish)
   
• Interview of Rev. Michael Tino by Tupac Enrique Acosta of Tonatierra about the passing of the resolution

Study Materials on the Doctrine of Discovery

• Doctrine of Discovery Discussion Guide (PDF, 11 pages)
   
• Introduction to the Doctrine of Discovery (5 minute video)
   
• The True Story of the Colonization of the United States (14 minute video)
   
• Doctrine of Discovery independent study group (Jamesville, NY)
   
• Stories of other Unitarian Universalists studying and taking action
   
• “Restoring Indigenous People’s Rights” from Cooking Together, the UUA immigration justice blog
   
• “Immigration and Indigenous Theology” from Cooking Together, the UUA immigration justice blog

Taking Action on the Resolution

• Apply for a seed grant to help your Unitarian Universalist congregation, group, or organization take action on the resolution!
   
• Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Declaration: A call to action by Kamila Jacob of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office
   
• Bringing the Doctrine of Discovery Home
   
• Take action on the rights and needs of Native peoples
   
• Honor Indigenous Peoples Day
   
• More ways to take action on the Doctrine of Discovery resolution