Episcopal Indigenous Justice Roundtable
Resources and More Information
The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery
calls on the Christian Church to address the extinction, enslavement, and extraction done in the name of Christ on Indigenous lands.
Episcopal Indigenous Justice Roundtable
A time to connect and share updates across the network.
MONTHLY! Join us on Zoom.
Email amanda@dismantlediscovery.org for the Zoom link.
4th Tuesdays, 11am PST / 12pm MST / 1pm CST / 2pm EST
Episcopal Groups and Indigenous Justice Organizing
Indigenous Allies (Boulder County Episcopal Churches and others) Is working with the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery to block the destruction of Apache sacred land for the construction of a copper mine. They are working within the diocese of Colorado and are seeking to form a network of churches working with Indigenous People in Colorado.
Truth and Conciliation Commission (Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon) has repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery. The commission has created Indigenous partnerships and working groups to further the work of repudiation. Their website has great resources on all aspects of their work
WEJust: Wyoming Equal Justice (Episcopal Church in Wyoming) Has done return of traditional objects to the Northern Arapaho tribe, as well as truth-telling for Eastern Shoshone children who died at an Episcopal-run boarding school on the Wind River Reservation.
Uintah School Trailer (Episcopal Diocese of Utah) The Diocese of Utah offers this podcast about this school, and with it “a powerful hope for reconciliation that follows over a century of cultural genocide at the hands of the government and religious run Indian Schools in this podcast that explores the findings of the documentary “Tuniyay”—”to tell the story.”
Do you know of other Episcopalian groups who should be represented here? Email Amanda Pittman at amanda@dismantlediscovery.org
Episcopal Resolutions on Boarding Schools:
Commitment to investigate The Episcopal Church’s involvement with Native Boarding schools. EC MW062
Create a fact-finding commission to conduct research on Indigenous residential boarding schools A127 Commission
Episcopal Resolutions on Oak Flat
Protect Oak Flat EC18to22ECEC 038
Protect Indigenous Peoples’ Sacred Sites
Protect Indigenous Peoples’ Sacred Sites 2012-A132
Episcopal Resolutions on the Doctrine of Discovery
Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2009-D035
Reaffirm Clergy Training on Doctrine of Discovery https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2018-D011
Examine Impact of Doctrine of Discovery https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2012-A128
Direct Dioceses to Examine the Impact of the Doctrine of Discovery https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2015-A024
Other Episcopal Resolutions related to Indigenous People
Express solidarity with Indigenous People https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2012-A131
Covenant of Faith with Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and the Anglican Communion https://www.episcopalchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/NAM_Convenant_of_Faith.pdf
Request Church-wide Advocacy of Indian Treaty Rights https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1985-B007
Addressing Inequities in the Quality of Life of Native Peoples https://2022-legislation.generalconvention.org/vbinder/resolutions/311/explanation?house=HD&lang=en
Support Tribal Opposition to a Minnesota Pipeline https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2018-C064
Write a Land Acknowledgement
https://www.episcopalarchives.org/sites/default/files/gc_resolutions/2022-C072.pdf
Resources for writing a Land Acknowledgement
More Resources for Education
Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples (TRR) Friends Peace Teams
- The Land is Not our Own JustFaith
- Land Justice Futures Learning Platform
- Liturgy of Lament for Doctrine of Discovery
Coalition Indigenous Justice Campaigns
Support Apache Stronghold and Protect Oak Flat (Arizona)
Known in Apache as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, Oak Flat is a sacred site cared for by the Western Apache from time immemorial. This land holds historic, religious, and cultural significance for the Apache people, but it is in danger of being destroyed by the mining company Resolution Copper. Apache Stronghold has been engaged in a legal battle to protect this sacred land, but on March 1st the Ninth Circuit Court (6-5) found against Apache Stronghold. The next and final stage of their court case: filing an appeal before the United States Supreme Court. Learn more: Amicus Briefs to Protect Oak Flat
Maya Solidarity (Campeche, Mexico)
The Colectivo In Laak Le Ixiimó (CILLI) is a group of Maya seed-savers, organizing to improve the health and wellbeing of Yook’ol Kab (the land-water interrelationship that sustains the world). The phrase Colectivo In Laak Le Ixiimó can be understood in English as the Our Sibling, Corn Collective. Together with a working group composed of representatives from the Coalition’s Structural Change Committee we have coordinated joint campaigns, webinars, and strategic media outreach.
Indian Recovery Act - State Legislative Campaign (Minnesota)
Proposal: A fee attached to every real estate sale in Minnesota will go to support Native programs as determined by Native people. A fund would be financed by a 5/100ths of a percent (0.05%) fee on all real estate transactions. As an example, the fee on the sale of a $250,000 home would be $125. Based on the total value of all real estate transactions in recent years, the amount generated for Native programs would be between $25-40 million annually.
Use of funds: Examples for use of funds might include: Language and Culture revitalization, Education, Health Services, Purchase of Traditional Lands, Community and Heritage Centers. Guidelines would be determined by a governance board. Proposals for use of funds would be accepted from Native organizations in Minnesota, both on-reservation and off-reservation.
The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and the Minnesota Repair Communities for Makoce Ikikcupi are calling upon faith-based and other communities to support the Indian Recovery Act whenever it is introduced, hopefully in the 2025 legislative session. We are seeking as many represented faith and other communities as possible for future in-person meetings, in-person testimony, and written support.