Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery
by The Doctrine of Discovery Project
The Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery podcast, hosted by Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation), critically examines the historical and ongoing impacts of the Doctrine of Christian Discovery. Rooted in 15th-century papal edicts, this doctrine provided theological and legal justification for European colonialism, the seizure of Indigenous lands, and the subjugation of non-Christian peoples. The podcast explores how these principles became codified in U.S. law, from Johnson v. M’Intosh (1823) to Sherrill v. Oneida (2005), and continue to underpin contemporary legal, religious, and corporate frameworks. Featuring discussions with scholars, legal experts, and Indigenous leaders, the series sheds light on how this doctrine fuels environmental destruction, economic exploitation, and cultural genocide while also highlighting Indigenous resistance and calls for justice, land restoration, and the repudiation of these colonial structures. <
Episodes
-
S06E12: How The Revolutionary War Reshaped Haudenosaunee Governance with Tom Porter
We talk with Tom Porter about how colonization and the Revolutionary War reshaped Mohawk and Haudenosaunee leadership, identity, and survival, including the complicated legacy of Joseph Brant. We also work through what decolonization looks like on the ground: restoring trust, practicing…
more -
S06E11: What Changes When Earth Is Your Mother with Tom Porter
We talk about how Haudenosaunee ceremonies survived generations of fear, shame, and punishment, and why we decide it is time to share teachings openly without asking anyone to become Mohawk. We connect creation stories, matrilineal leadership, and the Thanksgiving Address to a clear environmental...
-
S06E10: How Colonial Law Shaped Modern Data Extraction
Clicking “I agree” can feel harmless until you hear what it echoes. We follow a striking thread from the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius to the digital present, where human attention and behavior are often treated as if they belong to no one, ready to be “discovered” and taken. Our guest…
more -
S06E09: The Legacy of Charles H. Long Part 2: How & Why White Supremacy Persists
Ever wonder how a 15th‑century church decree still shapes who owns land in the United States today? We follow the Doctrine of Discovery from papal bulls and royal charters to Supreme Court opinions, then ground that history in living Haudenosaunee sovereignty at the Scano Great Law of Peace...
-
Remembering The Teacher: Charles H. Long (Part 1)
The story begins with a mentor called simply “the teacher.” From a first lecture on sky gods to late-night phone calls and a leather coat the color of memory, we trace how Charles H. Long shaped minds through myth, method, and a rare musicality of thought. We share how he taught us to start with…
more -
Inside The Seven Mountains Mandate And The Rise Of Turning Point USA
Power rarely announces itself as a plan. Here, it does. We dive into the Seven Mountains mandate with Matthew Boedy, tracing how Turning Point USA evolved from a campus brand into a nationwide movement designed to seize cultural institutions—education, government, religion, family, business…
more -
S06E06: Sacred Waters: Trauma of the Erie Canal
A celebrated waterway can also be a wound. We open the Erie Canal’s familiar legend and find the story most of us never learned: how a triumph of engineering cut a dam through Haudenosaunee homelands, accelerated dispossession, and rewrote law, faith, and landscape in its wake. With Haudenosaunee...
-
S06E05: The Sloan Lecture - The Oneidas, the Best Land, and the Erie Canal - By Susan Brewer
We trace the Erie Canal’s celebrated corridor through one farm in Oneida, New York, revealing how innovation rode alongside broken treaties, pressured sales and the erasure of Oneida lives. Through the intertwined stories of Polly Denny and Angel De Ferrier and the Brewer family, we face the…
more -
S06E04: Clearing Iroquoia: New York’s Land Grab in the 1779 Campaigns of the American Revolution
We trace how the Sullivan–Clinton campaign was conceived and executed as a land seizure against the Haudenosaunee, not a simple response to raids. We follow letters, orders, and deals that moved from neutrality to burning villages, then to surveys, the military tract, and the canal. • rewriting…
more -
S06E03: How Rethinking God, Gender, And Nature Can Heal A Burning World
A campfire changes the kind of conversation you can have. With scholar and wilderness guide Kimberly Carfore, we lean into that flame to ask why so much of Western faith and culture treats the earth—and women—as subordinate, and how we can reorient toward relationship in a century of fires…
more -
S6E02: A Theologian Confronts the Doctrine of Discovery and Calls for Institutional Repair
Jeannine Hill Fletcher, a theologian trained to interpret religious diversity, arrives at a white, Jesuit university and realizes something unsettling: you can’t do justice work without confronting the white supremacy woven through Christian history, law, and institutional life. That realization...
-
Defending Mother Earth from The Doctrine of Christian Discovery #NoKings
Standing on the shores of Onondaga Lake—the birthplace of democracy in North America—Haudenosaunee knowledge keepers share timeless wisdom about our relationship with Mother Earth. This powerful conversation begins with Jake Edwards reciting the Thanksgiving Address, a profound expression of...
-
Teaching Uncomfortable History: The Doctrine of Discovery
Holly Rine, associate professor of history at Le Moyne College, offers a compelling perspective on teaching the Doctrine of Discovery at a Jesuit institution. With remarkable candor, she shares her own journey from unfamiliarity with this history to becoming an advocate for institutional honesty...
-
S05E07: Indigenous Wisdom for Planetary Healing with Yuria Celidwen
Yuria Celidwen, a Nahua and Maya scholar and UC Berkeley postdoctoral researcher, shares how Indigenous wisdom offers pathways for collective healing beyond colonial mindfulness practices that prioritize individual benefit over community wellbeing. • Identifying as a "truth bearer" from Maya...
-
S05E06: Rethinking Our Values: Indigenous Values for a Sustainable Future
This episode explores the vital need for a value change rooted in indigenous perspectives, particularly the teachings of the Haudenosaunee. Listeners are invited to reflect on how our current monetary-driven worldview is unsustainable and how adopting a more relational and respectful way of...
-
S05E05: Reimagining Legal Frameworks: Protecting Native American Sacred Sites and Sovereignty
What if the key to protecting Native American sacred sites lies not within the confines of existing religious freedom laws, but in a reimagined legal strategy? Join us as we engage with Michael McNally, the insightful author of "Defend the Sacred: Native American Religious Freedom Beyond the…
more -
S05E04: Unveiling the Doctrine of Discovery: Historical Injustice and Pathways to Healing
Uncover the often overlooked yet deeply influential Doctrine of Discovery with us, as we bring political science instructor and former Congressional candidate Steve Schwartzberg to the table. Join us to explore how this doctrine, woven into the fabric of U.S. history, continues to impact…
more -
S05E03 Reclaiming Faith: Dismantling White Christian Supremacy and Healing Through Indigenous Spirituality
What if the very religion that oppressed your ancestors could also be your path to liberation? Join us as we engage with Soulforce's representatives—Reverend Alba Onofrio, Nadia Arellano, and Karina Vargas—in a powerful conversation about dismantling white Christian supremacy and Christian...
-
S05E02: Exploring the Legacy of Vine Deloria Jr. on Native American Thought with Philip Deloria
Discover the transformative power of Native American thought and religious studies in our conversation with the esteemed Philip Deloria. Learn about the profound legacy of Vine Deloria Jr., whose influential works like God is Red have shaped the academic and theological landscapes. As we uncover...
-
S05E01: Bridging History and Today: Religion, Law, and Indigenous Influences in American Democracy with Winifred Sullivan
How have universities become the focal point of inclusive religious dialogue? Join us for a captivating episode as we converse with Winifred Sullivan, a professor at Indiana University, who brings a wealth of experience from her dual careers in law and academia. Learn about her pivotal role at…
more -
S04E06: Unveiling Histories: Colonialism, Faith, and Identity in the Americas with João Chaves
Embark on a profound historical exploration with João Chaves, Assistant Professor at Baylor University, as we uncover the lasting effects of the Doctrine of Discovery and its legacy of colonialism, faith, and power struggles in the Americas. Our conversation traverses from the Portuguese conquest...
-
S04E05: Rekindling Culture and Healing History: A Dialogue on Decolonization and Indigenous Land Connection
Embark on a profound exploration with us as S. Lily Mendoza and Jim Perkinson take us through the winding paths of decolonization and the urgent quest to reconnect with the land. They illuminate the suppressed histories and indigenous cultures that beckon us to re-evaluate the civilizational...
-
S04E04: Reckoning with the Legacy of Colonization: A Dialogue on Native American Erasure and Resilience with Tink Tinker
This week on the podcast, we have Professor Tink Tinker, a luminary in Native American Studies. In this episode, he tells of the heart-wrenching legacy of Christian colonization on Indigenous communities. Our conversation probes deep into the cultural chasm between the collective ethos of…
more -
S04E03: Reclaiming Sacred Ground: Indigenous Sovereignty, Environmental Wisdom, and the Path to Restorative Justice with Patrick Gonzalez-Rogers
Discover the lingering shadows of the Doctrine of Discovery as we journey through the historical and modern challenges Indigenous nations face, particularly in safeguarding sacred sites like Bears Ears. Joined by Patrick Gonzalez-Rogers of the Yale School of Environment, Philip P. Arnold Arnold...
-
S04E02: Exploring the American Religious Tapestry: From Civil Religion to Secularism and the Impact of the January 6th Insurrection with Joel Harrison
Embark on a profound journey through the tapestry of American religious history with Joel Harrison, associate professor of religion, and his sharp students, Jason Armstrong and Christian Oppenhagen. Together, we unravel the complex narratives of civil religion and secularism, with a particular…
more -
Unearthing the Foundations: Examining Native American Legal Battles and the Doctrine of Discovery with Peter d'Errico, Steven T. Newcomb, and Joseph J. Heath
Discover the overlooked truths of Native American legal struggles and examine the enduring impact of the Doctrine of Discovery with our esteemed guests Peter d'Errico, Steven T. Newcomb, and Joseph J. Heath. This episode promises to enhance your understanding of Native American representation in...
-
S03E06: Exploring the Cultural, Historical, and Culinary Significance of Chilis with Victor Valle
Ready to put your culinary curiosity to the test? Brace yourself as we journey through a world where fire and chili are more than just ingredients; they're centuries-old metaphors that have shaped cultural identities. We're joined by our distinguished guest, Victor Valle, the mind behind "The...
-
S03E05: Land is Kin: Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty with Dana Lloyd
Have you ever wondered what it truly means for land to be sacred? Join us on a thought-provoking exploration with Dr. Dana Lloyd, author of "Land is Kin: Sovereignty, Religious Freedom, and Indigenous Sacred Sites." A Tel Aviv native raised on Palestinian land, Dr. Lloyd brings an exceptional...
-
S03E04: Beekeeping, Mushrooms and Sculptures: A Glimpse into Traditional Lithuanian Life
Ever wondered how the Baltic region's indigenous religious traditions have evolved over the centuries? Join us in conversation with our esteemed guest, Eglute Trinkauskaite, a faculty member at Maryland Institute College of Art, who offers a deep dive into the rich history and culture of...
-
S03E03: Indigenous Advocacy and Climate Change: A Conversation with Evie Reyes-Aguirre
Today we're privileged to converse with Eve Reyes-Aguirre, an Izkaloteka Azteca Indigenous woman, who has passionately dedicated over 25 years of her life advocating for human rights, women's rights, Indigenous peoples rights, and environmental rights. Eve, a fervent advocate, has a wealth of...
-
S03E02: White Evangelical Racism and Its Influence on American Politics an Interview with Anthea Butler
In this episode of the Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery podcast, hosts Phil Arnold and Sandy Bigtree interview Anthea Butler, The Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought and Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. They discuss the role of evangelical...
-
S03E01- The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Doctrine of Christian Discovery an interview with Robert P. Jones
We begin this season with a gripping conversation with Robert P Jones, founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute. Together, we continue to highlight the layers of American history, challenging familiar narratives and revealing Indigenous, Haudensoaunee, influences. Jones…
more -
S02E08: Exploring the Doctrine of Discovery, Indigenous Struggles, and the Pursuit of Balance Part 2 with Oren Lyons
Imagine facing a past rooted in subjugation and suppression, only to transform it into a future of balance, peace, and environmental preservation. That's the journey we're embarking on in today's episode. We'll uncover the dark legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery and its devastating effects on…
more -
S02E07: Exploring the Doctrine of Discovery, Indigenous Struggles, and the Pursuit of Balance Part 1 with Oren Lyons
This episode is an engaging conversation with Onondaga Nation Turtle Clan Faithkeeper Oren Lyons, a stalwart in Indigenous, environmental, and human rights initiatives. We traverse the terrain of Indigenous rights, the Doctrine of Discovery, and The Haudenosaunee's pivotal role at the United...
-
S02E06: Reimagining Religion: On Connectivity and Unity with Brian Konkol
Get ready for an enlightening journey as we chat with our guest, Rev. Dr. Brian Konkol, Dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University and professor of practice. Konkol brings a fresh perspective to the table, shaped by his global experiences. His intriguing insights on religion's potential for...
-
S02E05: Dissecting the Doctrine of Discovery: Indigenous Rights, White Supremacy, and the United Nations with Betty Lyons
Get ready to embark on a thought-provoking journey with Betty Lyons, the Executive Director of the American Indian Law Alliance. As we dissect the unsettling complacency surrounding the Doctrine of Discovery and the destruction it has caused among Indigenous Peoples, prepare to be challenged and...
-
S02E04 - The Doctrine of Discovery In The Social Psyche with Tina Ngata
We begin this episode with a land acknowledgement. Our hosts Prof. Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation), begin by introducing our guest Tina Ngata (Māori Nation). She is a Ngāti Porou mother of two from the East Coast of Te Ika a Maui. Her work involves advocacy for environmental,...
-
S02E03 - Johnson v M'intosh and Federal Anti-Indian Law with Peter d'Errico
We begin this episode with a land acknowledgement. Our hosts Prof. Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation), begin by introducing our guest Peter d’Errico. He is Professor Emeritus of Legal Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a regular blogger and frequent guest…
more -
S02E02 – The International Dimensions of Johnson v. M’Intosh with Robert J. Miller
We begin this episode with a land acknowledgment. Our hosts Prof. Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation), start by introducing our guest Robert J. Miller. He is a Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where is also the Willard H.…
more -
S02E01 – The Backstory of Johnson v. M’Intosh with Lindsay Robertson
We begin this episode with a land acknowledgement. Our hosts Prof. Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation), begin by introducing our guest Lindsay Robertson. He is the Chickasaw Nation Endowed Chair in Native American Law, Faculty Director, the Center for the Study of American Indian…
more -
Episode 05: The Doctrine of Discovery in the context of Abya Yala with Tupac Enrique Acosta
Our hosts Prof. Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation) begin by introducing our guest Tupac Enrique Acosta. He is a founding member of the community based Indigenous Peoples organization TONATIERRA in Phoenix, Arizona. In this episode we explore the shifts and transmutation of the...
-
Episode 04: Haudenosaunee Influence on the Women’s Rights Movement
Please join our hosts Professor Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation) as they talk with our guest Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation and Center for Social Justice Dialogue in Fayetteville, New York. Transcript and...
-
Episode 03: The Doctrine of Discovery in the Mesoamerican Context with Davíd Carrasco
Please join our hosts Professor Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree as they talk with our guest , Professor David Carrasco about the Doctrine of Christian Discovery in the Mesoamerican context. Prof. Carrasco is the _Neil L. Rudenstine Professor of the Study of Latin America, with a joint...
-
Episode 02: The Doctrine Of Christian Discovery As An Ideological And Legal Framework With Steven T. Newcomb
In this episode of the podcast Steven T. Newcomb (Shawnee/Lenape) emphasizes that what undergirds the Doctrine of Discovery is a Christian theological logic of domination and dehumanization. This theological rationale creates a system of domination. In order to understand this theory of…
more -
Episode 01: The Legal Framework of the Doctrine of Christian Discovery in Practice
In this week's episode our hosts talk with Onondaga Nation General counsel Joe Heath. They discuss how The Doctrine of Discovery is an excuse for colonialism. It is European white Christian colonialism which has inflicted white Christian supremacy all over the globe . Some key topics for the...
-
Introduction to Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast
To begin mapping The Doctrine of Discovery our hosts start by discussing the iconic, Christopher Columbus. A man who literally embodies the Doctrine of Discovery. His voyage was funded by the Roman Catholic Church and the Crowns of Europe. A series of papal bulls provided the theological and…
more
About this show
The Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery podcast, hosted by Philip P. Arnold and Sandy Bigtree (Mohawk Nation), critically examines the historical and ongoing impacts of the Doctrine of Christian Discovery. Rooted in 15th-century papal edicts, this doctrine provided theological and legal justification for European colonialism, the seizure of Indigenous lands, and the subjugation of non-Christian peoples. The podcast explores how these principles became codified in U.S. law, from Johnson v. M’Intosh (1823) to Sherrill v. Oneida (2005), and continue to underpin contemporary legal, religious, and corporate frameworks. Featuring discussions with scholars, legal experts, and Indigenous leaders, the series sheds light on how this doctrine fuels environmental destruction, economic exploitation, and cultural genocide while also highlighting Indigenous resistance and calls for justice, land restoration, and the repudiation of these colonial structures.
<
Hosted by
The Doctrine of Discovery Project
Categories