Interpretation Strategy 2020–2030
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
An̲anguku kuṟunguṟu ngura nyangatja nyakunytjaku Kun̲pungku munu tjukaṟurungku nintintjaku pitjita tjuṯangka parkangka 2020-nguṟu 2030-kutu Seeing the park through An̲angu eyes Interpretation Strategy 2020–2030 1 Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara words in this plan An̲angu (literally, ‘people’) a word used by Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatara speakers to refer to themselves individually or as a group; in the context of this strategy, in passages written in English, An̲angu refers to people with traditional affiliations to the Uluṟu- Kata Tjuṯa region who may or may not be traditional owners (Nguraṟitja). inma ceremony, song or dance, especially traditional. kuniya woma python (Aspidites ramsayi). Kuniya Piti a registered men’s sensitive site; also the general vicinity of this site at the easternmost end of Uluṟu, where the woma python woman deposited her eggs. kun̲pu strong; healthy, resilient, well-built or capable; principled and impactful; able to stand up for oneself and for others. mai bush food. mala rufous hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus). malpa companion, partner, or friend; malpa is a relationship between equals who are ‘in it together’. Muṯitjulu the name of a waterhole on the south side of Uluṟu; also the name of the community in the park. Nguraṟitja a custodian; someone that belongs to a place; in the context of this strategy, Nguraṟitja refers to traditional Aboriginal owners of the park; those An̲angu who have direct links and rights to the land that encompasses the park. ninti knowledgeable about; familiar with; competent at; able to do; experienced with (something or someone). nintintjaku showing; teaching; helping someone become ninti. nintiringanyi learning about; becoming familiar with (something or someone); becoming ninti Pitjantjatjara a widely spoken Aboriginal dialect belonging to the Western Desert language group. Tjukurpa An̲angu traditional law; the foundation of An̲angu life and culture. Tjukurpa is a deep and complex concept, including systems of history, knowledge, philosophy, religion, morality and human behaviour that form the basis of An̲angu values and how An̲angu live and look after country: see the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (UKTNP) Management Plan 2020–2030 for more information. tjukaṟuru honestly; correctly and appropriately; directly; in the proper way; straight. tjungu together, united. pun̲u wood art; wooden tools; also a generic term for any plant, especially trees and shrubs. wiltja shade shelter; patch of shade; shadow. Yankunytjatjara an Aboriginal dialect belonging to the Western Desert language group. 2 English words used in this plan as placeholders for Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara words strong Placeholder for the Pitjantjatjara word kun̲pu. Kun̲pu means: healthy, strong and resilient; well-built or capable; principled and impactful; able to stand up for oneself and for others. country Placeholder for the Pitjantjatjara word ngura. Ngura means home, place, or landscape, but with additional layers of meaning that are not easily translated into Standard Australian English. Ngura encompasses ancestors, stories, and relationships, as well as plants, animals and the physical landscape. It references the deep significance of the land for An̲angu and acknowledges the way the landscape and An̲angu have shaped each other over time, in accordance with Tjukurpa. Other words interpretation Interpretation is communication that helps build emotional and intellectual connections between the audience and the place or thing being interpreted. At Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (UKTNP), interpretation has long been key in appropriately sharing the park’s natural and cultural values with visitors – helping to protect the park into the future, as well as enriching visitor experience. interpretation The interpretation format is the form or method used for interpretation, such as signage, format hands-on activities, guided walks, films. Different formats are better suited for different purposes, audiences and contexts. Ease-of-editing, running costs and maintenance requirements also vary between interpretation formats. interpretation Interpretation techniques are different ‘tricks’ you can include in a sign, talk or activity, to techniques help visitors engage with the content and relate it back to their everyday life. Examples include using comparison (e.g. “It’s like walking into a church”), asking visitors to imagine, asking visitors to perform an action (e.g. “Show me with your hands how big you think it is”), and sharing stories or quotes. Different techniques are better suited to different audiences and contexts. key message The key message is what we hope visitors will take away with them after reading a sign or watching a talk. It could be factual (“I didn’t know X before!”) or emotional (“I feel Y when I think about Z”). theme or Themes are core underlying ideas. Key messages might change from sign to sign or year to interpretive year, but there are only four big themes for the whole park. These are long lasting, and theme they turn up again and again in different ways across the park. Any given sign or talk might address anywhere between one and all four themes. An example is “This is An̲angu Land”. topic Topics are specific content areas, such as “bush foods” or “landscape types”. At UKTNP, most topics are versatile, in that they can be used to deliver any (or at least most) of the park’s four interpretive themes. wayfinding Wayfinding is what helps people work out where they are, what they’ll find in different places, and how to get to where they want to go. Examples include signs, symbols, maps, walking tracks and landmarks. Wayfinding helps keep visitors safe and happy. 3 Contents Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara words in this plan ......................................................................................... 2 English words used in this plan as placeholders for Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara words ......................... 3 Other words .................................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 6 What is interpretation? ........................................................................................................................... 6 2. Purpose .................................................................................................................................................... 8 3. Introduction and Vision ........................................................................................................................... 8 4. Nguraṟitja principles .............................................................................................................................. 10 A note about working together ............................................................................................................. 11 5. Themes, Topics, and Look and Feel ....................................................................................................... 12 Themes .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Topics .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Look and feel .......................................................................................................................................... 13 6. Goals and objectives .............................................................................................................................. 14 Goal 1. Specialised interpretation grounded in living culture .............................................................. 15 Objective 1. Safe sensitive sites ................................................................................................ 15 Objective 2. Many sites, not just one ....................................................................................... 17 Objective 3. Wayfinding ............................................................................................................ 21 Objective 4. Language and country .......................................................................................... 25 Objective 5. Truth telling .......................................................................................................... 28 Objective 6. An̲angu leadership and An̲angu stories ................................................................ 30 Objective 7. Engaging children.................................................................................................. 31 Objective 8. Cultural Centre upgrade ....................................................................................... 34 Goal 2. High quality, cohesive, and well-managed interpretation ....................................................... 36 Objective 9. Good planning, design and management ............................................................. 36 Objective 10. New techniques and robust technology ............................................................. 38 Appendix 1. Strategy drafting process ........................................................................................................ 42 Appendix 2. Key interpretation opportunities 2020–2030 .......................................................................