On Monday June 8th, the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery held a webinar on “Decolonizing 250 years of America: Reckoning with Our Past and Weaving a Collective Future”.
With guest panelists Diane Schenandoah (Oneida/Haudenosauee Confederacy), Asma Uddin, and Mark Charles (Navajo/Dine), we asked the question: What does it mean to ‘celebrate’ 250 years of Independence on colonized land?
During the webinar, Diane shared about the origins of democracy in the Haudenosaunee tradition and how it influenced the founding of the U.S. government. Asma Uddin highlighted the importance of upholding religious freedom for everyone, because “a right is only as strong as its treatment of the least powerful people”. And Mark Charles reminded us that community can only be formed when we share a common memory to build upon.
The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery is inviting you to take action in two ways:
1) Host a prayer vigil with your community the fourth of July weekend (or the week leading up to it) using this toolkit: https://tinyurl.com/
Decolonize250-vigils
2) Write a Letter to the Editor about America 250 highlighting the way the Doctrine of Discovery continues to show up in our present day legal structures using this toolkit: https://tinyurl.com/
Decolonize250-LTE
As people are actively engaging with America 250 celebrations in our communities it is a key time to expand the dominant culture’s narrative around the U.S.A.’s founding. With these vigils and letters, you can highlight what is missing from the conversation – the influence of the Doctrine of Discovery in shaping our common history and our present reality. If you are planning a vigil let us know so we can support you! Email Deborah Yoder at deborah@dismantlediscovery.org
Resources from the webinar:
Hear more from Diane Schenandoah and others in our Indigenous Speaker Series
Join a Coalition Volunteer Orientation Zoom – June 18th or July 16th at 4 PM PT/7PM ET
Our Coalition annual gathering (2026) will be in Harrisburg, PA and Landisville, PA, from July 31-Aug 3 (Email doe@dismantlediscovery.org if you want more info!)
Mark Charles – My Second Cup of Coffee: A Native Perspective on America 250 Celebrations
Mark Charles TEDx Talk: ‘We the People’ – The three most misunderstood words in US history
The “Rematriated Voices” podcast series on YouTube shares some of the teachings of the Haudenosaunee from Traditional Leadership of Chiefs and Clanmothers.
Book resource: American Indigenous Democracy: A Call for Interdependence
