Mick Dodson helps to “decolonize God”

by Dr Fiona Hill

Australian of the Year, Professor Mick Dodson, has launched a book debunking notions that the Bible can be used to justify dispossession of Australian Indigenous peoples.

The book, Decolonizing God: The Bible in the Tides of Empire by Melbourne academic Dr Mark Brett was released in the Betty Cuthbert Room of the Melbourne Cricket Ground as part of the 2009 National Native Title Conference. Earlier on the same day, Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls announced a framework agreement making it possible to settle native title claims out of court.

Mark Brett contributed to the development of this framework in his role as Policy Officer for Native Title Services Victoria from 2005 to 2008. He has also been Professor of Hebrew Bible at Melbourne’s Whitley College, a campus of the Melbourne College of Divinity, since 1992.

Professor Dodson, who chaired the negotiations leading to the framework agreement, said that he had worked with Mark over the past three years.

“I am not an expert on Bible theory,” Professor Dodson said. “But I do know that there is no one more qualified than Mark to write this important book.”

For Dr Brett, the release of Decolonizing God on the same day as the State Government’s landmark announcement served as culmination of his three years in native title advocacy and twenty years of biblical scholarship.

The Victorian Government estimates that it may be possible to handle ten native title claims within 10 years, rather than the 55 years it would otherwise have taken within the current arrangements.

While the Gunditjmara people of South West Victoria have already settled their claim, the process was so costly and lengthy that some elders did not live to see the resolution. Under the new agreements, Aboriginal groups will be able to negotiate for a range of benefits which promote cultural recognition and economic opportunity.

In responding to Professor Dodson’s endorsement of his book, Mark Brett said that he had been particularly inspired by Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, a pioneering Aboriginal campaigner for civil rights and reconciliation.

Dr Brett said that Pastor Doug was confident in his faith that there was more than one kind of sovereignty and that governments could be resisted.

“It has been a privilege to work with Pastor Doug’s grandchildren over the past three years, and with many other traditional owners, especially those who participated through the Land Justice Group in negotiations with the State Government,” he said.

“Against the canvas of eternity, empires come and go. The Bible contains one long story of resistance to the claims of empires, whether Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic or Roman.”

“The Exodus story in the Bible, describing escape from slavery in Egypt, has inspired many revolutions against tyrannical governments.”

“The Gospels tell us that death at the hands of an unjust State is not the end of the story.”

“The letters of the Apostle Paul insist that the key virtues in life are faith, hope and love. Otherwise, the followers of Jesus are free to maintain their own law and custom.”

“All of this should be an encouragement to Aboriginal Christians and an inspiration to ‘whitefellas’ to work for land justice and cultural respect”.

Chief Executive Officer for Native Title Services Victoria, Mr Chris Marshall, said that Dr Brett’s standing as an international biblical scholar underwrites the conclusion that there is a strong biblical mandate for ancient tribal boundaries to be respected.

He said that Decolonizing God dispelled any lingering notion that the Bible could be used to justify dispossession of Indigenous people.

Dr Fiona Hill is a Melbourne writer whose doctoral thesis was on the Bible and abuse within faith communities.

Decolonizing God: The Bible in the Tides of Empire is available from ATF Press PO box 504, Hindmarsh SA 5007. http://www.atfpress.com