The traveling history exhibit 鈥淒ismantling the Doctrine of Discovery鈥� is currently open at 黑料正能量鈥檚 Campus Center through March 2.
The discovery doctrine is a 鈥減hilosophical and legal framework dating to the 15th century鈥� that supports the way in which colonial powers claimed land belonging to indigenous peoples, according to exhibit coordinators. In the United States, Supreme Court rulings, beginning in 1832 and continuing through 2005, support this doctrine. Some modern legal theorists have posited its premises are controversial.
Two staff members from , which sponsors the exhibit, will also be on campus Wednesday, March 2, for a chapel presentation in Lehman Auditorium at 10 a.m. and a participatory workshop, 鈥淭he Loss of Turtle Island,鈥� from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Greeting Hall. The workshop, which was created by the Canadian ecumenical justice organization KAIROS and later adapted by MCC Central States, helps people see their place in the larger picture of Native American history.
Both the exhibit and events highlight often unheard narratives from Native American history and challenge commonly held assumptions about indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada. The church鈥檚 role in injustices and human rights violations that occurred in the Western Hemisphere beginning in the 15th century is also noted.
The World Council of Churches, as well as several other Christian denominations, including the and the , have made resolutions in support of repudiation of church involvement in the doctrine. In 2007, the United Nations passed the 鈥�,鈥� and has held from global representatives of indigenous peoples on the Doctrine of Discovery.
MCC staff Erica Littlewolf and Karin Kaufman Wall will make the chapel presentation and facilitate the evening event. Littlewolf, who coordinates MCC Central States鈥� Indigenous Vision Center, is from the Northern Cheyenne tribe of southeastern Montana and currently lives in Albuquerque. Wall, who lives in North Newton, Kansas, is peace and justice education coordinator for MCC Central States and previously worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
It is the first Virginia visit for the exhibit, which has previously appeared at the Mennonite Church USA Convention, Mennonite World Conference Assembly and other sites. A group of Mennonite church leaders created the display to educate and raise awareness among Mennonites and others.
The two guest presenters will also visit a 鈥淕lobalization and Justice鈥� class, as well classes in social work practices and policy.