The Doctrines of Christian Discovery (DoCD) originate with 15th century Papal Bulls that were issued by the Vatican and implemented by Monarchies, sanctioning the brutal Conquest and Colonization of non-Christians who were deemed “enemies of Christ” in Africa and the Americas. These Papal Bulls were a continuation of what had been going on since at least the 8th century from Charlemagne, through the Crusades, the Inquisition, the war on witches, to the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula. In 1823, the “Doctrine of Discovery” was first articulated as a legal formulation in U.S. Supreme Court case, Johnson v. M’Intosh in 1823. As this case fundamentally defines international property law today, it continues to be used by multi-national corporations and Nation-States in their extraction of resources in indigenous territories around the world. The global scale with which the DoCD expressed itself in the “Age of Discovery”—first in Africa, then the Americas, and beyond—created a unified Christendom, which became the opposing force against the great global plurality of cultures. This Doctrine governs United States and international law today and has been cited as recently as 2005 in the decision City Of Sherrill V. Oneida Indian Nation Of N.Y.Have you ever seen
A metafinding aid and gudie for Indigenous peoples' archives and resources related to the UNPFII.
Find resources and archives related to Indigenous peoples and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). This metafinding aid provides access to a wide range of materials, including documents, statements, and reports from various Indigenous organizations and initiatives.
Press Release Ambassador Rice Statement on US Support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Intervention on USA-Canadian Border Issue
Intervention on the Issue of Hydrofracking
Statement by the Permanent Observer of the Holy See
Announcement of US Support for Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Tonya Gonnella Frichner Statement in Response to the US Report
U.S. Report to the UN Human Rights Commission on the Universal Periodic Review
Paper on the Adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007
Joint intervention calling for Indigenous Nations permanent observer status - UNPFII 13th Session
Joint intervention on Territorial Integrity - UNPFII 13th Session
Haudenosaunee intervention on Principles of Good Governance - UNPFII 13th Session
Intervention by Haudenosaunee and AILA at EMRIP 6th Session 2013
AILA Intervention Mohawk Nation Border Issues - UNPFII 14th Session
Joint Intervention The Haudenosaunee and the American Indian Law Alliance
Oral intervention presented by Betty Lyons (Onondaga Nation) in "Regional cases of autonomy in the territories of Indigenous Peoples" at the UN International Expert Group Meeting, 23-25 January 2018.
The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving address to the natural world
UN Handbook 2023-24
Preliminary Report on Doctrine of Discovery
References_UNPFII_2016_EN
References_UNPFII_2017
Leaflet on The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Fact Sheet on the UNPFII
Nordic Saami Youth Statement 2023
Bibliography_UNPFII_2024_EN
Comite Global de Mujeres Indigenas ‚ Espanol
UNPFII Intervention training
Black Cats
Continuing Christian Domination - April Online
Continuación de la dominación de la Cristiandad: una respuesta a la declaración de repudio del Vaticano a la Doctrina del Descubrimiento - Español
We Remember the Stolen Generations
An Open Letter on “Indian Residential Schools”
Pagans in the Promised Land: a Primer on Religious Freedom
Doctrine of Discovery Booklet
Doctrine of Discovery Project
Doctrine of Discovery Booklet
We Remember the Stolen Generations
An Open Letter on “Indian Residential Schools”
Pagans in the Promised Land: a Primer on Religious Freedom
Water Protector Legal Collective – Statement (Natali Segovia) (PDF)
Factsheet: UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (SRRIP) – 2025 (EN)
CENDOC collection browse (CL2)
Sacred Places Institute – Youth Members (PDF)
CENDOC search: subject = permanent
What kind of documents can be found in the League of Nations and UNOG archives?
References / Bibliography for UNPFII (Docip) – 2017
Archivaria 7 (Winter 1978–79) – PDF
The 6 Iroquois Nations at the League of Nations (Deskaheh collection)
Information Guide: UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) – 2025 (EN)
UNPFII Recommendations Database
Docip Documentation Center (CENDOC)
Docip (Documentation, Research and Information Centre)
Yanapaq.info
Yanapaq
Black Cats
Robert Staffanson Talk at Oren Lyons Birthday Celebration
Oren Lyons Statement on the Iroquois Nationals Passport/Visa Controversy
The Ice is Melting in the North: Statement to the UN Peace Summit
Value Change for Survival
Oren Lyons speaks to UN, Change Values so you can Survive ( HQ )
Oren Lyons Gives Keynote Address at the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions
UNPFII 2019 Haudenosaunee Statement: Treaties, Protocol and Relevant Issues
To Survive, We Must Transform Our Values
Keynote Speech: Keeping the Homefires Burning Gathering
Oren Lyons Presentation – International Seminar on the …
Oren Lyons on the Indigenous View of the World
Oren Lyon's PBS Interview
Oren Lyons-1: Racism, Native American Human Rights and the UN
Chief Oren Lyons | Ecology, Economy and Ethics
Oren Lyons Address at the UN General Assembly
Why We Came to Geneva: Indigenous Peoples' First Time to the UN in Geneva
U.N. declares tribes' rights
Oren Lyons: Faithkeeper, Turtle Clan (blog post)
Faithkeeper Lyons delivers dire warning of mass extinction
Indigenous Peoples speak out at UN Permanent Forum
Chief Oren Lyons – The Roots of American Democracy (Bioneers)
Treaties with Indigenous Peoples in Focus on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (Press release)
Conference Room Paper on the Doctrine of Discovery (UNPFII 11th Session)
Inspiration: We can't give up — Chief Oren Lyons' hope
Oren Lyons | Honoring Nations / Indigenous Governance (Harvard Kennedy School)
Press Conference by Oren Lyons | UN Audiovisual Library
Oren Lyons Presents at U.N. 5/15/14
Oren Lyons (biographical page)
The ice is melting in the North: Statement to the UN Peace Summit
Black Cats
Doctrine of Discovery Booklet
AILA's comprehensive booklet on the Doctrine of Discovery provides an overview of this historical and legal framework that has impacted Indigenous peoples worldwide.
We Remember the Stolen Generations
Betty Lyons reflects on the Stolen Generations and the ongoing impacts of colonial policies rooted in the Doctrine of Discovery.
An Open Letter on “Indian Residential Schools”
Betty Lyons addresses the legacy of Indian Residential Schools and their connection to the Doctrine of Discovery in this open letter.
Pagans in the Promised Land: a Primer on Religious Freedom
Steven Newcomb explores the intersection of religious freedom and the Doctrine of Discovery, examining how religious justifications were used to colonize Indigenous lands.