This Friday, the Democratic Club looks at the Doctrine of Discovery. This doctrine was formed during the age of exploration when Europeans were taking to the seas to seek out trade routes and new lands. The doctrine is the commonly held idea, that under international law, Christian explorers who discovered new land had a legal right to claim the area for their sovereign. Not only did the Europeans claim the land, but they also claimed supremacy over the indigenous people who occupied it. Consequently, given their deep Christian beliefs, they felt compelled to impose their religion as well. The documentary film Doctrine of Discovery: In the Name of Christ is an examination of the impact of this policy. The film features interviews with Indigenous scholars, leaders, and activists from around the world, as well as Christian theologians and pastors. This Friday, the Democratic Club will learn about The Doctrine of Discovery, its basis in Christian theology, its effects on Indigenous Peoples today, and how we might start to undo it.

About Our Meetings

The Democratic Club meets each Friday at noon online. A Zoom link for our club meeting is distributed on the Thursday prior to the meeting date. To request the link or assistance getting connected, contact Phil at pjwmia@aol.com. We will return to in person/online meetings as soon as it becomes safe to do so. You can find videos of past Club meetings at KootenaiCountyDemClub.com/Meeting Videos.

Finding Our Place in the Inland Northwest

The Doctrine of Discovery: In the Name of Christ is part of a documentary and discussion series entitled Finding Our Place in the Inland Northwest. The series features topics like When Country Becomes City, Paycheck to Paycheck, and Being Not White in North Idaho. Each session features a video presentation followed by discussion. The series Finding Our Place in the Inland Northwest, is sponsored by the Human Rights Education Institute and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Each session runs from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. View Schedule