Maryknoll, New York 10545

Transcription

1 UNSETTLING THE WORD Biblical Experiments in Decolonization Edited by Steve Heinrichs ORBIS BOOKS Maryknoll, New York 10545

2 Unsettling the Word: Biblical Experiments in Decolonization Copyright 2018 Mennonite Church Canada First U.S. edition published in 2019 by Orbis Books All rights reserved. No significant part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or in any means by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission. However, we welcome brief excerpts and quotations to be shared in books and articles, and on social media. We also welcome spoken sharing of these experiments both in part and in whole. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Editor: Steve Heinrichs Copy Editor: Kyla Neufeld Design & Layout: Jonathan Dyck Publisher: Mennonite Church Canada Royalties from Unsettling the Word will be sent to Christian Peacemaker Teams to support the work of Indigenous Peoples Solidarity (IPS). Enlisting faith groups, Settlers and other non-indigenous groups, IPS builds partnerships with Indigenous nations, communities and movements engaged in decolonization, seeking justice, and defending the lands against corporate and government exploitation. For more information, see cpt.org Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Heinrichs, Steve (Director of Indigenous-Settler Relations), editor. Title: Unsettling the word : biblical experiments in decolonization / edited by Steve Heinrichs. Description: First U.S. edition. Maryknoll : Orbis Books, Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN ISBN (pbk.) Subjects: LCSH: Bible--Postcolonial criticism. Postcolonialism. Decolonization. Classification: LCC BS U DDC dc23 LC record available at

3 CONTENTS Preface: Liberating the Bible Steve Heinrichs xi Return to the Good Marcus Briggs-Cloud 3 Goodness Turns Christina Conroy 8 The Foolishness of Petropolis Steve Heinrichs 12 The Oath of Melchizedek Norman Habel 17 I Chose Miriam Jennifer Henry 21 The Failed Assimilation of Saxon Peter Haresnape 24 Economies of Enough Carmen Lansdowne 28 In the Seventh Round of the 13 Moons Rarihokwats 31 Not Your Promised Land Tamara Shantz 34 Scouting the Haldimand Tract Sara Brubacher 37 The Boundaries and Limits of Settler Colonialism Pekka Pitkänen 40 The 15 Commandments Musa W. Dube 47 Destroy Everything Derrick Jensen 52 To the Present Day Daniel Hawk 57 Heroes Save Lives Tobin Miller Shearer 60 What about Orpah? Vivian Ketchum 63 Give Us a King Deanna Zantingh 66 The Storyteller s Rebellion Bob Haverluck 71 The Land: Our Life Ellen F. Davis 76 v

4 UNSETTLING THE WORD Lost and Found Steve Heinrichs 79 Unmasking State Theology Gerald O. West 82 Prayer of the Sent-Away Ryan Dueck 88 The Moons of Renewal and Growth Robert Two Bulls 92 They Were All Captive Sarah Travis 96 The Truth of Bimaadiziwin Kathy Moorhead Thiessen 100 Will You Walk? Leah Gazan 104 See the Colonizing Mandate Stan McKay 108 Reconciled Rarihokwats 112 You Alone Listened Lori Ransom 115 Today, Know This Robert O. Smith 120 No Fence Can Hold Cheryl Bear 123 A True Reckoning Darrin W. Snyder Belousek 127 The Jewish Indigenous After Marc H. Ellis 131 Lament on Coast Salish Land Benjamin Hertwig and Céline Chuang 134 Remember that Spot? Peter Haresnape 140 Yosemite Laments Katerina Friesen 145 These Bones Live Roland Boer 148 Truth to Power Randy Woodley 154 A Secure Word Walter Brueggemann 158 With Mountains and Rivers Bearing Witness James W. Perkinson 162 Word of Liberation Peter C. Phan 167 The Fire of Kisemanito Mark Bigland-Pritchard 172 You and Madre Tierra Rose Marie Berger 176 Talking Back: A Sermon Julia M. O Brien 180 vi

5 Contents Resisting the Great Co-mission Mitzi J. Smith 184 A Shaman Appeared in Ventura Ched Myers 190 Mending the Broken Circle Steve Heinrichs 196 Beyond the Strong Man Ralph Armbruster-Sandoval 200 An Urgent Letter Kwok Pui-lan 204 Reclaiming People Power Joerg Rieger 208 Go Listen Rachel and Chris Brnjas 211 For God so Loved Rebecca Voelkel 216 Stolen Waters, Thirsty People Susanne Guenther Loewen 220 Unholy Alliances Joshua Grace 223 Voices Rise Joy De Vito 230 Resistance with Love Daniel L. Smith-Christopher 234 No Gods David Driedger 237 White Law Alain Epp Weaver 240 Dancing with God Anita L. Keith 243 Good News to the Colonized? Neil Elliott 247 Totalizing Lisa Martens 250 Let Us Imagine Miguel A. De La Torre 256 We Saw Our Grandchildren Sara Anderson, with teachings from Edward Benton-Banai 260 Ripe for Judgment Sheila Klassen-Wiebe 266 Survival Space Chris Budden 271 Peter s Letter to Canadian Christians Steve Heinrichs 273 O Cedar Tree, Clap Your Hands Wes Howard-Brook 278 Turtle Island Renewed Dan Epp-Tiessen 281 Afterword: We Need Our Lands Sylvia McAdam 285 vii