Listen to a few yarns from Traditional Owners, Nyoongar artists and descendants from Aboriginal prisoners.

Brendan Moore

Whadjuk Nyoongar man and descendant of ‘Tommy Nettle’ Aboriginal prisoner, 1887.

Stan Headland

Nyoongar Artist and Aboriginal monitor on Wadjemup.

Koora wordel, kalygool wordel

What does the theme ‘always was, always will be’ mean to you?

“Always was, always will be. Makes me proud. Out of all the things that we do in Australia, that's the only line phrase that I feel makes me proud to be Aboriginal”

— Barbara Bynder,
Nyoongar Emerging Elder

“When I heard, hear ‘Always was, Always will be’, I think it’s… ‘Always was Noongar land, always will be’. People say there’s been no bill of sale, there’s been no surrender, there’s … our rights are still … inalienable rights and so, and even if there’s a legal… principle… of Noongar Native Title and ownership of land. It’s still in our hearts. It’s still our … boodjar (land)”

— Brendan Moore,
Whadjuk Nyoongar

“I don't know how to explain it, but the country was upset as I was, it still is. Yeah. I don't care what they say, it belongs to us. That's always was always will be”

— Russell Gidgup,
Whajuk Nyoongar Traditional Owner

“What it means to me is this is our country, this is our history, this is our culture and that will never change.”

— Margaret Gidup,
Whadjuk Nyoongar Traditional Owner