Indigenous Rights and the Legacies of the Bible

This book examines the complex interactions between biblical interpretation and colonial theories of Indigenous rights, particularly through the lens of historical legal cases like Mabo.

In Indigenous Rights and the Legacies of the Bible, Mark G. Brett delves into the intricate relationship between biblical interpretation and colonial theories regarding Indigenous natural rights. This comprehensive study outlines how the historical interactions between these two realms continue to influence contemporary laws surrounding property and our understanding of Indigenous rights and responsibilities. By examining the Christian imagination of colonial discovery, Brett highlights the varying legal histories that evolved under different imperial jurisdictions, revealing the complexities that have arisen from these interactions.

The book provides an insightful exploration of the contradictions and ironies that have emerged throughout history, particularly in the context of the early debates in the Americas and their subsequent transformations in British colonies following the American Revolution. Brett tracks the evolution of biblical interpretation as a means to navigate these historical intricacies, culminating in the landmark legal case of Mabo v. Queensland (1992). This case exemplifies how the legacies of past debates have shaped the unique legal landscape of Australia, where no treaties were established with First Nations, leading to the development of the terra nullius ideology rooted in seventeenth-century Puritan thought.

Brett's work also reflects on the shifting concepts of rights over time, moving from theological frameworks to secular understandings, and more recently to ecologically embedded notions of Indigenous rights and responsibilities. By acknowledging the differences between ancient and modern interpretations of indigeneity, Indigenous Rights and the Legacies of the Bible offers a timely perspective as settler colonial states grapple with the implications of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007). This detailed analysis is particularly pertinent for the four states that initially opposed the Declaration: the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.