“Changing Times, Changing Direction: It’s Way Too Late—But Never Too Late”
An Entangity Daily Editorial
History is not just a record of what happened—it’s a mirror reflecting who we are and who we aspire to be. And when we look into that mirror, we must confront the uncomfortable truth that the foundations of modern colonial societies were built on doctrines that dehumanized Indigenous peoples and justified their dispossession.
The so-called “Doctrine of Discovery,” rooted in 15th-century papal bulls like Dum Diversas (1452), Romanus Pontifex (1455), and Inter Caetera (1493), gave divine and legal cover to the conquest of non-Christian lands. These documents didn’t use the word “savages,” but they treated Indigenous peoples as if they were: as obstacles to be subdued, not as nations to be respected.
And yet, in 1537, Pope Paul III issued Sublimis Deus, declaring that Indigenous peoples were “truly men,” fully human, and deserving of liberty and property. It was a moral turning point—but one that came too late to stop the machinery of empire. The bull was largely ignored, and the earlier doctrines continued to shape centuries of colonization.
So where does that leave us today?
It leaves us with a choice—and a responsibility.
We cannot undo the past. But we can change how we understand it, how we teach it, and how we move forward from it. That’s why we propose a new political mantra:
“Changing Times, Changing Direction.”
This is not about erasing history. It’s about rewriting our future with honesty, humility, and hope. And that means:
Acknowledging the cultural truths of Indigenous nations—their philosophies, governance systems, and deep relationships with the land.
Incorporating Indigenous ideals—such as stewardship, community balance, and intergenerational responsibility—into our policies and institutions.
Reforming education to tell the full story of colonization, resistance, and resilience.
Creating space for Indigenous leadership in shaping environmental, legal, and social frameworks.
This is not a call for symbolic gestures. It’s a call for meaningful integration of Indigenous wisdom into the systems that govern us all. It’s a recognition that Indigenous cultures hold keys to sustainability, justice, and coexistence—values we desperately need in a world facing ecological and social crises.
Yes, it is way too late to undo the harm. But it is never too late to change direction.
Let this be the era where we stop asking whether it’s too late. Let this be the era where we say:
“It’s never too late to do what’s right.”