"I Am" by Chiffon Lark - New Children's Book teaching Indigenous Worldviews and Languages |
We are so excited to announce the release of a new children's book, "I Am" - written and illustrated by Apache artist Chiffon Lark. The written text is a prayer, teaching an Indigenous worldview alongside touchingly beautiful images of wildlife and a central figure of an Indigenous child. |
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“In Apache tradition, we are taught that everything in creation is alive, sacred, and related. The earth beneath us, the wind that moves through the mountains, the fire that gives warmth, the water that gives life — all are our relatives.
As Apache people, we understand that our lives depend on this sacred web of connection. Every plant, animal, stone, and element holds a spirit and a purpose as the Creator intended. We do not stand apart from the world around us — we live in relationship with it.
To walk in balance means to honor these relationships: to take only what we need, to give thanks, and to remember that we are part of something greater — a circle that includes all of life.”
-Chiffon Lark
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The Coalition has formally partnered with Chiffon to share and distribute "I Am" across our network, and we will be printing 200 copies of "I Am" for our membership, available by pre-order request. Coalition organizers also contributed by creating a 2-page discussion guide at the end of the book!
We encourage you to order a single copy directly from the artist, or request multiple copies through the Coalition's pre-order form. If using the pre-order form, you may also optionally donate to an Indigenous languages translation fund, to support future translations of "I Am" into Indigenous languages.
Questions? Email: doe@dismantlediscovery.org |
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Organizing 101 Advent Series: Building Communities of Repair |
You are invited to join Organizing Director Doe Hoyer and Episcopal Organizer Joe Hubbard for a 4-session Advent Series, Organizing 101: Building Communities of Repair.
This training series will equip you with the organizing skills to:
- Start or re-engage a repair team at your congregation or in your community
- Contribute meaningfully and/or offer leadership to a Coalition working group
- Join with other organizers already working for repair
- Initiate a new working group for structural change
This training will be offered across four Monday evenings in December, for a max of 35 participants. Please register soon to reserve your spot!
If you have questions about this series, please email: doe@dismantlediscovery.org |
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Shinnecock Working Group Delegation Report Back |
Members of the delegation and our Shinnecock hosts (Tela and Holly) on Westwoods, land that is part of a lawsuit filed by Southampton Left to right: Bishop Pat Bell, Alicia Maldonado-Zahra, Tela Troge, Holly Thompson, Elizabeth Yepez, Jon Zirkle, Matthew Carlson, and Sue Bartholomew |
In September of 2025, a group of seven people from CDDoD’s newly-formed
Shinnecock Working Group embarked on a three-day delegation to Shinnecock Nation
on Long Island, New York. These seven came from Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky,
Pennsylvania, and New York to witness firsthand the realities faced by Shinnecock
members who continue to face threats, disrespect, and the taking of ancestral lands.
The current Shinnecock Nation consists of approximately 800 low-lying acres on the
east end of Shinnecock Bay, a tiny fraction of their ancestral land which spans
thousands of acres between the Atlantic to the south and Great Peconic Bay to the
north. Injustices and harm experienced by Shinnecock Nation are numerous and ongoing. Some examples include: |
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Mural of Shinnecock Lands |
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- Pollution of Shinnecock Bay from failing septic systems coming from encroaching Southampton homes which has killed fish, mussels and clams, and the livelihood and cultural practices of the Shinnecock who long stewarded these waters.
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The stealing of the highest and least flood-prone of their land -- now home to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and site of the 2026 US Open -- land with abundant Shinnecock ancestral remains disrespected by the golf course.
- Current seven lawsuits by Southampton that challenge attempts of Shinnecock economic sovereignty, costing Shinnecock $22,000 per day in legal fees.
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Solidarity with the Shinnecock is just getting started. The Shinnecock Working Group is
soon kicking off a landback campaign, the details of which are in formation now. In the
meantime, here are ways you and your faith community can take action: |
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Pray individually and corporately for courage of the Shinnecock as they advocate for their land and their dignity
Pray for the softening of hearts of the leaders, residents, landowners, and developers of Southampton who violate Shinnecock legal and ancestral rights to the land. -
What the documentary Conscience Point to better understand Shinnecock history and Shinnecock land back efforts.
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Organize a screening of Conscience Point, and invite a member of Shinnecock Nation or the Shinnecock Working Group by Zoom or in person to engage your community.
- Join the CDDoD Shinnecock Working Group or support this working group financially.
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Join Us for Weekly Buddhist Vigils for Oak Flat |
Resolution Copper mine at Oak Flat (photo credit: Jeremy Gilchrist) |
Who we are: We've come together from several traditions to offer Buddhist support to
Apache Stronghold as they protect sacred ceremonial land threatened by a massive copper mine. With other faith groups and The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, we follow the Oak Flat story and help when asked. Currently things are quiet following Dr. Wendsler Nosie's National Defend the Holy Tour and the Sunrise Ceremony Vigil. Dr. Nosie has asked us to continue sharing the Oak Flat story with our communities and praying for the land’s protection. Land turnover to Resolution Copper cannot happen until after the 9th Circuit Court hears oral arguments in two other cases* to protect Oak Flat, on January 7, 2026. During this period, we invite you to join your hearts and voices with us.
*On October 6, the U.S. Supreme Court denied for a second time to hear Apache Stronghold’s religious freedom case to save Oak Flat.
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Chanting and Meditations for Oak Flat Wednesdays 8:30 - 9 AM PT from Nov 19th - Jan 7th
Sacred Mountain Sangha has joined with us to co-offer the Wednesday session of
their Guardians of the Sacred Chanting Circle--which will be dedicated to the protection of Oak Flat and other Indigenous sacred lands currently at risk. All are welcome. To join us, please pre-register at https://luma.com/cjnxq6a8?tk=HfgBI6 You're welcome to put "0" when asked to pay. Also, please save the link you receive to use at future sessions (this is how their system works)
Learn more from Apache Stronghold (links above) and Buddhist sources: Deer Park Monastery, Thanissara (of Sacred Mountain Sangha), and Buddhist Door.
In love and solidarity, The Oak Flat Buddhist Working Group
oakflatbwg@gmail.com |
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Kalanīakea (which translates as Sky Father, descended from the heavens), will discuss Hawaiian society pre-colonization and the history of U.S. occupation, and its ongoing consequences. He will lift up contemporary movements to defend Native Hawaiians’ rights to land, language, culture, and sovereignty. Register for this event
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Mauri: The Vital Essence in All Beings |
Mauri: The Vital Essence in All Beings is a powerful documentary that invites us into the living world of Māori healing. Filmed in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Mauri honors the sacred ways that endure—even in the wake of colonization—and offers a gentle, profound glimpse into the resilience of cultural memory and relational connection.
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| If An Owl Calls Your Name |
If An Owl Calls Your Name premieres Dec 9–13. A powerful film tracing healing from residential school trauma through land, ceremony, and ancestral reconnection.
Join the FREE Global Film Premiere + 5-Day Online Event with Indigenous Elders & healers featured in the film.
Included in the premiere event: - A community film screening
- Daily live sessions
- 48-hour replays
- Donation-based access Enter a circle of story, healing, and ancestral wisdom. |
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SUGARCANE Faith Community Screening Tour |
SUGARCANE is film documenting the Williams Lake First Nation investigation of St Joseph’s Mission, a Catholic run boarding school in Canada.
From now until January 31st (2026) communities of faith are invited to host a FREE screening of the film. This program encourages Christians, and all people of faith, to engage in dialogue around truth telling and repair. Learn more about the screening tour |
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Fill out the request form and a member of the SUGARCANE impact campaign team will be in touch to confirm your screening. You will receive a screening toolkit with a conversation guide developed by Land Justice Futures, event planning checklist, additional resources and promotional materials.
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Activists Living with Disabilities - Dec 10 |
Activists Living with Disabilities have gifts to offer the movement for repair and seeking justice alongside Indigenous relatives. Together, we will explore these gifts and how we can effect change towards disability justice and increased accessibility within the movement. Anyone living with any kind of disability or chronic illness is encouraged to join our monthly drop-in calls. We meet monthly on the SECOND Wednesday.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 10 from 3-4pm PST / 5-6pm CST / 6-7pm EST. You can register here to receive the Zoom link. This month, we will engage in relationship building together and discuss next steps in our prayer project.
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Please join the Spiritual Care Team on Friday, November 28 at 1 pm PT for a Decolonizing Worship Gathering. This month we are focusing our attention on the last of the Four Sacred Elements -- Water. We will bless water and invite you to have water available to bless for yourself.
Register in advance for this meeting
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
*The ZOOM link has been set up to repeat each month. If you participated in October, it is the same ZOOM link. Feel free to add it to your calendar. |
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Join Coalition leaders by Zoom on Monday Dec 1, from 4-5pm PT / 5-6pm MT / 6-7pm CT / 7-8pm ET, to have your questions about the land justice fund answered. Bring a hot beverage of your choice! Open to anyone who wants to join. |
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Looking for how to plug-in? Want to learn more about the Coalition? Join our next Volunteer Orientation on December 18th from 4-5:30 PST / 5-6:30 MST / 6-7:30 CST / 7-8:30 EST. You can register below for the zoom link! |
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Our next Coffee Hour will be Wednesday, December 31st at 9:00 am PST / 10:00 am MST / 11:00 am CST / 12:00 pm EST. Grab a hot beverage of your choice and bring your questions as we spend time in community together. Register for the link below to join! |
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All check donations to the Coalition should be sent to the following address: Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery 3258 Thompson Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 Checks should still be made out to our fiscal sponsor, Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. If the check is for the salary campaign or another special fund, that should also be mentioned in the memo line. |
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Our Contact Information
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The Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition is fiscally sponsored by and a ministry partner of the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC).
Want to receive our appeal letters by mail? Email your address to us at admin@dismantlediscovery.org |
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