By Hannah McCollum
Saturday, May 13, a special workshop on the history of the Doctrine of Discovery and its impact on indigenous peoples will be held at St. John’s Cathedral in Spokane. The workshop is hosted by Between the Ridges, an ecumenical collaborative based in the Yakima river valley. Its focus is on mutual learning between communities and reconciliation. The organization offers training in anti-racism and multiculturalism.
The Doctrine of Discovery refers to a several papal bulls issued in the 15th century that “justified colonialism and exploitation of indigenous peoples.” At the workshop, participants will learn about how the Doctrine of Discovery has been used to justify the wrongful treatment of indigenous peoples, and how individuals and faith communities today can work to “dismantle the legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery” and build a post-colonial theology.
The workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. St. John’s Cathedral is located at 127 E. 12th St, Spokane, and lunch will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Rev. David Hacker by phone at (509) 961-4692, or by email at davidhacker916@gmail.com. More information about the workshop is available on Between the Ridges’ blog.
