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
Table of Contents
Reports from the Subcommittee
- Indigenous Concerns Subcommittee Report to AS2023
- Indigenous Concerns Report to RepCom 2023
2023 Land Acknowledgement - Indigenous Concerns Report to AS 2022
- Indigenous Concerns Report to RepCom 2022
- Indigenous Concerns Report to AS 2021
- Indigenous Concerns report to RepCom 2021
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:
- Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program supports the Nisenan Tribe: Nevada City, CA
- Shuumi Land Tax supports the Lisjan (Ohlone) Tribe: East Bay area, CA
- Wiyot Honor Tax supports the Wiyot Nation: Humboldt Bay area, CA
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
- Decolonizing Quakers (US/Canada) — Website is a resources hub
- Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Native American Advocacy
- Nakani Native Program – former AFSC program in the Northwest US, provides training and consultation
- Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples (not solely for Quakers) — workshops, educational materials, and research on Quaker involvement in forced boarding school era in the US
- See other yearly/monthly meetings, for example:
- Australia YM First Nations Peoples Concerns
- Boulder Friends Meeting Indigenous Peoples Concerns
- Canadian Friends Service Committee — Resource and action list
- New England YM local discernment and action
- Friends groups Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery
GENERAL
- California Truth & Healing Council — State-sponsored, Indigenous-led
- National Council of Churches: Creation Justice Ministries – Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery (and more)
- California Truth, Healing, & Conservation Program — Network of California community religious leaders learning and acting in support of Black and Indigenous-led initiatives
- Native-Land.ca — Interactive map and educational resources; guidance on land acknowledgements
- The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS)
- Seventh Generation Fund (Mckinleyville, CA) — Indigenous social-profit organization in the U.S. serving transnational community-based organizations: resources, technical assistance, and training
- See Decolonizing Quakers for other general resources
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.