We have mentioned before the fact that Traditional Owners prior to 1991 had no issues with tourists climbing or accessing many other sites at Ayers Rock. The evidence is quite clear that there was wide consultation with the Traditional Custodians about what was appropriate tourist access at Ayers Rock prior to the take over by the Federal Government in 1985.
This snippet below from page 89 of In the Wake of the Tourist Chapter 3 (Dreamtime at Ayers Rock) further highlights the contradictions about tourist access being issued by the Board and Parks Australia. In banning the Climb and access to world heritage listed views, it's quite clear the Public have been sold a pup.
"Derek Roff, senior ranger at Ayers Rock-Mt. Olga National Park in 1975, says older aborigines tend to answer questions the way they think the questioner wants them answered. He believes that younger militants take advantage of this to exaggerate the religious significance of Ayers Rock. A committee considering which sites to protect asked Paddy Uluru—the elder recognized as having the closest totemic ties to the area—to point out sacred places. Roff recounts the scene:
They started saying "Well then this place should be off limits to whites, shouldn't it, Paddy?" And Paddy in the typical way aboriginals will try to make the questioner happy would answer "yes." I could see that Paddy was very uncomfortable with them but I told him "all right, I won't take tours into any of those places until you figure out exactly which area you don't want whites to visit."
Subsequently, the committee asked 35 elders to visit the rock and decide which areas should be off limits. After the meeting. Paddy Uluru reported that it was necessary to close off only one ritual cave where young boys are initiated into manhood." (This was the Warayuki cave pointed out by Toby Naninga to the ABC in the 1975)
It's quite clear the Board and Parks Australia owe the Australian Public and international visitors an explanation for why the Climb and access to others areas have been restricted. None of the restrictions has any basis in history and the Board and Parks Management are disrespecting the views of the people who knew best about what was permissible.
This snippet below from page 89 of In the Wake of the Tourist Chapter 3 (Dreamtime at Ayers Rock) further highlights the contradictions about tourist access being issued by the Board and Parks Australia. In banning the Climb and access to world heritage listed views, it's quite clear the Public have been sold a pup.
"Derek Roff, senior ranger at Ayers Rock-Mt. Olga National Park in 1975, says older aborigines tend to answer questions the way they think the questioner wants them answered. He believes that younger militants take advantage of this to exaggerate the religious significance of Ayers Rock. A committee considering which sites to protect asked Paddy Uluru—the elder recognized as having the closest totemic ties to the area—to point out sacred places. Roff recounts the scene:
They started saying "Well then this place should be off limits to whites, shouldn't it, Paddy?" And Paddy in the typical way aboriginals will try to make the questioner happy would answer "yes." I could see that Paddy was very uncomfortable with them but I told him "all right, I won't take tours into any of those places until you figure out exactly which area you don't want whites to visit."
Subsequently, the committee asked 35 elders to visit the rock and decide which areas should be off limits. After the meeting. Paddy Uluru reported that it was necessary to close off only one ritual cave where young boys are initiated into manhood." (This was the Warayuki cave pointed out by Toby Naninga to the ABC in the 1975)
It's quite clear the Board and Parks Australia owe the Australian Public and international visitors an explanation for why the Climb and access to others areas have been restricted. None of the restrictions has any basis in history and the Board and Parks Management are disrespecting the views of the people who knew best about what was permissible.
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