Vancouver Unitarians Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and the Doctrine of Terra Nullius

IPA, Resolutions, Social JusticeJune 10, 2025

The Vancouver Unitarians’ congregation formally endorsed the Canadian Unitarian Council’s (CUC) motion passed on May 19, 2023 to “Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery” later amended in May 2024 to also include repudiating the doctrine of Terra Nullius.

This resolution builds on the work that members of the Environment, IPA and SJ teams started in 2022. Here is a recording of the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius Forum held on November 20, 2022. This forum was instrumental in helping the CUC draft and approve their motions to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and the Doctrine of Terra Nullius. The resolution was passed at the Extraordinary General Meeting on June 8, 2025.

The Doctrine of Discovery comprises several 15th century papal bulls proclaiming that Christian nations had the right to take possession of the lands of non-Christians to save their souls by Christianizing them. The Doctrine of Terra Nullius (vacant land) was considered to apply to land not yet occupied by Christians, so sovereignty, title and jurisdiction could be claimed over it.

Please click here for a timeline of repudiation by major religious groups and other additional information.

Please click here for additional reading materials related to this resolution.

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2025 VanU Cherry Blossom Party Haikus

Blog, IPAApril 8, 2025

Thank you to all who attended our lovely 2025 Cherry Blossom Picnic Potluck on Sunday, March 30^th. The rain kept us away from eating under the cherry blossoms, but we had a wonderful time watching videos of cherry blossoms in Japan and listening to Hisako and Megumi share their knowledge and stories. We also enjoyed delicious food and Cecilia led a workshop on Haiku writing. Tamiko worked behind the scenes to bring everything together!

Cold dark rainy sleep

The sun returns bringing joy

Nature bursts alive

(Unknown)

Pink and white abound

Tiny petals floating down

Fragrant air delights

(Unknown)

Walk in blossom time

Looking through the colour feast

Try to find the sky

(Unknown)

Sayonara (sigh)

Cherry blossoms waiting still

Looking to the sky

(Unknown)

Darn roadside litter

It was not raccoon or deer

Their sh*t blends in

(Jean)

Pink haze heralds joy

Deepening as each day comes

Blossoms breaking free

(Unknown)

Mother Nature sings

Ev’ry springtime without fail

Blossoms sing so loud

(Mairy Beam)

Community lunch

Sushi, chips, salsa, cookies

Tummies feel replete

(Mairy Beam)

Winter stretches long

Iris bulbs in gardens sleep

Dreaming of the thaw

(Tim S.)

Endless days of grey

Colour erupts around us

Joy blooms in our hearts

(Cecilia)

Pink petals falling

Caught in a sun beam

Precious memories

(Cecilia)

Petals in the wind

Breezes in my hair and face

On my mountain path

(Gerta)

Peaceful canopy

A walk through shared history

Communities’ love

(Linda)

Written in the petals

Joy showers our community

A song of sharing

(Linda)

Pretty kitty plays in blooms

Curious sniffs and scampers

A feline delight

(Linda)

Lovers experience joy

Mother and their young delights

Pink blossoms bless us

(Linda)

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IPA Happenings in Winter 2025

Blog, IPAFebruary 14, 2025

Read on for exciting events by the IPA team to promote greater understanding of IBPOC experiences and healthy relations through fun, intercultural and inter-generational activities! Watch for news of upcoming events on the VanU IPA webpage and we hope you’ll join us!

IPA stands for IBPOC Plus ALLIES while IBPOC stands for Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour. If you have any ideas that you’d like to see the IPA team organize or if you are interested in joining the IPA, please contact us at IPA@vanu.ca

Lunar New Year Community Dinner Celebration

We wish all who celebrate a Happy Lunar New Year and Year of the Snake!

On February 1, 2025 the VanU community shared in a Lunar New Year community dinner in Hewett Centre to celebrate the Year of the Snake as well as crafts, singing, and dancing. Great fun was had by all! Thank you to all for your contributions and participation in the food, singing, dancing and other activities!

2025 ushers in the year of the Wood Snake. Spring is the season associated with Wood, which makes 2025 (much like 2024’s Wood year) a time for renewal, change and rebirth. The Wood element brings its own unique flavour to the Snake’s influence. Since Wood encourages growth, expansion, and renewal, visualize a vine winding its way up a trellis, gaining strength with every twist. Snakes are considered to be very intelligent, thinking carefully and strategically. Snakes also shed their skin, symbolically representing letting go of the old and embracing transformation. It is a year to make responsible decisions to evolve spiritually, moving away from old ways and habits that no longer serve us or the earth.

IPA Service – January 26, 2025

Belonging was the theme for the IPA Team led service. The service explored how that is possible when one is straddling two cultures? Our three guest speakers, who are the offspring of immigrants, shared how as children, they were the bridge between their parents, who brought over their language, culture, hopes and dreams, and the new reality of life in Canada. Thank you so much to everyone who shared in this special service including participating in singing our chosen hymns in other languages and being seated in a semi-circle formation to encourage sharing and connection!