Ayers Rock summit belongs to the Minga

Elder's map shows No Sacred sites at Uluru Summit
Tony Tjamiwa was a respected Aboriginal Elder at Uluru. He was a board member of the National Park. When he died in 2001 the climb was closed for 11 days. Tony's quotes feature prominently in Parks Australia Management plans. For instance this one indicating climbing is not a proper tradition.

Ananguku ngura nyangatja ka pukulpa pitjama. Nyakula munu nintiringkula Anangu kulintjikitjangku munu kulinma Ananguku ara kunpu munu pulka mulapa ngaranyi. Nganana malikitja tjutaku mukuringanyi nganampa ngura nintiringkunytjikitja munu Anangu kulintjikitja. Kuwari malikitja tjuta tjintu tjarpantjala nyakula kutju munu puli tatilpai. Puli nyangatja miil-miilpa alatjitu.Uti nyura tatintja wiya! Tatintjala ara mulapa wiya.© Tony Tjamiwa
This is Anangu land and we welcome you. Look around and learn so that you can know something about Anangu and understand that Anangu culture is strong and really important. We want our visitors to learn about our place and listen to us Anangu. Now a lot of visitors are only looking at sunset and climbing Uluru. That rock is really important and sacred. You shouldn’t climb it! Climbing is not a proper tradition for this place. © Tony Tjamiwa

Tjamiwa at the Handback of title ceremony at Uluru 26 Oct., 1985 (Source Wikipedia)

My guess is that Tony did not get along well with climbing legend Tiger Tjalkalyirri (Early climbing guide, and keeper of the rock) and Paddy Uluru who said the physical act of climbing was of no cultural interest.

While Tony's copyrighted quotes feature in the plan, oddly enough the map he drew of sacred sites at Uluru does not feature at all. You would think the map of an elder showing sacred sites would be important!
Tony's map shows a number of sites along the base of the rock, but all it shows for the summit is a blue line that ends in a box labelled "Minga Line" . The term "Minga" used by the Anangu to compare climbing tourists with ants. Seems the summit belongs to the Minga!

Tjamiwa drew this map of the main sites around Uluru for me.

John Hill 26/10/1985 (Source wikipedia)

Only thing on the summit is the Minga Line!

Comments

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Right to Climb

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