The doctrine was supported by papal bulls (edicts) that legitimised colonial actions in seizing Indigenous lands, and it has been used to deny Indigenous peoples their rights.

The repudiation of the doctrine by the church on March 30, 2023 came in a joint statement from the Dicasteries for Culture and Education and for Promoting Integral Human Development.

"The church acknowledges that these papal bulls did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples," reads the statement.

"The Catholic Church therefore repudiates those concepts that fail to recognise the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political `doctrine of discovery'."

"Never again can the Christian community allow itself to be infected by the idea that one culture is superior to others, or that it is legitimate to employ ways of coercing others," said Pope Francis in the statement.

"The Vatican needs to do more"

International Chief Wilton Littlechild (pictured) of the Ermineskin Cree Nation gifted Pope Francis with a headdress during his visit to Canada in July 2022 following the pontiff's apology over the residential schools' scandal.

"When he was here going across Canada, he couched (the Doctrine of Discovery) under the term of colonialism, but didn't use those words, and survivors wanted to hear them," said Littlechild, speaking to chiefs last week at the Assembly of First Nations special chiefs assembly In Ottawa.

"They wanted to hear those words. It was quite a decision that he made (to deliver the joint statement)."

But not everyone was as pleased as Littlechild with the step to repudiate.

"The formal repudiation comes without reparations or tangible actions to account for the systemic violence, destruction of land and culture, and genocide which were propagated by this deadly weapon of colonisation," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.

The Vatican needs to do more, said Grand Chief Phillip.

Sources

Turtle Island News

CathNews New Zealand

They include indigenous peoples from across the world. One, Hemopereki Simon, is a research expert in indigenous politics and Te Tiriti.

"I have survived the settler colonial education system and have come out on top in research fields that allow me to critique and speak back to power," he says.

"In terms of cultural appropriation, the act by the Cree to offer the pope a warbonnet places all of our efforts on this subject into question."

He points to the indigenous Americans complaints "about white people's interpretation of indigeneity".

This includes significant criticism about warbonnets because of what they represent to indigeneity, he says.

"They show leadership and are given as a sign of mastery of war."

The chief's gift is like saying to Aboriginal Australia "you deserve to be called fauna".

An indigenous person who was raised as a Catholic, he says he struggles significantly with the Church's actions throughout the world, particularly its cover-ups.

"Significant change is required towards indigenous peoples," he says. The Catholic Church is responsible for legitimising colonisation.

"In this space, the conservative and flawed Ratzinger approach with a political apology is not enough."

Compensation and a commitment to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery are also needed, he suggests.

This could start with church leaders conceding that "in the indigenous world they are an invading force and indigenous peoples are actually humans.

"What is needed is balance to restore indigenous nations towards an agenda of decolonisation."

Simon notes reconciliation is a Christian-derived philosophy that does not reflect what is needed in the indigenous world.

"We require more than an apology."

He wonders how the Church is contributing to decolonisation and cultural restitution around the world.

It still maintains the infallibility of every Pontiff and all actions taken to date.

Just because our collective colonial wars are over doesn't mean the war with settler colonialism and its structures is over, he points out.

It celebrates the Church's war against the indigenous world since 1492, he says.

"With respect to the Cree on behalf of your indigenous brothers and sisters everywhere - but what the actual hell?"

The Church's purpose was to further the goals of the two invading settler colonial forces, being the white possessive state and the white possessive church, he says.

"In terms of cultural appropriation, the act ... places all of our efforts on this subject into question."

Chief Wilton Littlechild sees it differently

The Maskwacis Chief, Wilton Littlechild who gave Francis the headdress sees it differently.

"One of the things I learned [from my grandparents] is you don't criticise ... other culture's traditions."

As part of the traditional welcome many tribes give headdresses to dignitaries, he explains.

It was "tradition," repeated Littlechild.

"We decided at home, as a community, to welcome him with a gift because he [chose to come] into our territory," he says.

The headdress they gave the pope had belonged to the man who raised Littlechild - his late grandfather.

Source

• Native News Online
• NZ Herald