Papal Bulls- Right By Force (Credit to Peter D’Errico)

American History, Indigenous American History, Indigenous Perspective, Justice and Law, Uncategorized 1 Minute

Romanua Pontifex Jan 8 1455-(edited) ” We bestow favors and special graces on those Catholic champions to invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue all pagans, to reduce their persons to perpetual slavery, and to appropriate possessions to Christian use and profit.”

The ‘Requirement’ of 1513 was to be read to the indigenous populations before any hostilities could commence. (edited)

” …Wherefore we require you acknowledge the Church as the ruler of the world. If you do not do this we shall enter your country and make war against you and subject you to the yoke of the Church. We shall take you, your wives, your children and shall make slaves of them, selling and disposing of them as Their Highnesses shall command; we shall take away your goods and do you all the mischief and damage we can and we protest that the deaths and losses which shall accrue from this are your fault!…”.

These Papal Bulls form the underlying fabric of US Law as it relates to Native Americans. Supreme Ct Justice (John) Marshall borrowed from the Papal Bulls the essential legalisms needed for State power over indigenous nations –Johnson vs McIntosh. Native Americans have been denied their rights in Federal Law from 1823 until today–because they were not originally Christian. Since Johnson vs McIntosh has never been overruled, the legal foundations for US Sovereignty over indigenous nations has remained “Christian Discovery”, concealed by the insertion of the word ‘European’ for the word ‘Christian’ in subsequent history and law books. The “age of discovery” became the “age of european expansion”. Even Marshall admitted the doctrine was an “extravagant… pretension” which “may be opposed to natural right” but “These claims have been established and maintained… by the sword.” (Marshall)

Since todays’ Christians rarely speak up to support Indigenous (and Native American rights) around the globe, perhaps we have not progressed so far from these Papal Bulls as some would like to think!

Published by jbluewolf/Wolf Tracks

James Don BlueWolf, has been a songwriter, recording artist, performer, lecturer, poet, author and storyteller since the early 1970's. He has recorded one record album, "Strike The Drum" (1979, Double Platinum Records), five CD's of original music and one CD of Traditional Native drum and rattle songs.. He has sung for collegiate concert choirs and jazz ensembles as a member and soloist, and has composed and performed professionally as a lead vocalist for the bands Wilderness and Alegria. In addition he has performed as a solo artist of original folk music, and as a 1970-1980's member of the Redtail Drum. He is an internationally published poet, and was named Poet Laureate of Lake County, California from 2000 to 2003. His first book of poetry, "Sitting By His Bones" was published in 1999 by Earthen Vessel Productions and later as an audiobook narrated by the author. He is the co-author of a collection of family vignettes published in 2000, "Grandpa Says-- Stories For A Seventh Generation". He received a Wordcraft Circle Of Native Writers and Storytellers Children’s Writer of the Year Award for his 2007 book “Speaking For Fire”, illustrated by Carolyn Wing Greenlee. This book was re-released as an audio/video production in 2012 with BlueWolf as narrator. He is an essayist and media commentator, with productions and appearances featured on TV and radio. His stories for children of all ages have been featured on numerous radio programs in the U.S. and Canada. He is the author, narrator and co-producer of the documentary DVD, Hinthel Gaahnuula, a narrative history of the Native population around Clearlake, CA., and was a popular radio host on two Nor Cal radio stations. Mr. BlueWolf has been a contributing writer for newspapers and magazines such as the Lake County News Online, Lake County Record Bee, Queen, Back To The Blanket Journal, and Native American News (Wotanging Ikche). His poetry and stories have appeared in the Sierra Journal, the Alura Quarterly, The Hungry Poet, Back To The Blanket Journal, The Crazy Child Scribbler, Native News, Native Realities, the Montserrat Review, New Zealand's Blackmail Press and selections of his work have been translated for the French Publication—Nouveau Delits. He currently lives in Reno, Nevada with his wife of over four decades, Bernie.

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