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Show Notes

Episode 7: Tim welcomes scholar and author Steven Newcomb for a topical discussion on Steven’s work investigating the Doctrine of Discovery.

Together, Tim and Steven dig into the doctrine’s colossal impact on history, including its emergence from the “Right of Discovery” and the Papal Bulls of 1493 and its traumatic and destructive effect on First Nation culture. They delve into the doctrine’s imprint on the American legal system, including references in an Supreme Court opinion by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as its extensive influence on American Politics, including recent comments by former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Steven explains the progression of the papal bulls, outlining the language of domination which is explicitly used in each of them, stripping away the concept of ‘discovery’ to reveal a clear intent of domination. To this day this is still the basis of federal Indian law.

The clip from the documentary Steven co-produced, The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code, directed by Sheldon Wolfchild can be found here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dominationcode

Steven talks about the process going forward, the problems inherent to moving ahead when millions of people share an erroneous construct regarding the foundations of current law and practice. He invites us to continue this work by simply talking about the doctrine of discovery and its impact with each other, giving some hints for fostering deep friendly conversation, sharing more about his own ‘intellectual running partners’.

Steven reminds us that every part of our culture, language, and modern world have been impacted by this Doctrine of Domination. He invites us to watch his movie and even to host viewing parties. Here are some tools to help with creating those conversations:

The Indigenous Law Institute, founded by Steven with Birgil Kills Straight can be found here: http://ili.nativeweb.org/

Steven’s other site, which shows his work on the Doctrine of Discovery and the books he has published, is here: https://originalfreenations.com/

Steven’s published article from 1993 in the NYU Review of Law and Social Change: “The Evidence of Christian Nationalism in Federal Indian Law: The Doctrine of Discovery, Johnson v McIntosh, and Plenary Power” can be found here: https://socialchangenyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Steven-Newcomb_RLSC_20.2.pdf

Tim’s basic overview of the Doctrine of Discovery from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_doctrine

Steven mentions this article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/27/only-racist-ignorance-lets-rick-santorum-think-america-was-birthed-from-nothing

And again his documentary: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dominationcode

You can find Tim’s Website here: timothylongmusic.com

Special Thanks to Martha Redbone for her permission to use her song “Medicine Man” for the opening credits.

More of her work can be found here and you can subscribe to her Youtube channel here.

More information on Foundry Arts, the producer of Unequal Temperament, is available at www.thefoundryarts.com

Foundry Arts is a lab for opera using collaboration and partnership to invest in artist development, dialogue, and expression, to sustain a rich, diverse, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable cultural landscape.