Treaty 6 Territory – Though the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations welcomes the Vatican’s repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, we are taking time to fully understand the implications of this decision. Once we have a fuller understanding of what this will mean for Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island, further information will be released.
When we hosted Pope Francis on our traditional Territory in July, rescinding the Doctrine of Discovery was our Survivors’ most prominent request. Hearing the Pope’s apology on our lands was an important first step towards our Peoples’ road to healing and the announcement today is another significant step on our journey to Reconciliation.
The Doctrine of Discovery is a 500-year-old concept established by Pope Nicholas V in 1455 and Pope Alexander VI in 1493. The doctrine claims that Turtle Island is terra nullius – “nobody’s land.” Despite the claims of the Church, Indigenous Peoples have always known these lands have belonged to us since time immemorial.
As the moral conscience of Europe, the Vatican enabled Christian empires to commit genocide, starve, relocate and dispossess Indigenous Peoples from these lands in the name of the Doctrine of Discovery.
The document is still important today; it was used to justify the creation of what is now called Canada and its national, settler-colonial laws imposed on Indigenous Peoples. Without this document, Canada has no historical mandate in their control of Indigenous Peoples and territories.
We understand this news can be retraumatizing. We encourage anyone who feels distressed to contact the 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 to access emotional and crisis referral services.
The Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations will not be taking interviews at this time.
