Always Was, Always Will Be. Five weighted words. Seven simple syllables. Two immense ideas. One significant sentence. This phrase conjures images that promise celebration and defiance.
Straight away, I see the image of the brand. Our clothes, earrings, posters, music, TV, books, all branded with this badge of honour. Wearing this slogan is part of our identity. Easily identifiable as you walk down the street and give a nod to your cousin, shake the hand of an uncle, or talk with an aunty. The slogan grabs attention and says: “I don't have to get ready for your party, I've been ready”.
Quickly followed by the brand, I see pictures of my people flash by like light through the trees on an afternoon drive. I see the skin that reflects the history. I see the smiles that pave the way. I see the people the words depict. The ears that listen and hear. The eyes that look and see. The voice that carries across generations. The message: “Always”.
Five weighted words. Seven simple syllables. Two immense ideas. One significant sentence. This phrase conjures images that promise celebration and defiance.
Then, I see the fight. The stomping, clapping, singing, kicking and screaming. I see the masses gathering and the peoples marching. Our leaders of the protest stand tall in front of the leaders of everyday protest and call “Always Was!”. The response, “Always Will Be”, returned with a collective passion of personal and generational fire. This image is fresh in my mind but tells the long story. It says, “I will not go quietly and I will not calm down”. This image is, after all, ours and we will make you see it.
Next, I picture the wins. These images come running at me like players onto a field. Cleats dig deep and excitement ensues. The sound of pens click to sign on the dotted line. Our land and water gradually acknowledged. The signature reads, “we beat you at your own game”. The opposing team wipes the sweat off their brow while we coolly get ready for the next round. The crowd cheers as ancestral dreams come true. Red tape and knees fall to the ground in honour of where we were, are, and will be.
Then, I see the greatest image of all. The image of community digs deep. It pierces through all other images and into the soul. You can find this image as it passes through the mouth. The taste is fresh and warming like the first damper that was passed down to you. It travels past your heart. The beat of the music and stomp of feet into golden sand and red dirt sends the feeling through to your stomach where your intuition sits. Because what is that gut feeling if not your community? Your ancestors? Guiding you by protecting the vessel that holds the soul you borrowed from them. You carry your community with you everywhere you go.
Then I see me. An ageing image of a young boy. Visiting his grandparents on his Butchulla country. Busily playing in the lounge room and out of nowhere he asks, “How much Aboriginal am I?”
"Then I see me. An ageing image of a young boy. Visiting his grandparents on his Butchulla country." Source: Supplied
A question prompted by well-meaning teachers at school and a question he doesn’t understand the implications of. The room falls silent. His mum looks at his nan. His nan looks back at his mum. Then everyone looks at him.
Nan decides to make her answer clear. “If you’re Aboriginal then you ARE Aboriginal. There’s no such thing as ‘how much?’”
He accepts this truth and the room fills with noise again.
That was it. That was the first time I ever heard Always Was, Always Will Be. That image has stayed with me and guided me through everything. No matter what questions I got asked or the situations I've had to face in this country because of the colour of my skin, I could stand tall and proud. I am the collection of all those images. I embody them like a collage of stories and experiences. I Always Was and Always Will Be and that is my promise.
Aidan Rowlingson is a Butchulla actor, writer and producer from K'gari (Fraser Island & Wide Bay) living and working on Yaggera & Turrabal country (Queensland). Follow Aidan on Instagram .
This story is edited by Mununjali author for SBS Voices and is part of a essay series inspired by the 2020 theme 'Always Was, Always Will Be'.
National NAIDOC Week (8 – 15 Nov 2020) celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Join SBS and NITV for a full slate of NAIDOC Week content. For more information about NAIDOC Week or this year’s theme, head to the official NAIDOC Week website. #NAIDOC2020 #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe
