Over several centuries, the assumed right of Christian nations to claim ownership of any territory they “discovered” and displace the people who called that place home was codified in culture and law. Recently, concerned Christians have been seeking to question this assumption not just ideologically, but by delving back into history to figure out what the effects of the Doctrine of Discovery have been and how to move forward in ways that restore relationship with indigenous people. The efforts of a working group in the Mennonite Church USA have resulted in a 45-minute documentary that is a good introduction to the issue, which you can view for free online (see the trailer below).
Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
