Series: First Nations’ Rights: The Gap Between Law and Practice | Vancouver, January 24, 2013

Debunking the Doctrine of Discovery:

Colonial Excuse for the Seizure of Land and the Oppression of Peoples

Medieval European law allowed a monarch to claim any land discovered by one of his subjects if it was occupied by non-Christians. In the 16th century, war against Native Americans was justified on the basis that they were “slaves by nature, uncivilized, barbarian and inhuman.” Robert Morales, chief negotiator for the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group will unveil the continuing effects of this archaic doctrine which even surfaced in a 2012 B.C. Court of Appeal reasoning.

Speaker: Robert Morales – a lawyer and chief negotiator for Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group

Thursday, January 24, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Location

Vancouver Public Library
Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level Central Library,
350 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC

ADMISSION IS FREE but seating is limited

Sponsored by: Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, Amnesty International Canada,  & Vancouver Public Library.