Five million hectares around Uluru to be declared an Indigenous protected area
A special ceremony was held on Thrusday last week, with five million hectares of land around Uluru being declared as an Indigenous protected area. The new zoning will allow traditional owners to better preserve the area and surrounding sites of cultural significance.
The Anangu people will also receive Federal Government funding to help them protect sacred sites, native plants and animals around the Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park.
“We really want to teach the young ones how to look after the place properly and strongly … to get out there and see all the waterholes and important places,” said one traditional owner, Janie Miama.
How do you feel about this? Is this a positive step for recognition of Indigenous rights to their traditional lands? Are there other areas you feel could be declared as Indigenous protected areas?
Trying to work out what all this has to do with Uluru and the traditional owners.
Gerry,
I suspect ownership of land is a construct of later times. Indigenous folk as I understand it saw themselves as part of the land, not owners. Possibly a concept we could explore more.
I used to get down to the Rock a bit in the early sixties, there was little evidence of indigenous folk living in the area at that time.
It was a time of change though with many indigenous people moving away from their 'country' and into the towns and settlements for a variety of reasons.
Take it easy.
SD
It is my understanding, although I can't find proof, that there are roughly 5 public servants for each Aborigine living in the Uluru area.
Innes,
OMG!!
Innes,
It is a very long time since I have been there, much has changed from what I hear and observe.
This of course is not unique to that part of Australia.
Many indigenous people were still living on stations and missions when I was wandering about Oz, the changes since then have been dramatic, whether for the better or otherwise only time will tell I guess. The views of today do not appear to bear much resemblance of those of earlier times.
I guess the evolving views applies to all of us, black, white and brindle.
Take it easy.
SD
Certainly do feel there are areas that contain already acknowledged ancient Indigenous sites or even sites containing for example Dinosaur footprints near Broome, or ancient artifacts areas in the Kimberley's that have no full protection at present and will be desecrated by mining.
Certainly have more respect and support for the Indigenous who are willing to protect the land under their mantle than for the profiteers who will rape and denude the land purely for their own short term profit.
Time there was land protection for future generations.
vivity,
All archaeological sites of importance should be protected. There is no question about this.
Unfortunately they are not protected Twila, here in WA there have been ongoing battles to protect sites from mining our Indigenous have been in the forefront against the State government to protect them. So regardless of whether they should be protected they are in fact not - the Indigenous are to be respected for their determination to protect their past, IMO.
Having not looked at newspapers and very little time for the internet these last few days spent with family, I had no idea of the protected site at Uluru. Best news today! What could be more fitting.
I gather that some here are trying their best to belittle the original inhabitatants as we know them - wonder why. Is it racism ?
Not being cynical but I would assume there is little indication right now that there is any mineral wealth in the area otherwise this generous grant or hand back would not have taken place.
Maybe in the future something of value will be found in the area and the attitudes of all concerned will change if enough money is thrown about the shop and the desires of future indigenous people are different to what they are right now.
Nothing is forever.
Take it easy.
SD
I suspect the same, but am hoping they do find something at a later date. Wonderful for the original inhabitants of the land if that happens!
Tourism of course is big business.
One wonders what the outcome would be if tourism was banned due to the fact that much in the area is deemed sacred.
Maybe money is the driver, in part anyway. Would anybody these days actually live in the area if there were no facilities at all as it was not so many years ago.
It was quieter when I went there back aways. The company had a ute parked there and I used to amble about the Rock and see very few tourists. The road to the Alice from the south was all dirt as was the road into the Rock
Just some musings.
Take it easy.
SD
Just what history or heritage are our aborigines trying to preserve. I understand they have no written language so any history is passed down from generation to generation in distorted mumbles - need I mention "chinese whispers"? It seems that every time that someone stumbles over a stain on a cave wall, scratches on rock or an old implement, the local aborigines scream "sacred site" and want to claim it. Their only claim to it being sacred is reference to the "dreamtime" which is a very loose collection of fables and superstitions which is, itself, undocumented as far as I know.
I am yet to be convinced that there is ANYTHING of aboriginal culture worth preserving.
I want to answer you kfchugo but won't for two reasons, to begin with, had such a relaxing week I don't want to stress myself out with someone who seems to be so negative about such an old and vitally important culture. Secondly I don't think with your mindset in place, you could be bothered to listen anyway.
One thing I will point out though, is that Jesus never wrote a word in his life of preaching, yet the Bible which contains only mouth to mouth descriptions of his life has never been out of print and read by billions of people.
Good comment Ray. Just one problem, There is not a single word written in the Bible that was written by any human being that ever heard Jesus actually speak. Is it true that the second best selling book ever was "50 Shades of Grey"?
Hi Innes,
Mate you didn't really read my post did you? I said Jesus never left a written word quite different to hearing him speak, where did that come from?
Now I can't help you when it comes to "50 Shades of Grey". Have not read it, have no intention of reading it since novels don't interest me. Glad you enjoyed it, and out of curiosity I googled to find out whether it was indeed the second best selling book ever. That would have greatly disappointed me. Thank goodness the British Publishers think it is but are not too sure, but only in the UK.
Ray,
The Gospels were written a considerable time after Jesus' death, and by those who had never met him.
Jeepers, better go tell my 2 year old grandson. He doesn't know that yet!
KFC,
You are right about the transfer of oral knowledge, as expected it does become distorted in the telling and is not a reliable source.
As the old saying goes, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" certainly applies to oral history or Folklore.
This can be easily demonstrated over a number of people in virtually real time without the obvious errors introduced by long periods of time.
Interesting area of study.
Take it easy.
SD
Will they turn it into a rubbish dump like every where else they have been given they have no respect for the land at all
Dead right Misks.
I have first hand sightings and experience of how the Aboriginals live both on complexes and in society. I really don't know what the answer to the problem is but I think that only time and education will improve their attitude about living in the 21st Century.
They have mostly an inbuilt hatred towards the white man and probably all other nationalities too. Throwing money at them as we do does not work. Employment and self pride in their achievments does work.
The Ancestors will be pleased. However most of you guys just don't get it. We Indigenous Australians regard this Sacred Land as our Mother. She gave us all we needed and we worked in harmony with Her and Her Seasons for 50,000+ years. We did not have a word for ownership until White Settlemen 200+ years ago. All Indigenous Aussies are Traditional Custodians of this great Land. BTW you cannot give away that which was never yours to begin with. The Anangu Mob has looked after that area for over 50,000+ years and I don't guess they will stop now.
MAC, I feel as if I want to apologise for some of the ignorance you see on these pages about what the land means to Aboriginal people. I have always been of the opinion that Austrailan history should be taught in schools, starting from the dream time and not as some seem to think since James Cook touched down.
MAC, I understand that we all have our opinions and point of view and while I respect yours, I have to disagree. Your ancestors considered themselves "custodians" of the land, but what did they give to it? I see aborigines as being stone age hunter gatherers who never tilled a sod or planted a seed. Their only agricultural effort seems to have been large scale burning which destroyed animal habitat. Aborigines lived off the land and I just cant see the "harmony" in constantly taking without thought of management, conservation or improvement. Australia was claimed and settled by Cook for England as has been the case for centuries all over the globe. Likewise, conflict, wars etc have often redrawn borders with territory changing hands. It has always been the sorry lot of indigenes to be swallowed up by developed cultures when this happens. History cannot be rewritten.
I am all for helping aborigines help themselves but many years of experience in this country has shown that most dont want a hand up, they only want a handout.
As pointed out, I am not as old or well informed as Banjo, but is it not a fact that the Coastal Durag people were actually near whiped out by the Eora tribes? Today there are few descendants of the Durags still in the Cumberland Plains area. These people were not decimated by the white man. My forebears were not guilty of any invasion, or genicide.