Indigenous Concerns Subcommittee

The Indigenous Concerns Subcommittee was created by the Ministry Committee in February 2021. The present purposes are to:

  • Inform and support the PacYM community as it seeks to uncover the history and ongoing impacts of colonization in and on both Indigenous and Quaker communities,
  • Increase awareness of Indigenous peoples’ struggles and joys both within and outside our Quaker communities, and
  • Seek equitable and just partnership among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

For information on plans and actions of the Subcommittee, please refer to the reports listed below.

Membership: The subcommittee is seeking recommendations of members and of Indigenous Friends who may prefer to serve as an advisor or accountability partner to the subcommittee. 

Service description: The subcommittee assumes firm commitment to the goals. Each member invests an average of 4 hours per month to subcommittee work. Usually the subcommittee meets once per month. There is an expectation of leadership on interest groups and activities at and outside of Annual Session.

Email: indigenousconcernsclerk@pacificyearlymeeting.org

Reports from the Subcommittee

Actions and Activities

Doctrine of Discovery: Examination and Response

In February, March and April 2023 the Subcommittee produced one program per month with 2 sessions each on the Doctrine of Discovery for a total of more than 50 participants. The first session included a showing of the film by Steven Newcomb, Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code” followed by a short time for first impressions. Each second session was devoted to diving more deeply into the consequences and what might be done now.
Meetings interested in hosting their own screening and follow-up session or in having the Subcommittee provide a screening and follow-up, please reach out to the subcommittee at indigenousconcernsclerk@pacificyearlymeeting.org

Contact with Meetings

The subcommittee has contacted the majority of monthly meetings to learn of their interests in Indigenous Concerns and what related activities they have pursued.

Friends for Right Relationship Listserv

Please share with your meetings and orgs:
→ Visit groups.google.com/g/FriendsRR and complete the Join Request Form.

Many Friends share a concern to recognize and act to repair the massive injustices committed against Indigenous Peoples, to develop better relationships, and to celebrate Indigenous cultures today. One way for these Friends to stay in touch with each other is to join the Friends for Right Relationship Google Group, which currently includes nearly 200 people across the US and Canada as well as in some other locales. The listserv is for asking questions and sharing news, resources, and relevant activities of all our Quaker communities and organizations on Indigenous matters. It is under the care of Decolonizing Quakers.

Voluntary Land Tax examples

Article on Voluntary Land Taxes (from the Native Governance Center)

Known options in the Pacific YM area:

Each of these has been organized by the wider local community in consultation with the Tribe or Nation. Please email to let us know of any others in the PacYM region.

Some related organizations and resources

… on topics such as: land acknowledgements, legislation on reparations, ways to support healing from Quaker involvement in forced boarding schools for Native children in the US, repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, and more:

QUAKER-RELATED

GENERAL

Further Resources

Find additional resources compiled by the Indigenous Concerns Subcommittee HERE

Contact Information

Email: indigenousconcernsclerk@pacificyearlymeeting.org

Contact us page for various other PacYM contacts.

See the Complete List of PacYM officers, appointees, committee members and delegates on the Roster of PacYM Officeholders page.