In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action on the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius, the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network (CEARN) of The Canadian Council of Churches commissioned Dr. Néstor Medina to reflect on the effects of the Doctrine of Discovery in the Americas. Néstor describes his essay as a modest attempt to outline the far-reaching implications of the Doctrine of Discovery for our understanding of history and its impact on today’s global and social contexts.
CEARN is very grateful for Néstor’s “modest” attempt. Around the table discussing how we experienced his writing, we heard such expressions as: “It’s about time”; “Finally an essay that names it for what it is”; “A very valuable resource”; “Enlightening”. Together, the members of CEARN affirmed the essay as a valuable contribution and reflective of their own understanding of the effects of the Doctrine of Discovery.