Vernacular Sovereignties Quotes

“In 1942 the Vatican issued bulls framing the Americas as terra nullius, and lands that were not under the control of the Christian faith were considered empty wastelands, up for grabs. This doctrine relied on the invention of Indigenous peoples as savages 'without society, sovereignty, or private property', too primitive to embody political authority, and justified European invasions. Terra nullius was a Christian 'law of nations', but it shaped the formation of international law, which has historically treated Indigenous peoples as sovereign nullius.”
― Manuela Lavinas Picq, Vernacular Sovereignties: Indigenous Women Challenging World Politics