January 2013 - Vancouver, occupied Coast Salish Land Series: First Nations Rights: The Gap Between Law and Practice Debunking the Doctrine of Discovery: Colonial excuse for the seizure of lands and oppression of peoples Thursday, January 24, 7:00 -- 8:30 p.m. Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level Central Library, 350 West Georgia St. Admission is free. Seating is limited. Medieval European law allowed a monarch to claim any land discovered by one of his subjects if it was occupied by non-Christians. In the 16th century, war against Native Americans was justified on the basis that they were "slaves by nature, uncivilized, barbarian and inhuman." Robert Morales, chief negotiator for the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group will unveil the continuing effects of this archaic doctrine which recently surfaced in a 2012 B.C. Court of Appeal decision. Robert Morales is a lawyer and chief negotiator for Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group. Presented by LRWC, The Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group and Amnesty International: co-hosted by the Vancouver Public Library