Doctrine of Discovery and Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Congregational Stories: Building Relationships for Indigenous Rights

Members of Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at GA 2015, many wearing Lummi Nation T-shirts

Members of Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at General Assembly 2015, many wearing Lummi Nation T-shirts representing their support for Canoe Journeys. To find out more, read the story below.

A generous donor who was moved by the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery at General Assembly 2012 made it possible for the UUA to offer seed grants in 2013 to UU congregations to be used for:

  • Educating themselves and others about Indigenous rights issues and about the Doctrine of Discovery
  • Forming relationships with Indigenous communities and/or taking part in interfaith and community efforts to mitigate the effects of the Doctrine of Discovery.

These seed grants were intended to amplify local efforts and to lead into long term work on Indigenous Rights through the building of relationships. Here are the stories of four congregations, each different in its particulars, but all demonstrating ways to respond to form partnerships and work to dismantle the ongoing effects of the Doctrine of Discovery.

If you have a story about Unitarian Universalist work on forming partnerships and working for Indigenous Rights, please let us know.

Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change: Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples

Unitarian Universalist congregations in Utah, Colorado, Washington, and Maryland​ have participated in "Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change: Towards Right Relationship with Native Peoples," a 2-hour workshop developed by Boulder (CO) Friends Meeting. Here, members of Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Adelphi, MD, participate with Dr. Dennis Seymour of the Baltimore Indian Center.

For more information about the workshop

Dr. Dennis Seymour of the Baltimore Indian Center stands with a person on each side as part of a workshop activity

Dr. Dennis Seymour of the Baltimore Indian Center with members of the Paint Branch Church.