Are cracks forming in Canada’s acceptance of the Doctrine of Discovery?

Would something come along to take its place?

These are some of the questions surrounding the controversial Roman Catholic claim that cleared the way for Europeans to “discover” and seize what we now call North America.

The “colonial land grab” as some see it was made possible by a series of papal bulls – decrees issued by the Vatican in the late 1400s.

The doctrine acted as international law and outlined principles to justify European expropriation and colonization of lands and resources despite the presence of nonChristians or Indigenous Peoples.

It said Peoples who were not Christian were not people and the lands they occupied were “terra nullius” or vacant and open to “discovery”.

APTN News asked experts to help explain the doctrine and whether it can be rescinded, renounced or revoked.

#aptnnews #doctrineofdiscovery
• • •
APTN National News, our stories told our way.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/2uowfBY

Visit our website for more: https://aptnnews.ca
Follow APTN News on Twitter:   / aptnnews  
Like APTN News on Facebook:   / aptnnews  
Follow APTN News on Instagram:   / aptnnews  

Download the APTN News app here: https://aptnnews.ca/aptnnewsapp
Listen and subscribe to APTN News podcasts here: https://aptnnews.ca/podcasts