Our Coalition's Annual Gathering will be in Harrisburg and Lancaster PA this weekend, from July 31st to August 3rd. Following the in-person gathering,
Coalition staff will be taking
a period of rest and recovery
from Aug 4-9th. We look forward to seeing some of you in person or virtually, and reporting back from our weekend together in next month's newsletter!
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Introducing our new Associate Director
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Please join us in welcoming Jonathan Neufeld in his new role of Associate Director! Jonathan has been with the Coalition for many years and in various roles, and we are so grateful that he has officially joined our staff team.
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Jonathan Neufeld
(he/him) is the Associate Director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. He currently lives in Oakville, Manitoba, on the lands of Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Nehiyaw (Cree), Dakota and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Jonathan has been hanging around the Coalition since the founders put out the call, and is grateful for the matriarchal vision and leadership that has called this Coalition into being. Jonathan has served many years as the co-chair of the Coalition’s Steering Committee and is grateful to continue to serve in the capacity of Associate Director, with a focus on the internal life and health of the Coalition.
Jonathan has been a Mennonite Pastor for 30 years in Canada, Indiana and Washington State, and seeks to bring a pastoral heart and presence to the shared work of the Coalition. Currently, in addition to his role with the Coalition – serves the National Church of Mennonite Church Canada as their Indigenous Relations Coordinator. Among many interests, Jonathan is a seed-saver and gardner – and loves the short (but intense) growing season of the Canadian prairie.
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Monthly Spiritual Gathering
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For the past 18 months the Coalition has hosted monthly online space for a Spiritual Gathering focused on decolonizing our worship - prepared by the Spiritual Care Team. Our regular meeting times are set for the last Friday of each month at 4 pm ET / 1pm PT.
If you are a regular attender of our Spiritual Gatherings, or someone who cannot make it but would like to join us, please indicate your preferred meeting times/days on this
short Google Form
(open until Aug 4th).
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July's Spiritual Gathering is hosted in your community!
T
here will not be an online gathering hosted by the Coalition Spiritual Care Team on July 31st.
Instead, you are invited to put into action what we have been modeling for you and ask that
you gather in your communities.
The Coalition Annual Gathering will begin on this same day and we invite you to include those gathered, and traveling to gather, in your prayers.
A guide that includes the Realms of Resistance and the Coalition Prayers for our Campaigns is
available here
to help you plan.
We look forward to hearing your reflections at our August gathering. Please feel free to post pictures of your gathering and tag us on Facebook.
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Last Call: Join our Pilgrimage to the Yakama Nation
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You and your community are invited to join our Executive Director Sarah Augustine and Organizing Director Doe Hoyer this fall for a pilgrimage to the the Homeland of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (Yakama Reservation) in central Washington.
Date:
September 22 – 26, 2026
Cost:
$1050, plus travel
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Registration deadline: August 1, 2026
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If flying, arrive and depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. We will provide transportation to and from the airport.
What will we do on this pilgrimage?
Participants will engage in daily reflection circles, tour the Yakama Reservation and Fort Simcoe, and participate in a dancing and drumming program with
Mending Wings
(a Native non profit that empowers Yakama youth through various programs) among other activities.
Register and learn more
/
See
frequently asked questions
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Our Security is in Each Other
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Friends, I want to share these opportunities to support our relatives and friends: Leora Tadgerson, as her family experiences loss, and Jon Zirkle as his family grows. Leora is a dual citizen of Gnoozhikaaning, Bay Mills and Wiikwemkong First Nations, an educator and activist who has worked with the Episcopal Church towards truth and reconciliation around boarding school history, among many other truth telling and community healing projects. Jon is a regional leader and activist who has been vital in our Oak Flat and Shinnecock campaigns.
As we all engage in this work for liberation, we endure life's struggles at the same time. When we show up for each other in beloved community, we make the movement possible at times when we navigate difficult waters. Our security is in each other.
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Sarah Augustine
,
Executive Director
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Support Leora Tadgerson and her family during this difficult time
From our friends at Episcopal Divinity School: "Leora Tadgerson recently lost her brother, Levi Tadgerson, to suicide. Levi was just 39 years old, and leaves behind 4 children. While their tribe was able to contribute a small amount, the funeral expense is more than $19,000. We are calling on all who know and respect Leora's hard work of truth telling and healing for the church to help offset this huge expense for the family.
The Diocese of Northern Michigan is collecting funds that will be paid directly to Koskey Funeral Home. If you are able to contribute, you can
donate online
here
or send a check
to Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
(
131 E. Ridge St., Marquette, MI 49855)
with "Tadgerson" in the memo line.
"
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Support Jon and Adrienne in their adoption process by
donating here
"We've waited for years to adopt a child, and the day has come. A birthmother chose us to adopt the baby boy she gave birth to. We are on top of the world! Gio weighed a bit over 4 lbs at birth and has been in the NICU for over a week and counting. We hope to bring Gio home soon!
That said... Did you know that private adoptions can cost between $50,000 to $100,000 per child? Neither did we until we got on this journey! If you feel so moved, we invite you to support our adoption process. ...Any contributions towards our efforts are greatly appreciated. Adoption literally takes a village to pull off! Even if you are unable to give, we definitely invite your prayers and love in the days ahead."
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Protect Pipestone - Call to Action
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Your voice is needed in the fight to protect the sacred site of Pipestone!
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is asking the general public to weigh in on how the PUC should proceed with the pipeline reroute permits received by the Magellan Pipeline Company. Pipestone is a sacred site in Lakota and other Indigenous spiritualities, and is the sole source of ceremonial pipes used by over 23 tribal nations. Magellan has failed to comply with the MNPUC's own orders to collaborate with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council on selecting an appropriate contractor for the cultural survey, and should be denied their permit.
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Regardless of where you live, we are calling on Coalition members to submit a public comment by August 21, asking the MNPUC to
deny the permits and support the NO BUILD alternative
put forth collaboratively by the tribes and Indigenous-led organizations.
Please join our Indigenous relatives in fighting to protect this sacred site, and use your voice to advocate for religious freedom for all.
For more information, including resources, webinars, talking points, and toolkits on submitting a public comment, visit:
https://linktr.ee/ProtectPipestoneCalltoAction
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Join our Quarterly Repair Network Call
September 1, 2026
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All are welcome
to join our upcoming Quarterly Repair Network call on September 1st! During our call, Sarah Augustine and organizing staff will lead discussion around engaging with repair and healing as communities and congregations, including how to support the National Day of Remembrance (Orange Shirt Day) on Sept. 30th.
Join us if you are active, in process, or in the early stages of leading your congregation or community in joining the Coalition's Repair Network.
Register for the Zoom link
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Activists Living with Disability - August 12th
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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 Wednesdays.
Our next meeting will be
Wednesday, August 12th from 3-4pm PST / 5-6pm CST / 6-7pm EST.
You can
register here
to receive the Zoom link. This month, we will continue our discussion on activism as part of a life of resistance.
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Take a Course with Sarah Augustine:
Joining the Vulnerable in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
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This Fall, Sarah Augustine is teaching a course at St. Stephen's University (SSU) as part of their Certificate in Reconciliation Studies.
Sarah's course is
Joining the Vulnerable in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
In this course, we will unpack the legal and policy structure that is the Doctrine of Discovery, the basis of land-tenure policy pertaining to Indigenous Peoples in North America and around the globe. Writer, speaker and activist Sarah Augustine will share her life experience as an Indigenous woman to demonstrate its current impact, and lead discussion about how to resist and dismantle it in the context of Indigenous cosmology. Students will have the opportunity to generate creative responses that link Indigenous liberation with climate and environmental justice, joining vulnerable peoples in land and water defense movements for liberation.
This course can be taken either fully online or in a hybrid online/in person format, for academic credit or audited, and as part of the larger reconciliation certificate program or as an individual course.
Learn more
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About the Certificate in Reconciliation Studies program:
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The certificate can be taken on its own or integrated into a master’s degree at St.
Stephen’s University.
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The certificate requires a total of 18 credit hours, spread out over two semesters. Students may start with either semester.
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Semester One - in 2026 - starts on September 8 and ends on December 9, consists of three courses (each 3 credit hours, for a total of 9 out of 18 credit hours).
Complete an application online:
ssu.ca/application
Questions? Contact:
ssu.ca/contact
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A Dangerous Faith
Submission Call
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A Dangerous Faith: Inspiration for the Journey
is an online and printed zine for youth and young adults with content written by them and for them. Do you know a young adult or teen who writes and/or creates art? Share
this submission call
with them!
We want contributions from young people of faith who are passionate about justice and advocacy. We are interested in visual art, poetry, songs and reflections (max: 600 words).
Our theme for the Summer 2026 issue:
Holding Love and Justice
FINAL submission deadline:
Friday, July 31st, 2026
To share submissions,
fill out
this short google form
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Looking for how to plug-in? Want to learn more about the Coalition? Join our next Volunteer Orientation on
August 20
th
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 - hosted by Coalition staff - will be Wednesday,
August 26th
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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Resource Corner
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Moving Towards Right Relations Training in September:
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Register for Module 1
on
Thursday, September 24
from 4:00pm - 6:00pm PT / 5:00pm - 7:00pm MT / 6:00pm - 8:00pm CT / 7:00pm - 9:00pm ET
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Register for Module 2
on
Saturday, September 26
from 9:00am - 11:00am PT / 10:00am - 12:00pm MT / 11:00am - 1:00pm CT / 12:00pm - 2:00pm ET
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Learn more and see our full schedule at
tinyurl.com/Trainings2026
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Read the latest
Calls to Action and reflection on
the Coalition Blog
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From Sarah and Sheri's Substack:
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Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Podcast -
In the newest season of the DoD podcast we are releasing the Indigenous Speaker Series in audio format! Listen to the latest episodes with
Wendsler Nosie and Diane Schenandoah
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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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