Steven T. Newcomb

Steven Newcomb (Shawnee, Lenape) is the co-founder and director of the Indigenous Law Institute, and author of Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery (Fulcrum, 2008). He co-produced the documentary movie “The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code” (2015), which is based on Pagans and his four decades of research.

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Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery: A Wakaga Sovereignty Series is a multi-article initiative by the Wakaga Economic Development Group examining how the centuries-old Doctrine of Christian Discovery still shapes federal Indian law and impacts tribal sovereignty today. Drawing on the research of Steven T. Newcomb, this 100+ article series explores the doctrine’s colonial origins, its influence on landmark Supreme Court decisions, and its continuing effect on U.S. Indian policy and Wakaga governance. Designed as a resource for tribal members, educators, policymakers, youth, and allies, the series combines historical analysis with practical insights to challenge the legacy of domination embedded in U.S. law and foster informed action toward true sovereignty.

🚨 New Series Alert! 🚨 For centuries, the Doctrine of Christian Discovery has been used to justify the theft of Indigenous lands—and it’s STILL shaping federal Indian law today.

The Wakaga Economic Development Group’s Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery series digs deep into this colonial framework, unpacking its origins, its impact on landmark Supreme Court cases, and how it continues to affect Wakaga sovereignty, land rights, and governance.

  • 💡 Over 100 articles.
  • 📚 Groundbreaking research by Steven T. Newcomb.
  • ⚡ Tools to educate, challenge, and transform U.S. law’s legacy of domination.

Join us on this journey to understand—and dismantle—the Doctrine of Discovery. 👉 Read the series here

SUGGESTED CITATION

Steven T. Newcomb, "Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery: A Wakaga Sovereignty Series," Doctrine of Discovery Project (5 August 2025), https://doctrineofdiscovery.org/blog/link/decoding-doctrine-discovery-series/.

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