Australian National University Press is Australia’s first open-access university press. They specialise in publishing peer-reviewed research on a broad range of topics including Asia and Pacific studies, Australian politics, humanities, arts, Indigenous studies and science. Launched in 2004, ANU Press prides itself on its innovation in the area of open-access scholarship.
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Astronomy Sky Country by
What do you need to know to prosper for 65,000 years or more? The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest scientists in human history.
Many First Peoples regard the land as a reflection of the sky and the sky a reflection of the land. Sophisticated astronomical expertise embedded within the Dreaming and Songlines is interwoven into a deep understanding of changes on the land, such as weather patterns and seasonal shifts, that are integral to knowledges of time, food availability, and ceremony.
In Astronomy: Sky Country, Karlie Noon and Krystal De Napoli explore the connections between Aboriginal environmental and cultural practices and the behaviour of the stars, and consider what must be done to sustain our dark skies, and the information they hold, into the future.
Contemplating Country by
Contemplating Country picks up where Gondwana Theology (2018) left off. It extends and deepens the ways in which Aboriginal spirituality and Christian theology may talk to each other. Employing the image of conversation around a campfire, Contemplating Country invites the reader to consider the ways in which Christian theology, community, and practice may be transformed through a deep and profound encounter with Aboriginal ways of seeing, knowing, and doing. Such transformation is necessary, according to this author, if Christianity is ever to leave behind its Eurocentric habits and truly arrive in the sovereign and unceded country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
Everywhen: Australia and the Language of Deep History by
Everywhen asks how knowledge systems of Aboriginal people can broaden our understanding of the past and of history. Indigenous ways of knowing, narrating, and re-enacting the past in the present blur the distinctions of time, making all history now, with questions of time and language at the heart of Indigenous sovereignty.
Edited by Ann McGrath, Laura Rademaker, and Jakelin Troy, this collection draws attention to every when showing us that history is not as straightforward as some might think.
Fire Country by
Delving deep into the Australian landscape and its alarming state of devastation, Fire Country is a powerful account from Indigenous land management expert Victor Steffensen on how the revival of Indigenous fire practices, including what’s called ‘cool burns’, could restore our country.
Fire Country offers practical solutions for better 'reading country’ and knowing when is the right time to undertake cool burns, considering current climate conditions and each landscape’s specific ecosystem. From the age of 18, Victor has spent time on country learning traditional cultural and ecological knowledge from Elders. Having been developed over many generations of his people living on the land, this knowledge shows clearly that Australia actually needs fire – with burning done in a controlled manner – for land care and healing.
Victor’s writing is unassuming and honest, written in a manner that reflects the nature of yarning. And while much of the knowledge shared in his book is still unknown to western science, there is much evidence that, if adopted, it will benefit all Australians.
First Knowledges Innovation : Knowledge and Ingenuity by
Deeply insightful, sensitive and passionate. An inspiring, meticulous picture of the innovations that have made us the world's oldest living culture.' - Larissa Behrendt 'Another fascinating volume in this landmark Australian publishing series.' - Richard Flanagan What do you need to know to prosper as a people for at least 65,000 years? The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians. First Nations Australians are some of the oldest innovators in the world. Original developments in social and religious activities, trading strategies, technology and land-management are underpinned by philosophies that strengthen sustainability of Country and continue to be utilised today. Innovation: Knowledge and Ingenuity reveals novel and creative practices such as: body shaping; cremation; sea hunting with the help of suckerfish; building artificial reefs for oyster farms; repurposing glass from Europeans into spearheads; economic responses to colonisation; and a Voice to Parliament. In the first book to detail Indigenous innovations in Australia, Ian J McNiven and Lynette Russell showcase this legacy of First Nations peoples and how they offer resourceful ways of dealing with contemporary challenges that can benefit us all
Gondwana Theology by
In this compelling work, Garry Deverell offers a remarkable synthesis of autobiographical reflections, theological analysis and liturgical creativity. Putting aside theoretical jargon and conventional God-talk, we encounter here an Aboriginal voice that none of the churches in Australia can afford to ignore. This is a book that all Australian Christians need to read. -Professor Mark Brett, Whitley College 'In this brief volume Garry wrestles with questions Indigenous Christians everywhere regularly confront. As have others before him he asks, ""How does an Indigenous person authentically make the faith that has been used as a means of oppression of him and his people, the ultimate source of his liberation from that oppression?"" ""Furthermore,"" he inquires, ""how can he challenge the White Christian world that has all but subsumed his and his people's lives in theirs, with the need for reconciliation and change of heart, if their own hearts continue to harbour only bitterness, resentment, and anger?"" The key concern is, of course, ""What will it require of each of us to live together well in the land?"" Personal story, embedded with pointed inquiry, and a spiritual pleading for transformation, invites the reader to consider her own way of faith and her own journey toward wholeness. Enjoy in these pages, a work of heart and soul seeking the good way.' -Dr Terry LeBlanc North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies Garry Worete Deverell is a Trawloolway man from northern Tasmania who currently lives in Melbourne. An Anglican in holy orders, he has ministered in parishes, hospitals, and academic institutions for 25 years. Garry has a PhD in liturgy and philosophical theology from Monash University. He is currently the vicar of St Agnes' Anglican Church in Black Rock, and a Turner Fellow at Trinity College Theological School, part of the University of Divinity. Garry is married to Lil and they have two grown-up daughters.
Indigenous Australia for Dummies by
A comprehensive, relevant, and accessible look at all aspects of Indigenous Australian history and culture What is The Dreaming? How many different Indigenous tribes and languages once existed in Australia? What is the purpose of a corroboree? What effect do the events of the past have on Indigenous peoples today? Indigenous Australia For Dummies, 2nd Edition answers these questions and countless others about the oldest race on Earth. It explores Indigenous life in Australia before 1770, the impact of white settlement, the ongoing struggle by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to secure their human rights and equal treatment under the law, and much more. Celebrating the contributions of Indigenous people to contemporary Australian culture, the book explores Indigenous art, music, dance, literature, film, sport, and spirituality. It discusses the concept of modern Indigenous identity and examines the ongoing challenges facing Indigenous communities today, from health and housing to employment and education, land rights, and self-determination. Explores significant political moments--such as Paul Keating's Redfern Speech, Kevin Rudd's apology, and more Profiles celebrated people and organisations in a variety of fields, from Cathy Freeman to Albert Namatjira to the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the National Aboriginal Radio Service Challenges common stereotypes about Indigenous people and discusses current debates, such as land rights and inequalities in health and education Now in its second edition, Indigenous Australia For Dummies will enlighten readers of all backgrounds about the history, struggles and triumphs of the diverse, proud, and fascinating peoples that make up Australia's Indigenous communities. With a foreword by Stan Grant, it's a must-read account of Australia's first people.
Law: the way of the ancestors by
"The First Knowledges series offers an introduction to Indigenous knowledges in vital areas and their application to the present day and the future. Exploring practices such as songlines, architecture, design, land management, botany, astronomy and law, this series brings together two very different ways of understanding the natural world: one ancient, the other modern. The sixth book focuses on law. Law is culture, and culture is law. Given by the ancestors and cultivated over millennia, Indigenous law defines what it is to be human. Complex and evolving, law holds the keys to resilient, caring communities and a life in balance with nature. Marcia Langton and Aaron Corn show how Indigenous law has enabled people to survive and thrive in Australia for more than 2000 generations. Nurturing people and places, law is the foundation of all Indigenous societies in Australia, giving them the tools to respond and adapt to major environmental and social changes. But law is not a thing of the past. These living, sophisticated systems are as powerful now as they have ever been, if not more so." -- Provided by publisher.
Songlines : the power and promise by
onglines are an archive for powerful knowledges that ensured Australia's many Indigenous cultures flourished for over 60,000 years. Much more than a navigational path in the cartographic sense, these vast and robust stores of information are encoded through song, story, dance, art and ceremony, rather than simply recorded in writing. Weaving deeply personal storytelling with extensive research on mnemonics, Songlines: The Power and Promise offers unique insights into Indigenous traditional knowledges, how they apply today and how they could help all peoples thrive into the future. This book invites readers to understand a remarkable way for storing knowledge in memory by adapting song, art, and most importantly, Country, into their lives.
Swallow the Air by
When May's mother dies suddenly, she and her brother Billy are taken in by Aunty. However, their loss leaves them both searching for their place in a world that doesn't seem to want them. While Billy takes his own destructive path, May sets out to find her father and her Aboriginal identity. Her journey leads her from the Australian east coast to the far north, but it is the people she meets, not the destinations, that teach her what it is to belong. Swallow the Air is an unforgettable story of living in a torn world and finding the thread to help sew it back together.
The welcome to country handbook : a guide to Indigenous Australia by
The Welcome to Country Handbook by Professor Marcia Langton AO is your accessible introduction to First Nations Peoples, histories and cultures. Drawn from the bestselling Welcome to Country, this guide is essential reading for every Australia, and an excellent resource for cultural awareness training in the workplace or classroom. The chapters cover precolonial and post-colonial history, language, kinship, knowledge, art, performance, storytelling, Native Title, the Stolen Generations, making a rightful place for First Australians and looking to the future for Indigenous Australia. A new introduction as well as a chapter on racism have been written especially for this handbook. A must for every household, this book shows how lucky we are to be the home of the world's oldest continuing civilisation, which is something to be respected and treasured.
Aboriginal spirituality, aboriginal philosophy, the basis of Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing. by
"Although this discussion paper has been developed for people working within health practice, as it explains, the
wholistic1
philosophical basis of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture that encompasses wellbeing has
applications in every area of engagement with Indigenous Australian people. It addresses both the Cooperative
Research Centre for Aboriginal Health’s (CRCAH) research outcome to ‘explore how spirituality/beliefs/systems
of value contribute to Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing’, and the CRCAH’s stated goal of health
outcomes through:
Providing evidence that can be used by services and individual practitioners that address the social, emotional
and cultural needs of Aboriginal communities, and which promote the resilience of children, youth and families
(CRCAH n.d.:8)." Taken from introduction
Aboriginal spirituality : past, present, future by
Collection of essays from the first national conference on Aboriginality and perceptions of Christianity, held in 1990. Explores spirituality in relation to Christianity and discusses Aboriginal spirituality and the Gospel and the value of Aboriginal culture. Includes references. Contributors include Galarrway Yunupingu and Djiniyini Gondarra. The editor is the founder of the Aboriginal and Islander Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia. Her other works include 'Through Aboriginal Eyes' and 'The Great White Flood'.
Source: Publisher
Anaditj by
One of the reasons I want to write this book is because I don't sit easily with Western theology. It is so different to my Adnyamathanha understanding of Anaditj, the way things are. There's a much older story that has stood the test of time in this land of the universal Christ and the birth of the universal church that is not being acknowledged. As Aboriginal peoples we hold knowledge, understanding, and wisdom that not only our own, but all peoples, need to learn from -- language for God, wisdom for God's people, and challenge for the way ahead. For the the church to be complete, our voices must be heard.
Fire Country by
Delving deep into the Australian landscape and its alarming state of devastation, Fire Country is a powerful account from Indigenous land management expert Victor Steffensen on how the revival of Indigenous fire practices, including what’s called ‘cool burns’, could restore our country.
Fire Country offers practical solutions for better 'reading country’ and knowing when is the right time to undertake cool burns, considering current climate conditions and each landscape’s specific ecosystem. From the age of 18, Victor has spent time on country learning traditional cultural and ecological knowledge from Elders. Having been developed over many generations of his people living on the land, this knowledge shows clearly that Australia actually needs fire – with burning done in a controlled manner – for land care and healing.
Victor’s writing is unassuming and honest, written in a manner that reflects the nature of yarning. And while much of the knowledge shared in his book is still unknown to western science, there is much evidence that, if adopted, it will benefit all Australians.
Gondwana Theology by
In this compelling work, Garry Deverell offers a remarkable synthesis of autobiographical reflections, theological analysis and liturgical creativity. Putting aside theoretical jargon and conventional God-talk, we encounter here an Aboriginal voice that none of the churches in Australia can afford to ignore. This is a book that all Australian Christians need to read. -Professor Mark Brett, Whitley College 'In this brief volume Garry wrestles with questions Indigenous Christians everywhere regularly confront. As have others before him he asks, ""How does an Indigenous person authentically make the faith that has been used as a means of oppression of him and his people, the ultimate source of his liberation from that oppression?"" ""Furthermore,"" he inquires, ""how can he challenge the White Christian world that has all but subsumed his and his people's lives in theirs, with the need for reconciliation and change of heart, if their own hearts continue to harbour only bitterness, resentment, and anger?"" The key concern is, of course, ""What will it require of each of us to live together well in the land?"" Personal story, embedded with pointed inquiry, and a spiritual pleading for transformation, invites the reader to consider her own way of faith and her own journey toward wholeness. Enjoy in these pages, a work of heart and soul seeking the good way.' -Dr Terry LeBlanc North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies Garry Worete Deverell is a Trawloolway man from northern Tasmania who currently lives in Melbourne. An Anglican in holy orders, he has ministered in parishes, hospitals, and academic institutions for 25 years. Garry has a PhD in liturgy and philosophical theology from Monash University. He is currently the vicar of St Agnes' Anglican Church in Black Rock, and a Turner Fellow at Trinity College Theological School, part of the University of Divinity. Garry is married to Lil and they have two grown-up daughters.
Indigenous Australia and the Unfinished Business of Theology by
This book engages a complex subject that mainline theologies avoid, Indigenous Australia. The heritages, wisdoms and dreams of Indigenous Australians are tormented by the discriminating mindsets and colonialist practices of non-Indigenous peoples. This book gives special attention to the torments due to the arrival and development of the church.
Kerygmatics of the new millennium : a study of Australian Aboriginal women's Christology by 
Taking Liberty by
At last a history that explains how indigenous dispossession and survival underlay and shaped the birth of Australian democracy. The legacy of seizing a continent and alternately destroying and governing its original people shaped how white Australians came to see themselves as independent citizens. It also shows how shifting wider imperial and colonial politics influenced the treatment of indigenous Australians, and how indigenous people began to engage in their own ways with these new political institutions. It is, essentially, a bringing together of two histories that have hitherto been told separately: one concerns the arrival of early democracy in the Australian colonies, as white settlers moved from the shame and restrictions of the penal era to a new and freer society with their own institutions of government; the other is the tragedy of indigenous dispossession and displacement, with its frontier violence, poverty, disease and enforced regimes of mission life.
Unsettling theologies : memory, identity, and place by
How can we understand and respond to past and present entanglements of Christianity with colonisation? What kinds of theological perspectives and approaches are needed in the wake of colonisation and its impact? Unsettling Theologies includes responses to these questions from Aboriginal, Māori, Pasifika, and White scholars. Brian Fiu Kolia is Lecturer in Old Testament Studies at Malua Theological College and an ordained minister of the Congregational Christian Church, Samoa. He grew up in Australia and Samoa and his roots go back to the villages of Sili Savaii, Satapuala, Tufutafoe, and Faleaseela. Michael Mawson is the Maclaurin Goodfellow Associate Professor of Theological and Religious Studies at the University of Auckland/ Waipapa Taumata Rau. He is a Pākehā New Zealander with Scottish and English ancestry.
Bible Blindspots by
Several of the ways and cultures that the Bible privileges or denounces slip by unnoticed. When those--the privileged and the denounced--are not examined, they fade into and hide in the blind spots of the Bible. This collection of essays engages some of the subjects who face dispersion (physical displacement that sparks ideological bias) and othering (ideologies that manifest in social distancing and political displacement). These include, among others, the builders of Babel, Samaritans, Melchizedek, Jezebel, Judith, Gomer, Ruth, slaves, and mothers. In addition to considering the drive to privilege or denounce, the contributors also attend to subjects ignored because the Bible's blind spots are not examined. These include planet Earth, indigenous Australians, Palestinians, Dalits, minjungs, battered women, sexual-abuse victims, religious minorities, mothering men, gays, and foreigners.This collection encourages interchanges and exchanges between dispersion and othering, and between the Bible and context. It flows in the currents of postcolonial and gendered studies, and closes with a script that stages a biblical character at the intersection of the Bible's blind spots and modern readers' passions and commitments.
Colouring the rainbow : blak queer and trans perspectives : life stories and essays by First Nations People of Australia by
"Colouring the Rainbow uncovers the often hidden world of Queer and Trans Blak Australia and tells it like it is. Twenty-two First Nations people reveal their inner reflections and outlooks on family and culture, identity and respect, homophobia, transphobia, racism and decolonisation, activism, art, performance and more, through life stories and essays. The contributors to this ground-breaking book not only record the continuing relevance of traditional culture and practices, they also explain the emergence of homonormativity within the context of contemporary settler colonialism. Colouring the Rainbow is a real, searing and celebratory exploration of modern culture in post-apology Australia"--Provided by publisher.
De-Colonising the Biblical Narrative -- Volume 1 by
De-colonising the Biblical Narrative, Volume One represents a landmark in contemporary hermeneutics. In this volume we take into account our colonial history and develop a de-colonising hermeneutic which we employ to identify the colonial editing of the text and to retrieve precolonial narratives with which First Nations peoples of Australia may resonate. In the first volume we attempt to de-colonise the narratives of Genesis 1-11 and retrieve pre-colonial legends that are comparable to First Nations ancestral narratives. In Genesis One, for example, we retrieve a Primal Land Narrative in which the primordial ground is born, comes to life, creates life and is named 'Land' by the Creator Spirit. As we work through the traditions of Genesis 1-11 we also discern colonial additions like the mandate to dominate associated with the Imago Dei in Genesis 1.26-28. At the close of the analysis of each narrative, we include the response of First Nations Australia, thereby illustrating, not only the significance of our finding, but also the relevance for First Nations peoples.
The Future of the Biblical Past by
What does global biblical studies look like in the early decades of the twenty-first century, and what new directions may be discerned? Profound shifts have taken place over the last few decades as voices from the majority of the globe have begun and continue to reshape and relativize biblical studies. With contributors from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America, this volume is a truly global work, offering surveys and assessments of the current situation and suggestions for the future of biblical criticism in all corners of the world. The contributors are Yong-Sung Ahn, George Aichele, Pablo R. Andiñach, Roland Boer, Fiona Black, Philip Chia, Nancy Cardoso Pereira, Jione Havea, Israel Kamudzandu, Milena Kirova, Tat-siong Benny Liew, Monica Melancthon, Judith McKinlay, Sarojini Nadar, Jorge Pixley, Jeremy Punt, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Fernando F. Segovia, Hanna Stenström, Vincent Wimbush, and Gosnell Yorke.
Let My People Live by
Let My People Livereengages the narrative of Exodus through a critical, life-affirming Africana hermeneutic that seeks to create and sustain a vision of not just the survival but the thriving of Black communities. While the field of biblical studies has habitually divided "objective" interpretations from culturally informed ones, Kenneth Ngwa argues that doing interpretive work through an activist, culturally grounded lens rightly recognizes how communities of readers actively shape the priorities of any biblical interpretation. In the Africana context, communities whose identities were made disposable by the forces of empire and colonialism--both in Africa and in the African diaspora across the globe--likewise suffered the stripping away of the right to interpretation, of both sacred texts and of themselves. Ngwa shows how an Africana approach to the biblical text can intervene in this narrative of breakage, as a mode of resistance. By emphasizing the irreducible life force and resources nurtured in the Africana community, which have always preceded colonial oppression, the Africana hermeneutic is able to stretch from the past into the future to sustain and support generations to come. Ngwa reimagines the Exodus story through this framework, elaborating the motifs of the narrative as they are shaped by Africana interpretative values and approaches that identify three animating threats in the story: erasure (undermining the community's very existence), alienation (separating from the space of home and from the ecosystem), and singularity (holding up the individual over the collective). He argues that what he calls "badass womanism"--an intergenerational and interregional life force and epistemology of the people embodied in the midwives, Miriam, the Egyptian princess, and other female figures in the story--have challenged these threats. He shows how badass womanist triple consciousness creates, and is informed by, communal approaches to hermeneutics that emphasize survival over erasure, integration over alienation, and multiplicity over singularity. This triple consciousness surfaces throughout the Exodus narrative and informs the narrative portraits of other characters, including Moses and Yahweh. As the Hebrew people navigate the exodus journey, Ngwa investigates how these forces of oppression and resistance shift and take new shapes across the geographies of Egypt, the wilderness, and the mountain area preceding their passage into the promised land. For Africana, these geographies also represent colonial, global, and imperial sites where new subjectivities and epistemologies develop.
Locations of God : political theology in the Hebrew Bible by
Political theology is critical reflection on the intersections of religious, political and economic life, and in the Hebrew Bible it emerges in a broad range of topics - sovereignty, leadership, law, peoplehood, hospitality, redemption, creation and hope. The classic biblical literature has shaped the social imaginations of many peoples from ancient Canaan to global Christianity today, so this study also gives attention to key developments in the history of the Bible's reception. Understanding the inner-biblical debates and their later interpretations will continue to be relevant for those who.
Rainbow Spirit Theology by
Rainbow Spirit Theology represents a landmark in Australian theology. This text has been prepared by a group of Aboriginal Christian leaders with the aim of integrating the traditions of Aboriginal culture with the traditions of Christianity. Authors include George Rosendale (the spiritual elder of the group), Nola Archie, Dennis Corowa, William Coolbura, Eddie Law, James Leftwich, and Jasmine Corowa (artist), representing six Aboriginal peoples and ministry in four Christian traditions. Assisting the project were Robert Bos, Norman Habel and Shirley Wurst.
Shalom and the Community of Creation : an indigenous vision by
Materialism. Greed. Loneliness. A manic pace. Abuse of the natural world. Inequality. Injustice. War. The endemic problems facing America today are staggering. We need change and restoration. But where to begin? In Shalom and the Community of Creation Randy Woodley offers an answer: learn more about the Native American 'Harmony Way,' a concept that closely parallels biblical shalom. Doing so can bring reconciliation between Euro-Westerners and indigenous peoples, a new connectedness with the Creator and creation, an end to imperial warfare, the ability to live in the moment, justice, restoration -- and a more biblically authentic spirituality. Rooted in redemptive correction, this book calls for true partnership through the co-creation of new theological systems that foster wholeness and peace.
'Good people always crackney in heaven' : mythic conversations in lutruwita / Tasmania by
'We die we go to heaven, good people always crackney in heaven.' - Druemerterpunner / Alexander (Big River people), Wybalenna, Flinders Island, 21 April 1838. 'Crackney' means to 'sit down'. Druemerterpunner lived through the first generation of colonial disruption in lutruwita / Tasmania. He expresses the interplay of his language with the colonists' English and the different mythologies in dialogue between them. Powerful mythologies continue to shape how we speak of the past and imagine our future."--Back cover.
Aboriginal Australians by
The highly regarded history of Australia's First Nations people since colonisation, fully updated for this fifth edition.
Anaditj by
One of the reasons I want to write this book is because I don't sit easily with Western theology. It is so different to my Adnyamathanha understanding of Anaditj, the way things are. There's a much older story that has stood the test of time in this land of the universal Christ and the birth of the universal church that is not being acknowledged. As Aboriginal peoples we hold knowledge, understanding, and wisdom that not only our own, but all peoples, need to learn from -- language for God, wisdom for God's people, and challenge for the way ahead. For the the church to be complete, our voices must be heard.
Australian indigenous knowledge and libraries by
Present[s] an insight into the breadth and depth of Indigenous knowledge issues which impact on libraries and archives. Presentations adressed a range of issues to do with understanding the importance of retaining and valuing Indigenous Knowledge in Australia and internationally ..."--Foreword, p. [1].
Becoming indigenous to the universe : reflections on living systems, indigeneity and citizenship by
Kerry Arabena opens doors to unexplored ethical possibilities for living in 21st century. Converging wisdom from Indigenous peoples philosophic traditions with scientific and ethical understandings of contemporary modern thought has yielded new understanding of our universal indigeneity, citizenship and our place in living systems.
Bible Dictionary : selected biblical and theological words : a language resource for Aboriginal Australian students by
A literacy training tool for students who are learning theology and for whom English is a second language or for those who are studying theology or scripture at the parish level. The book is a textbook with over 150 words that come with a definition and an exercise. The book is illustrated with art from Australalian Indigenous students (Aboriginals), from Darwin, Australia. The book uses simple language to explain complex theological terms or biblically based concepts. It could be used in parishes, or in junior or secondary school; in small groups or in a classroom setting. The book is ecumenical in nature and written by a Catholic Dominican Religious Sister and an Anglican Priest who teaches at Nungalinya College, Darwin.
The Biggest Estate on Earth by
Explodes the myth that pre-settlement Australia was an untamed wilderness revealing the complex, country-wide systems of land management used by Aboriginal people.
Coercive reconciliation : stabilise, normalise, exit Aboriginal Australia by
In the wake of the release of the 'Little Children are Sacred' report, the Howard government has declared a national emergency and mobilised a coalition of police, army and others to tackle child sexual abuse in remote Aboriginal Australia. This book is an urgent critical response to the government's actions.
Community-led research : walking new pathways together by
The concept of community-led research has taken off in recent years in a variety of fields, from archaeology and anthropology to social work and everything in between. Drawing on case studies from Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia, this book considers what it means to participate in community-led research, for both communities and researchers. How can researchers and communities work together well, and how can research be reimagined using the knowledge of First Nations peoples and other communities to ensure it remains relevant, sustainable, socially just and inclusive?
Dark Emu : Aboriginal Australia and the birth of agriculture by 
Decolonial Futures by
A book on teaching and learning in theological education, Decolonial Futures: Intercultural and Interreligious Intelligence for Theological Education is guided by the questions, What makes education intercultural and interreligious? How might we rethink and redesign spaces of learning to be hospitable to cultural and religious differences as well as to dismantle the coloniality of theological education? How might we subvert traditionally colonial spaces to model the engaged intercultural and interreligious world that we seek? The book helps educators and practitioners of intercultural and interreligious learning both deconstruct and reconstruct spaces of learning by centering interreligious and intercultural intelligence through the voices, experiences, and narratives of minoritized people.
Decolonizing God by
For centuries, the Bible has been used by colonial powers to undergird their imperial designs--an ironic situation when so much of the Bible was conceived by way of resistance to empires. In this thoughtful book, Mark Brett draws upon his experience of the colonial heritage in Australia to identify a remarkable range of areas where God needs to be decolonized--freed from the bonds of the colonial. Writing in a context where landmark legal cases have ruled that Indigenous (Aboriginal) rights have been 'washed away by the tide of history', Brett re-examines land rights in the biblical traditions, Deuteronomy's genocidal imagination, and other key topics in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament where the effects of colonialism can be traced. Drawing out the implications for theology and ethics, this book provides a comprehensive new proposal for addressing the legacies of colonialism. A ground-breaking work of scholarship that makes a major intervention into post-colonial studies. This book confirms the relevance of post-colonial theory to biblical scholarship and provides an exciting and original approach to biblical interpretation. Bill Ashcroft, University of Hong Kong and University of New South Wales; author of The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures (2002). Acutely sensitive to the historical as well as theological complexity of the Bible, Mark Brett's Decolonizing God brilliantly demonstrates the value of a critical assessment of the Bible as a tool for rethinking contemporary possibilities. The contribution of this book to ethical and theological discourse in a global perspective and to a politics of hope is immense. Tamara C. Eskenazi, Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles; editor of The Torah: A Women's Commentary (2007).
Decolonizing methodologies : research and indigenous peoples by 
Decolonizing Research by
From Oceania to North America, indigenous peoples have created storytelling traditions of incredible depth and diversity. The term 'indigenous storywork' has come to encompass the sheer breadth of ways in which indigenous storytelling serves as a historical record, as a form of teaching and learning, and as an expression of indigenous culture and identity. But such traditions have too often been relegated to the realm of myth and legend, recorded as fragmented distortions, or erased altogether. Decolonizing Research brings together indigenous researchers and activists from Canada, Australia and New Zealand to assert the unique value of indigenous storywork as a focus of research, and to develop methodologies that rectify the colonial attitudes inherent in much past and current scholarship. By bringing together their own indigenous perspectives, and by treating indigenous storywork on its own terms, the contributors illuminate valuable new avenues for research, and show how such reworked scholarship can contribute to the movement for indigenous rights and self-determination.
Elements of Indigenous style : a guide for writing by and about Indigenous Peoples by
Elements of Indigenous Style provides guidelines to help writers, editors, and publishers produce material that reflects Indigenous people in an appropriate and respectful manner.
Evangelists of empire? : missionaries in colonial history by 
Fight for Liberty and Freedom : the origins of Australian Aboriginal activism by
Opposition to the British colonisation of Australia did not spring from the Mabo decision or the Native Title Act, nor was it born in the vibrant 1960s, which culminated in the famous tent embassy in 1972. Rather, the first politically organised and united all-Aboriginal activist group was the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA), begun in 1924 under the leadership of Frederick Maynard. For the first time Aboriginal people voiced their disapproval in public in a well-organised way. They opened offices in Sydney, held street rallies. conducted public meetings, gained newspaper coverage, wrote letters and petitions to Government at all levels, and collaborated with the international black labor movement. The AAPA's demands resonate today. They centred on Aboriginal rights to land, stopping Aboriginal children being taken from their families, the acquisition of citizenship rights, and defending a distinct Aboriginal cultural identity. This form of resistance and organised action has now endured for more than seventy years and through a detailed exploration of the life of his grandfather, John Maynard reveals the AAPA's invaluable legacy.
Following Jesus in Invaded Space : doing theology on Aboriginal land by
Christianity is never just about beliefs but habits and practices-for better or worse. Theology always reflects the social location of the theologian-including her privileges and prejudices-all the time working with a particular, often undisclosed, notion of what is normal. Therefore theology is never neutral-it defends particular constructions of reality, and it promotes certain interests. Following Jesus in Invaded Space asks what-and whose-interests theology protects when it is part of a community that invaded the land of Indigenous peoples. Developing a theological method and position that self-consciously acknowledges the church's role in occupying Aboriginal land in Australia, it dares to speak of God, church, and justice in the context of past history and continuing dispossession. Hence, a Second people's theology emerges through constant and careful attention to experiences of invasion and dis-location brought into dialogue with the theological landscape or tradition of the church.
God's own country? : the Anglican Church and Tasmanian Aborigines by 
Grease and ochre : the blending of two cultures at the colonial sea frontier by
In the early years of the nineteenth century, a small number of European men moved from the river towns of northern Tasmania onto the small islands of Eastern Bass Strait. Taking Tasmanian Aboriginal women as their wives, the Straitsmen set up samll-island homes on what became the colonial sea frontier. There have been many interpretations of the result of this blending of two cultures. Did it spell the demise of some of the clans, or, conversely did it ensure the survival of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people? Author Patsy Cameron has made a detailed study of the writings of Boultbee, who visited Bass Strait six years before Geroge Robinson, as well as Robinson himself and Stokes in 1839, to find answers to these questions. This book is an invaluable contribution to Tasmania's historical tradition, focusing attention on the placescapes where modern Tasmanian Aboriginal Culture was born.
The Great White Flood by
This book examines the impact of racist government legislation and policies upon the indigenous people of Australia over the last 200 years. Anne Pattel-Gray contends that racism in Australia is rooted in the long and corrupt relationship between government and church. The persistence ofracism in every area of Australian society is documented, from government to schools to courts to churches, and the illusory humanitarian and human rights stances of both institutions are here exposed. Pattel-Gray argues that racism is an endemic and chronic problem that must be addressed andsolved, Her book defines and clarifies racist terminology and language, reviews historical and contemporary expressions of Australian racism, and assesses both the concept and the recent process of reconciliation in Australia.
Growing up Aboriginal in Australia by
Childhood stories of family, country and belonging What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, showcases many diverse voices, experiences and stories in order to answer that question. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside those from newly discovered writers of all ages. All of the contributors speak from the heart - sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect. This groundbreaking collection will enlighten, inspire and educate about the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia today. Contributors include: Tony Birch, Deborah Cheetham, Adam Goodes, Terri Janke, Patrick Johnson, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Jack Latimore, Celeste Liddle, Amy McQuire, Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Miranda Tapsell, Jared Thomas, Aileen Walsh, Alexis West, Tara June Winch, and many, many more. Winner, Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards 'Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia is a mosaic, its more than 50 tiles - short personal essays with unique patterns, shapes, colours and textures - coming together to form a powerful portrait of resilience.' --The Saturday Paper '... provides a diverse snapshot of Indigenous Australia from a much needed Aboriginal perspective.' --The Saturday Age
Holy Smoke by
Church argues that discipleship among Native peoples is best undertaken as a spiritual journey that has at its core biblical instruction and mentoring by individuals and families that model a lifestyle that reflects transformation in Jesus Christ. When accompanied by the 'contextual' use of Native rites such as the Sweat Lodge Ceremony, the Pipe Ceremony, and Powwow dancing and singing with the drum, participants who go through these 'rites of passage' experience an increased sense of spiritual well-being and self-esteem through this authentic Native expression of their Christian faith. The book illustrates deep reflection and integration of biblical teaching in the preparation and practice of these Native rites, transforming the old embedded meanings of these rites, while retaining their distinctive familiarity for participants. Church shows how the integration of biblical instruction, the practice of a biblical lifestyle, and contextual sacred and ceremonial rites in alcohol recovery and family camp ministries have together led to recovery and spiritual development in Christ. We commend this book to anyone who has a serious commitment to making disciples in Native American communities.- Sherwood Lingenfelter, Senior Professor, and Judith Lingenfelter, Affiliate Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. This book is ... both authentic and, equally importantly, theologically and biblically sound. In these pages you will read of a journey that many have longed to take and are now being guided along through the life and lens of a gifted practitioner and his family. -Terry LeBlanc (PhD, Asbury Theological Seminary) is the Executive Director of Indigenous Pathways and is the founding Chair and current Director of NAIITS. Casey Church doesn't just write about how to do contextualization, he lives it. He and his amazing family travel, sing, pray, worship and dance their prayers. I have watched them over the years ... -Cheryl Bear (DMin, The King's Seminary) is a musician, singer, pastor and evangelist and conference speaker When we had our first national Native college student conference (Would Jesus Eat Frybread) in 2012, the most pressing questions students were asking was 'Can I be Native and Christian?' In 2016, it seems they are no longer asking 'Can I?' But 'How can I be Native and Christian?' In Holy Smoke, Church shares from his life experience - both personal and practical - in ways that will help young Natives who are striving to seek Jesus while honoring their cultures and traditions to answer this question for themselves. -Megan Murdock Krischke, Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, National Native Ministry Coordinator for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship If you are involved in outreach to the indigenous community, Dr. Church's book, Holy Smoke, should be on your list of required reading. I have worked with Casey for 16 years and not only do I consider him a great friend but also a mentor in things Native. -Duane Bristow, Executive Director, Navajo Brethren In Christ Mission and Pastor, First Nations Gathering To walk in the liminal spaces of rituals and ceremony can lead to healing, transformation and innovation. Casey is calling Native leaders back to the traditional way of growth through life stages by the Rites of Passage. Rituals and ceremonies can be contextualized for the Native people who walk with Jesus. Wiconi's Family Camp and The Brethren in Christ Ministry are two organizations that have led the way through the liminal space of contextualization. -Donnie Begay, Nations Ministry Executive Director
Hope Abundant : third world and indigenous women's theology by
A new generation of feminist theologians from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America is responding to their changing world with critical theological insights and social analyses. This new reader, including indigenous voices, comprises eighteen reflections by women theologians who face daily poverty, violence, civil strife, war, and cultural alienation, yet who find abundant hope through their faith. Book jacket.
Indigenous education in Australia : learning and teaching for deadly futures by
his is an essential, practical resource for pre- and in-service educators on creating contexts for success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Based on the latest research and practice, this book provides an in-depth understanding of the colonised context within which education in Australia is located, with an emphasis on effective strategies for the classroom. Throughout the text, the authors share their personal and professional experiences providing rich examples for readers to learn from. Taking a strengths-based approach, this book will support new and experienced teachers to drive positive educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students--back cover.
Indigenous evangelists and questions of authority in the British Empire, 1750-1940 by
This is the first full-length historical study of indigenous evangelists across a range of societies, geographical regions and colonial regimes and the first to focus on the complex issues of authority surrounding the evangelists. It answers a need frequently voiced in recent studies of Christian missions. Most scholars now acknowledge that the remarkable expansion of Christianity in Africa, Asia and the Pacific in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries owed far more to the efforts of indigenous preachers than to the foreign missionaries who loom so large in publications. This book addresses that concern making an excellent introduction to the role of indigenous evangelists in the spread of Christianity, and the many countervailing pressures with which these individuals had to contend. It also includes in the introductory discussions useful statements of the current state of scholarship and theoretical debates in this field.
Indigenous Perspectives on Sacred Natural Sites by
Much previous literature on sacred natural sites has been written from a non-indigenous perspective. In contrast, this book facilitates a greater self-expression of indigenous perspectives regarding treatment of the sacred and its protection and governance in the face of threats from various forms of natural resource exploitation and development. It provides indigenous custodians the opportunity to explain how they view and treat the sacred through a written account that is available to a global audience. It thus illuminates similarities and differences of both definitions, interpretations and governance approaches regarding sacred natural phenomena and their conservation. The volume presents an international range of case studies, from the recent controversy of pipeline construction at Standing Rock, a sacred site for the Sioux people spanning North and South Dakota, to others located in Australia, Canada, East Timor, Hawaii, India, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria and the Philippines. Each chapter includes an analytical introduction and conclusion written by the editors to identify common themes, unique insights and key messages. The book is therefore a valuable teaching resource for students of indigenous studies, anthropology, religion, heritage, human rights and law, nature conservation and environmental protection. It will also be of great interest to professionals and NGOs concerned with nature and heritage conservation.
An Indigenous voice to parliament Considering a constitutional bridge by
Frank Brennan has been an advocate for Indigenous rights for 40 years. Here he shows the difficult path travelled by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and their supporters to get to this question.
In the past, advocates argued for changes to Commonwealth Parliament’s powers to legislate for Indigenous Australians and to the capacity of the High Court to strike down racially discriminatory laws. They also offered changes to the Constitution that would acknowledge Indigenous history, reality and aspirations.
All those proposals are now replaced with the Voice. But is it to be a Voice to Parliament or a Voice to Parliament and to Government? Would the focus be only on special laws applying to the First Australians, or on any other relevant matters?
This book fairly outlines both the ‘Yes’ case and the ‘No’ case, so that voters can make up their own minds before casting their vote in the referendum.
In good faith? : governing Indigenous Australia through god, charity and empire, 1825-1855 by 
Jesus and the Dreaming: Discovering an Australian Spirituality Through Aboriginal-Christian Dialogue by
This book traces how an Australian Catholic priest's encounter with Aboriginal people forced him to confront the challenges and possibilities that Aboriginal spirituality present to western Christianity.
Fr Fletcher argues that in addition to a more authentic dialogue, a sympathetic understanding of the Dreaming will deepen our own religious experience and help renew modern Christian theology.
Knowledge and Secrecy in an Aboriginal Religion by
This book describes the control of religious knowledge in north-east Arnhem Land, primarily from the point of view of Yolngu men. Ian Keen examines the framing of religious forms and the control of the dissemination of knowledge in three contexts: age and gender relations; among socialnetworks centred on patrifilial group identity; and in relationships with people of a wider region, including the use of more universal symbols such as those from Christianity to forge links with non-Aboriginal community. He concludes by discussing the effect of post-colonial social and religiouschanges on Yolngu power relations, especially on the power of older men, which had its basis in the control of secret religious knowledge.Yolngu religious practice is constituted in indeterminacy and ambiguity; people co-operate in enacting common religious forms while interpreting those forms differently. Dr Keen draws on recent post-structuralist social theory to discuss this heterogeneity of culture and practice. It is, heargues, the pervasive indeterminacy and contestability of meaning that makes it possible to conceptualize the embedding of north-east Arhem Land social life in wider social formations, while recognizing the relativity of Yolngu perspectives on social and religous reality.
MumShirl : an autobiography by
Mum Shirls early life at Cowra with details of life at Erambie Mission; her later life and work in Sydney with particular emphasis on her assistance to Aboriginal prisoners and her involvement in the Aboriginal Medical Service.
The need for roots : a prelude to a declaration of duties towards mankind by New, Old and Timeless : Pointers Towards an Aboriginal Theology by 
On Being Blackfella's Young Fella by
"This is a story of identity: how one man experienced exclusion and a sense of unworthiness in Australian society. It is the story of growing up - blackfella's youngfella - and the struggle to assimilate into the dominant, white European society. But the struggle, the search and the frustration leads to his uncovering a core question: is being Aboriginal enough? Enough to make sense of life, enough to identify as a proud and free member of an ancient people in a society that stole its land, denied its richness and crushed its sense of identity? The search also involved fear and disquiet; and conflict for the author as both an Aboriginal person and a Christian priest. Can they co-exist, or are they mutually exclusive? Thus, it is the ongoing story of his journey into a greater understanding of Aboriginality as a way of being human in this place; and along the way, a discovery that there is no such thing as Aboriginal spirituality, only Aboriginality." -- Back cover.
One blood : 200 years of aboriginal encounter with Christianity by 
Our mob, God's story : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists share their faith by
Bible Society Australia. Our Mob, God's Story : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists Share Their Faith. Edited by Louise Sherman and Christobel Mattingley. Sydney: Bible Society Australia, 2017.
People and Land by
Empires rise and expand by taking lands and resources and by enslaving the bodies and minds of people. Even in this modern era, the territories, geographies, and peoples of a number of lands continue to be divided, occupied, harvested, and marketed. The legacy of slavery and the scapegoating of people persists in many lands, and religious institutions have been co-opted to own land, to gather people, to define proper behavior, to mete out salvation, and to be silent. The contributors to People and Land, writing from under the shadows of various empires-from and in between Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Oceania-refuse to be silent. They give voice to multiple causes: to assess and transform the usual business of theology and hermeneutics; to expose and challenge the logics and delusions of coloniality; to tally and demand restitution of stolen, commodified and capitalized lands; to account for the capitalizing (touristy) and forced movements of people; and to scripturalize the undeniable ecological crises and our responsibilities to the whole life system (watershed). This book is a protest against the claims of political and religious empires over land, people, earth, minds, and the future.
Petitioning for Land by
Petitioning for Land is the first book to examine the extent of First Peoples political participation through the use of petitions. Interpreting petitions as a continuous form of political articulation, Karen O'Brien considers petitioning for recognition of prior land ownership as a means by which to locate First Peoples petitioning for change within the broader narrative of historical and contemporary notions of justice. The book follows the story of First Peoples' activism and shows how they actively reform discourse to disseminate a self-determined reality through the act of petitioning. It discloses how, through the petition, First Peoples reject colonialism, even whilst working within its confines. In a reconfiguration of discourse, they actively convey a political or moral meaning to re-emerge in a self-determined world. Taking a socio-legal and historical approach to petitioning, the book questions the state domination of First Peoples, and charts their political action against such control in the quest for self-determination. By uniquely focusing on the act of petitioning, which places First Peoples aspirants centre-stage, O'Brien presents fresh and innovative perspectives concerning their political enterprise. From early modern colonial occupation to contemporary society, the hundreds of petitions that called for change are uncovered in Petitioning for Land, shedding new light on the social and political dynamics that drove the petitions.
Plants : past, present and future by
What do you need to know to prosper as a people for at least 65,000 years? The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians. Plants are the foundation of life on Earth. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have always known this to be true. For millennia, reciprocal relationships with plants have provided both sustenance to Indigenous communities and many of the materials needed to produce a complex array of technologies. Managed through fire and selective harvesting and replanting, the longevity and intricacy of these partnerships are testament to the ingenuity and depth of Indigenous first knowledges. Plants: Past, Present and Future celebrates the deep cultural significance of plants and shows how engaging with this heritage could be the key to a healthier, more sustainable future.
Postcolonialism and the Hebrew Bible by
This volume returns to where initial interest in postcolonial biblical criticism began: the Hebrew Bible. It does so not to celebrate the significant achievements of postcolonial analysis over the last few decades but to ask what the next step might be. In these essays, established and newer scholars, many from the interstices of global scholarship, discuss specific texts, neo/post/colonial situations, and theoretical issues. Moving from the Caribbean to Greenland, from Ezra-Nehemiah to the Gibeonites, this collection seeks out new territory, new questions, and possibly some new answers. The contributors are Roland Boer, Steed Davidson, Richard Horsley, Uriah Y. Kim, Judith McKinlay, Johnny Miles, Althea Spencer-Miller, Leo Perdue, Christina Petterson, Joerg Rieger, and Gerald West.
Postcolonial Voices from Downunder by
How do indigenous matters inform, irritate and advance postcolonial theologies and postcolonial biblical criticisms? What options emerge from confronting readings of religious, customary, scriptural, political and cultural texts, traditions, leanings, bodies and anxieties? These two questions epitomize the concerns that the contributors address in this collection. The postcolonial voices that come together between the covers of this book show that indigenous subjects and heritages do matter in the theological and hermeneutical business, for we all have something to learn from First Peoples, and that theologians and biblical critics have much to gain from (and offer to) confronting and troubling traditional views and fears. Together in this book, the postcolonial voices from Downunder (geographically: Oceania, Pasifika; ideologically: marginalized, minoritized) confront political and religious bodies, including Christian churches, on account of their participation in and justification of the occupation and poaching of native lands, wisdom, wealth, and titles. This book is for First Peoples and Second Peoples, whether they are down under or up yonder, who are curious about possible advents of postcolonial theologies and postcolonial biblical criticisms in the future.
The power of story : spirit of the Dreaming by
With characteristic hope and wisdom, Elizabeth 'Betty' Pike presents pathways for dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Springing forth from her own journey of discovery and self-acceptance, Betty writes as one who has was wrestled with understanding Aboriginality and its significance for today. This series of brief stories and meditations reveal the power of story for hope, healing and embracing Spirit. Betty draws on a spirituality grounded in the land and the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and by engaging with the central briefs and symbols of Christian spirituality, forged spiritual insights to enrich all Australians. The stories of heroic and inspiring Aboriginal persons - from history and contemporary times - are recounted, as well as powerful examples of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians working together.
The Rainbow Spirit in Creation by
Identifying God the Creator with the Rainbow Spirit, Aboriginal Christians see in Christ the incarnation of the Rainbow Spirit in human form. In "The Rainbow Spirit in Creation", the Rainbow Spirit Elders share the story of the creation of the land with colorful illustrations that show the Rainbow Snake as part of the seven days of creation, offering a new interpretation of the Aboriginal culture and a view of the Creator Spirit as within the earth, not apart from it.
Religion and Non-Religion among Australian Aboriginal Peoples by
Offering a significant contribution to the emerging field of 'Non-Religion Studies', Religion and Non-Religion among Australian Aboriginal Peoplesdraws on Australian 2011 Census statistics to ask whether the Indigenous Australian population, like the wider Australian society, is becoming increasingly secularised or whether there are other explanations for the surprisingly high percentage of Aboriginal people in Australia who state that they have 'no religion'. Contributors from a range of disciplines consider three central questions: How do Aboriginal Australians understand or interpret what Westerners have called 'religion'? Do Aboriginal Australians distinguish being 'religious' from being 'non-religious'? How have modernity and Christianity affected Indigenous understandings of 'religion'? These questions re-focus Western-dominated concerns with the decline or revival of religion, by incorporating how Indigenous Australians have responded to modernity, how modernity has affected Indigenous peoples' religious behaviours and perceptions, and how variations of response can be found in rural and urban contexts.genous peoples' religious behaviours and perceptions, and how variations of response can be found in rural and urban contexts.
Religious Change and Indigenous Peoples by
Exploring religious and spiritual changes which have been taking place among Indigenous populations in Australia and New Zealand, this book focuses on important changes in religious affiliation in census data over the last 15 years. Drawing on both local social and political debates, while contextualising the discussion in wider global debates about changing religious identities, especially the growth of Islam, the authors present a critical analysis of the persistent images and discourses on Aboriginal religions and spirituality. This book takes a comparative approach to other Indigenous and minority groups to explore contemporary changes in religious affiliation which have raised questions about resistance to modernity, challenges to the nation state and/or rejection of Christianity or Islam. Helena Onnudottir, Adam Posssamai and Bryan Turner offer a critical analysis to on-going public, political and sociological debates about religious conversion (especially to Islam) and changing religious affiliations (including an increase in the number of people who claim 'no religion') among Indigenous populations. This book also offers a major contribution to the growing debate about conversion to Islam among Australian Aborigines, Maoris and Pacific peoples.
Series of Reflections of Aboriginal Theology: Four Reflections Based on Church Renewal, Christian Theology of the Land, Contextualization and Unity. by 
Songspirals by
A rare opportunity to connect with the living tradition of women's songlines, as recounted by Yolngu women from far north Australia.
Statements from the soul : the moral case for the Uluru Statement from the Heart by
In this ground-breaking collection of essays, diverse religious leaders and thinkers come together to advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Contributors from Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist communities powerfully convey why a First Nations voice to parliament is necessary not only legally and politically, but also morally. Drawing on their unique spiritual beliefs, they argue that the Uluru Statement offers a profound opportunity to heal the wrongs of the past and ensure a better future for all Australians. A rallying cry of support across religious and political divisions, Statements from the Soul shows that the Uluru Statement goes to the heart of who we are as a country and is essential to reconciliation.;;With a foreword by Noel Pearson and preface by Henry Pinskier. Contributors are Sabah Rind, Wesam Charkawi, Fiona Jose, Sardar Ajmer Singh Gill, Prakruthi Mysore Gururaj, Bhikkhu Sujato, Stan Grant, Antonios Kaldas, Rabbi Ralph Genende, Russell Broadbent, Karina Okotel, Kanishka Raffel, Peter Comensoli, Anthony Ekpo, David Saperstein and Rowan Williams.
Talkin' up to the White Woman : aboriginal women and feminism by
Revealing the invisible position of power and privilege in feminist practice, this accessible and provocative analysis elucidates the whiteness of Australian feminism. A pioneering work, it will overturn complacent notions of a mutual sisterhood and the common good.
Tiddas talking business by
This book comes at a critical time in the empowerment of aboriginal Christian women, as they begin to define for themselves the world in which they live, to name their oppressors, and to challenge the Christian Feminist Movement about its racism and participation in their subjugation. For aboriginal women to speak of their own experience of life and view of history as a source of empowerment to themselves, and to determine the meaning of their Christian faith and its expression, has seen aboriginal tiddas (sisters) on the move, claiming their place in the struggle for freedom. (From Publisher)
Time we started listening : theological questions put to us by recent Indigenous writing by
Duncan Reid tackles a mammoth but urgent task, the task of reimagining our ways of seeing in and through the eyes of the other. This is a task First Nations People have become adept at in the intersection between Aboriginality and the European way of seeing. Reid challenges us each to move out of our siloed thinking and be as expansive as the Australian continent in our engagement with the Great Creator Spirit who is indigenous to this place. Please read and digest.' Revd Glenn Loughrey MA, Wiradjuri, author, artist, Anglican Priest and Blackfella's Youngfella.
'In an age where so much public discourse is characterised by loud voices and polarisation Duncan Reid's invitation to a deep listening to some indigenous voices comes as a much-needed alternative. More than ever we need to move beyond debate to dialogue real conversation where relationships are deepened rather than fractured. With sensitivity and humility Reid invites us to enter into real dialogue with the oldest human culture, to befriend our own stories and to understand the country on which we walk. It is indeed time we started listening and this small book is a valuable contribution to the dialogue that is so important if we are to know true reconciliation.' Rt Revd Jeremy Greaves, Bishop for the Northern Region, Anglican Diocese of Brisbane.
Trauma Trails by
Taking readers into the depths of sadness and despair and into the heights of celebration and hope, this disturbing account details the trauma suffered by Australia's indigenous people and the resultant "trauma trails" spread throughout the country.
White Christ Black Cross : the emergence of a Black church by
Framing the churches' missionary outreach to Aboriginal people within the reality of frontier violence, government control, segregation, and neglect, this account reveals how Aboriginal people on the missions responded to white Christianity as part of their enforced cultural change. It also tells how, ws missionary control diminished, they responded more overtly and autonomously--some regarding Christianity as irrelevant, others adopting it in culturally satisfying ways.
White fragility : why it's so hard for white people to talk about racism by
In this groundbreaking and timely book, antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility. Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo explores how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.
White Women, Aboriginal Missions and Australian Settler Governments by
In White Women, Aboriginal Missions and Australian Settler Governments, Joanna Cruickshank and Patricia Grimshaw provide the first detailed study of the central part that white women played in missions to Aboriginal people in Australia. As Aboriginal people experienced violent dispossession through settler invasion, white mission women were positioned as 'mothers' who could protect, nurture and 'civilise' Aboriginal people. In this position, missionary women found themselves continuously navigating the often-contradictory demands of their own intentions, of Aboriginal expectations and of settler government policies. Through detailed studies that draw on rich archival sources, this book provides a new perspective on the history of missions in Australia and also offers new frameworks for understanding the exercise of power by missionary women in colonial contexts.
Worship and Social Engagement in Urban Aboriginal-Led Australian Pentecostal Congregations by
Worship and Social Engagement in Urban Aboriginal-led Australian Pentecostal Congregations: (Re)imagining Identity in the Spirit provides an ethnographic account of three Australian Pentecostal congregations with Aboriginal senior leadership. Within this Pentecostalism, Dreaming realities and identities must be brought together with the Christian gospel. Yet current political and economic relationships with the Australian state complicate the possibilities of interactions between culture and Spirit. The result is a matrix or network of these churches stretching across Australia, with Black Australian Pentecostals resisting and accommodating the state through the construction of new and ancient identities. This work occurs most notably in context of the worship ritual, which functions through ritual interaction chains to energise the various social engagement programs these congregations sustain.
The Wretched of the Earth by
The sixtieth anniversary edition of Frantz Fanon's landmark text, now with a new introduction by Cornel West First published in 1961, and reissued in this sixtieth anniversary edition with a powerful new introduction by Cornel West, Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth is a masterfuland timeless interrogation of race, colonialism, psychological trauma, and revolutionary struggle, and a continuing influence on movements from Black Lives Matter to decolonization. A landmark text for revolutionaries and activists, The Wretched of the Earth is an eternal touchstone for civil rights, anti-colonialism, psychiatric studies, and Black consciousness movements around the world. Alongside Cornel West's introduction, the book features critical essays by Jean-Paul Sartre and Homi K. Bhabha. This sixtieth anniversary edition of Fanon's most famous text stands proudly alongside such pillars of anti-colonialism and anti-racism as Edward Said's Orientalism and The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Writing Never Arrives Naked by
Playing on both minds and emotions, this academically innovative book reveals the resourceful and often poignant ways that Indigenous Australians involved themselves in the colonists' paper culture.
