Understanding Always Was Always Will Be

This guide offers a precise examination of Thomas Mayo’s Always Was Always Will Be, focusing on its core arguments concerning Indigenous sovereignty and land rights. It is designed for readers seeking a clear, evidence-based understanding of the book’s significance within the Australian context, emphasizing critical engagement with established narratives.

Always Was Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo: Quick Answer

• Always Was Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo fundamentally asserts the inherent and enduring sovereignty of Indigenous peoples over their ancestral lands, predating and existing independently of colonial claims.
• The book serves as a critical text for understanding Indigenous Australian perspectives on law, governance, and the inalienable connection to Country.
• Readers should engage with the material critically, prepared to re-evaluate established colonial narratives and legal frameworks.

Who This Is For

• Individuals seeking to comprehend the foundational principles of Indigenous sovereignty as articulated by Thomas Mayo.
• Professionals in fields such as law, education, policy, and community development who require a deeper understanding of Indigenous rights and perspectives.

What to Check First

Before engaging with Always Was Always Will Be, consider the following foundational elements to enhance comprehension:

• Existing understanding of Australian colonial history: Familiarity with concepts like terra nullius and key legal decisions (e.g., Mabo) provides essential context for the book’s arguments.
• Definition of sovereignty: Reflect on how you define sovereignty. Is it exclusively state-centric, or can it encompass inherent rights that predate and exist independently of governmental structures?
• Receptiveness to Indigenous epistemologies: The book draws heavily on Indigenous knowledge systems. An openness to these distinct ways of knowing is crucial for grasping its core tenets.
• Contemporary political landscape: Awareness of ongoing discussions surrounding treaty, recognition, and self-determination in Australia will illuminate the book’s immediate relevance.

Always Was, Always Will Be: The Campaign for Justice and Recognition Continues

• Audible Audiobook
• Thomas Mayo (Author) - Thomas Mayo (Narrator)
• English (Publication Language)
• 09/03/2024 (Publication Date) - Bolinda audio (Publisher)

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Step-by-Step Plan for Engaging with Always Was Always Will Be

To fully grasp the arguments presented in Always Was Always Will Be, a structured approach is recommended:

1. Initial Reading of Foundational Concepts:

• Action: Read the introduction and the initial chapters that articulate the book’s core thesis.
• What to look for: Identify Mayo’s definition of “sovereignty” as inherent and predating colonization. Note how the phrase “Always Was, Always Will Be” is established as a statement of enduring truth.
• Mistake to avoid: Assuming the book’s definition of sovereignty aligns with Western, state-based political structures. This can lead to misinterpreting the fundamental premise of inherent Indigenous authority.

2. Mapping Indigenous Law and Governance Systems:

• Action: As you read, identify and document the specific elements of Indigenous law and governance systems discussed by Mayo.
• What to look for: Observe the intricate connection between law, kinship structures, Country, and spiritual beliefs. Note how these systems are presented as comprehensive and self-sufficient.
• Mistake to avoid: Dismissing Indigenous law as rudimentary or incomplete when compared to Western legal traditions. The book argues for its distinct validity and completeness as a functioning system of governance.

3. Analyzing the Critique of Colonial Narratives:

• Action: Pay close attention to sections where Mayo directly addresses or implicitly challenges colonial historical accounts and legal doctrines.
• What to look for: Understand the specific colonial concepts being deconstructed (e.g., the myth of terra nullius) and the Indigenous counter-narratives provided to refute them.
• Mistake to avoid: Approaching these critiques with defensiveness or a predetermined belief in the inherent superiority of colonial systems, which can create a barrier to understanding Mayo’s evidence.

4. Understanding the Concept of “Country”:

• Action: Focus on the detailed explanations of “Country” and its profound significance in the Indigenous worldview.
• What to look for: Recognize that “Country” is not merely land but a complex, living entity encompassing spiritual, social, ecological, and ancestral relationships. Note how this relationship forms the basis of Indigenous law and sovereignty.
• Mistake to avoid: Reducing “Country” to a mere geographical location or a resource to be owned in the Western sense. This overlooks the deep, reciprocal, and spiritual connection central to Indigenous identity and governance.

5. Evaluating Evidence and Authority:

• Action: Examine the types of evidence Mayo uses to support his arguments for inherent Indigenous sovereignty.
• What to look for: Assess the integration of oral traditions, historical records, legal discourse, and personal testimonies. Consider how these diverse sources establish the authority of Indigenous knowledge and experience.
• Mistake to avoid: Privileging only Western academic or legal evidence while discounting the validity of Indigenous oral histories and lived experiences as sources of knowledge and truth.

6. Reflecting on Implications for Self-Determination:

• Action: Consider the practical and philosophical implications of recognizing inherent Indigenous sovereignty for contemporary self-determination.
• What to look for: Think about how acknowledging “Always Was, Always Will Be” impacts current discussions on treaty, land rights, and Indigenous governance structures.
• Mistake to avoid: Viewing self-determination solely as a process of negotiation within existing colonial frameworks, rather than as the inherent right to govern according to Indigenous law and custom, as asserted by Mayo.

Common Myths About Always Was Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo

Several common misunderstandings can hinder a full appreciation of Always Was Always Will Be. Addressing these myths is crucial for accurate interpretation and respectful engagement.

• Myth: The book advocates for the complete overthrow of the Australian state and its legal system.
• Why it matters: This misinterpretation can lead to the book being dismissed as unrealistically radical or confrontational, obscuring its primary goal of asserting inherent Indigenous sovereignty.
• Fix: Understand that the book’s focus is on the recognition of pre-existing Indigenous sovereignty as a foundational truth. While it critiques colonial legal frameworks, its emphasis is on acknowledging the enduring validity of Indigenous law and governance systems as a necessary precursor to any equitable future relationship.

• Myth: “Always Was, Always Will Be” is a purely symbolic or aspirational statement.
• Why it matters: Viewing the phrase as mere rhetoric diminishes its function as a statement of historical fact, legal principle, and ongoing reality.
• Fix: Recognize that Mayo presents “Always Was, Always Will Be” as a factual declaration of Indigenous sovereignty and connection to Country, grounded in deep cultural knowledge and historical continuity, not simply a hopeful sentiment.

• Myth: The book equates Indigenous sovereignty with the acquisition of political power within the current Australian system.
• Why it matters: This conflation can lead to readers expecting a prescriptive political program, missing the book’s emphasis on an inherent, pre-political form of sovereignty.
• Fix: Understand that the book posits sovereignty as an intrinsic attribute of Indigenous peoples and their relationship with Country, existing independently of, and prior to, the formation of the Australian state. The implications for contemporary governance are a consequence of this fundamental assertion.

Understanding Indigenous Sovereignty: Always Was Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo

Thomas Mayo’s Always Was Always Will Be is a significant contribution to the discourse on Indigenous rights and sovereignty in Australia. The book’s strength lies in its unwavering assertion of an inherent Indigenous sovereignty that predates and exists independently of colonial imposition. Mayo meticulously details how Indigenous peoples have always governed themselves according to their own laws, rooted in a profound connection to Country. This perspective is crucial for understanding the ongoing struggles for self-determination and land rights, offering a counter-narrative to the colonial fiction of terra nullius.

The book challenges the colonial narrative that Australia was terra nullius (land belonging to no one) at the time of European settlement. Instead, it presents a compelling case for the continuous existence of Indigenous legal and governance systems. This perspective is crucial for understanding the ongoing struggles for self-determination and land rights.

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The central argument rests on the concept of “Country,” which is depicted not merely as land but as a living entity with which Indigenous peoples have an inalienable, reciprocal relationship. This relationship forms the bedrock of their laws, responsibilities, and inherent right to govern. Engaging with this concept requires moving beyond Western notions of property ownership to understand a holistic, spiritual, and ancestral connection.

Expert Tips

1. Tip: Actively seek out Indigenous perspectives beyond this book.

• Action: Read works by other Indigenous authors (e.g., Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu, Marcia Langton’s Welcome to Country), listen to Indigenous media, and engage with Indigenous community events where possible.
• Mistake to avoid: Treating Always Was Always Will Be as the sole or definitive text on Indigenous sovereignty. This can lead to a limited and potentially inaccurate understanding of the diversity of Indigenous thought.

2. Tip: Practice active listening when encountering Indigenous narratives.

• Action: When engaging with Indigenous speakers or texts, focus on understanding their worldview without immediate comparison or judgment against Western frameworks. Prioritize comprehension over critique initially.
• Mistake to avoid: Interrupting or immediately framing Indigenous concepts within pre-existing Western legal or political categories, which can stifle nuanced understanding and respect.

3. Tip: Differentiate between inherent sovereignty and delegated authority.

• Action: When discussing Indigenous rights, consciously distinguish between the inherent sovereignty asserted in the book and any authority that might be delegated or negotiated within current state structures. This clarity is vital for accurate discourse.
• Mistake to avoid: Equating the recognition of inherent sovereignty with the granting of specific powers by the state, which can inadvertently undermine the concept of self-governance and Indigenous self-determination.

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