Patrick Lionel Djargun Dodson (born 29 January 1948) is an Australian (Yawuru[1][2]) indigenous rights activist and former politician.

[4] He and his brother Mick were made wards of the state, but their aunt and uncle decided they should accept a scholarship to study at Monivae College in Hamilton, Victoria, where Dodson became head prefect and captain of football.

[5] After leaving school, Dodson enrolled studied the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne and was ordained in the order of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in May 1975.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten promised to appoint Dodson as Minister for Indigenous Affairs if the ALP won the 2019 federal election.

[24] Dodson served on the "Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia", which delivered its interim report in December 2020.

[25] Following Labor's victory at the 2022 federal election, Dodson was appointed Special Envoy for Reconciliation and Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

[26] On 28 November 2023 Dodson announced his intention to resign as a Senator effective 26 January 2024, saying he is unable to serve further due to being treated for cancer earlier in the year.