Spring 2019 a Publication of South Australian Native Title Services
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Aboriginal Way www.nativetitlesa.org Issue 76, Spring 2019 A publication of South Australian Native Title Services Above: Anangu travelled from communities around Uluru for Inma to celebrate the close of the climb. Anangu celebrate climb close The gate to the climb at Uluru has now Tijangu Thomas, an Anangu Park Ranger honouring the old people and so many “The reason for getting the land right closed permanently and hundreds was also there at the base of the climb and of them have passed away now” he said. back was to close the climb because of Anangu from communities across explained some of the emotion of the day. it’s a sensitive area and the previous Tourists have been consistently climbing Central Australia have gathered to people who’ve passed away, the “Its rather emotional, having elders who Uluru since 1963 when a climbing celebrate the historic moment of traditional owners were suffering and picked up this long journey before I was chain was drilled into the rock without self-determination. ended up being distressed because born, to close the climb. And now they’re consultation with Anangu. they treading on a important place The gate was shut at 4pm on Friday no longer here but we’re carrying on their and disrespectful” he said. 25 October, to remain closed from the legacy to close the climb” he said. In recent weeks the numbers of visitors permanent close date of Saturday 26 climbing the rock has increased with On the day of the permanent close, Sammy Wilson, past Chair of the Uluru- October, which came on the anniversary of tourists flocking to make the climb before Tjulapai Carroll said that anyone visiting Kata Tjuta National Park and Chair of the the day ownership of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta the closure. On the day of the climb Uluru could understand the significance Central Land Council (CLC) told the ABC National Park was handed back to Anangu. close climbers queued from before dawn of the place. that the day had a bitter sweet feeling. to take the now well worn path up the Nellie Patterson was one of the senior “The culture since the very beginning has “Obviously, we are all really happy, and sacred rock. traditional owners waiting at the base been here, it is right here in places like of the climb for the moment to come. it is great to see so many visitors come Anangu have wanted the climb closed the rock, it holds the culture” she said. from Australia and internationally to “No more climbing for today – closed! for many years, since the hand back appreciate the place” he said. “If you come here and you look and learn, Thank you very much” she exclaimed of the country, a former Chair of the then you will start to understand.” to cheers as the permanent closure “But I must say, there is a sadness inside Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park Donald sign went up. me too. Because the closure is really Fraser explained. Continued on page 4 Inside: A reserve highlighting Kaurna culture gains recognition 6 SA Aboriginal artists display their work at Our Mob 8 Vale Tauto Sansbury 10 Department changes approach for Aboriginal children 14 Working together to bring them home After years of uncertainty and loss, groups. Things got mixed up. But, as we the Kaurna community were able come together, we understand those to lay some of their old people to histories. We need to understand those rest on their traditional lands in an histories to move on. So I encourage you emotional ceremony in late July. today, young people here today, learn your histories. Because, without those Kaurna leaders went to Canberra to histories, we can’t move on. If we learn collect around 800 ancestral remains, those histories, that informs us to make some of which had been stored in better decisions about how and where London’s Natural History Museum we stand in this country” he said. and brought them home to be buried. Mr Newchurch told Aboriginal Way that Kaurna Elder Jeffrey Newchurch has educating the next generation is crucial been a driving force behind the for success. repatriation of Aboriginal remains. “Most importantly for me, is for our “I have been entrusted by my elders, young people to be educated. Because years ago, and my community, to push we are locked in the past and not only this conversation, and to make sure it Aboriginal people, non-Aboriginal people happens. We are starting to get a better need to be educated. We need to relationship with the SA museum and empower young people so that they the State Government, and we are now can take on more and build a better pushing for more to be returned. For me it’s future” he said. about allowing us to heal and for us do our business our way” he told Aboriginal Way. The Premier, Steven Marshall MP did not attend the ceremony but in a statement Mr Newchurch said the support of the said the work of the Kaurna community wider community is important. should not go unnoticed. “We can’t as Aboriginal people heal “The significance, and importance, of alone. We need the wider community this occasion and what this reburial and this is not only government this all means for your community, cannot be community people. Because, they add overstated. However, I also acknowledge strength” he said. the emotional and spiritual distress that Support was shown at the reburial at the taking of old people from country Kingston Park last month where around has caused. I extend my sympathies to 400 people and media attended the you all. This repatriation ceremony, as emotional ceremony. with the Tennyson repatriation in August 2018, marks a turning point for the Kaurna man Allan Sumner, spoke at Kaurna community and Aboriginal South the ceremony about the importance Australians more broadly. The Kaurna of understanding history. community’s ongoing efforts to repatriate “When we think about the devastation ancestral remains continues to forge a of our culture here, particularly in the path for, and inspire, other Aboriginal southern states; our loss of language, communities in South Australia to do our systems, our family systems, our the same” said the Premier. Above, left to right from top: Jack Buckskin; Allan Sumner; John Carty; Clinton Wanganeen; Kaurna community members lay their old people to rest. 2 Aboriginal Way, Spring 2019 Above: Kaurna community members, including Frank Wanganeen, Garth Agius, Jeffrey Newchurch and Lynette Crocker, gather to farewell old people. Aboriginal Way, Spring 2019 3 Anangu celebrate climb close Continued from page 1 died while attempting the climb and The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park before the close, only around 18 percent many others have been injured or Board, which is made up of a majority of of visitors to the Park were climbing. Senior Anangu Reggie Uluru said that have to be rescued. traditional owners made the final decision the closure of the climb was another One of the other deciding factors for to close the climb two years ago. important step for self determination “Too dangerous, you can slip and fall and closing the climb was ensuring there are They resolved to close the climb when “We are all very happy, as traditional kill yourself” Mr Uluru told media on the enough alternative attractions for visitors the proportion of visitors to the park owners that the climb is closed now, day of the close. to Uluru to ensure that tourism and the taking on the climb fell to below 20 after a long fight from handback to associated economic benefits continues. “So that’s part of that pressure off us, we per cent. Approximately 11 per cent of today” he said through an interpreter. don’t have to worry about people harming visitors to the Park were tackling the Mr Wilson said that the traditional The Uluru climb is also notoriously themselves or worse, so of course we challenging climb in recent years. Even owners want more support to develop dangerous, at least 35 people have are very happy that it’s all finished now.” with the boom in climbing numbers and operate tourism experiences. Above, left to right from top: Senior Anangu gather as climb is closed permanently; Tijangu Thomas and Mike Misso from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park at the new permanent close sign at the base of Uluru; crowds gather to wach as the final climbers descend from Uluru; Park Ranger closes the climb gate for the last time; Senior man performer at Inma following the close climb; Girls perform at Inma following the close climb Johnny Jango from Mutijulu and Bruce Swan from Kings Canyon at Climb Close celebration; Centralian Women’s Choir performs at climb close celebration; men perform Inma at Climb Close celebration. 4 Aboriginal Way, Spring 2019 “What I see here is really an opportunity, with the climb closing today. It is done. It is finished. But what I’m looking at Garma 2019 talks about the Voice around me is beautiful country, great Prominent Gumatj Elder “There were lots of conversations, “Whenever I talk about treaty, I’m country, that we want to take people Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu has told the particularly around the treaty talking about multiple treaties, that’s into” he said. 2019 Garma Festival that his people conversation, and Uluru Statement what people seem to be telling me “These places you see are surrounded by will lodge a ground breaking claim from the Heart was a big driver of at this stage” Mr Dodson said at the so many great homelands and so much for native title compensation over conversations up there last week” conference, the NITV reported.