stephen blyth’s blog

I’m pictured here with Wally Jacob, a senior Aboriginal guide with Anangu Tours. The tour was definitely the highlight of my trip to the Uluru. The Anangu are the local aboriginal and they welcome visitors to learn about their home and culture.

Wally told our group of four the creation story of Kuniya Python Woman. His storytelling began at a mural and a painting depicting the story at the park’s stunning cultural centre then continued at the Mutitjulu waterhole. Signs of the Kuniya woman’s struggle are evident in the rock. There are physical traces of creation stories all around Uluru, a few of which visitors can learn about. We also learned about food and tjurkupa, the way of life.

The commitment of the Anangu - the traditional owners - to sharing their knowledge is humbling. Given the history of colonisalisation, racism and desecration, the Anangu are positive about sharing and encouraging people to learn. They’re not going to force people to do anything.

Even though Anangu were recognised as traditional owners of Uluru and surrounding land in 1985, and jointly manage the national park, which is leased to Parks Service for 99 years, they accepted a condition that the climb remain open. When people come to their own understanding of Anangu culture, climbs will stop. Anangu are doing everything they can to promote that understanding.

This is evident in small and big things, including building design, protection of sacred sites, and use of Anangu languages. Hopefully this will make some positive impression on the 400,000 people who visit annually and people will stop climbing.

Beyond the culture and story, Uluru, and the neighbouring but much less renowned Kata Tjuta, are physically impressive. But it is the importance of the rocks spiritually and culturally that definitely made the strongest impression on me.