TREAD LIGHTLY, YOU’RE ON SACRED GROUND

TREAD LIGHTLY,

YOU’RE ON

SACRED GROUND

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KYLIE COMPE

Why Uluru is not just your next instaworthy sightseeing destination

There is something remarkable about stepping into the photographs you’ve seen and experiencing a place through your own eyes for the first time. It’s never quite as you imagine it in your head, but it still feels familiar.

When I first saw a photo of Uluru, I thought, ‘Hey that’s pretty cool,’ and added it to my Australia bucket list. A few years and a couple of geology classes later, I obsessed over the geological processes that took over 500 million years to create such a magnificent sandstone formation. It wasn’t until I actually walked the base of Uluru that I truly saw it for what it was: sacred. But that’s the problem with photos: you see with only your eyes.

For the Anangu people of Australia, Uluru is sacred ground, a vital part of their history. Sacred rituals are still performed in the caves at the base of Uluru, and the walls are covered in ancient cave paintings that depict the aboriginese history.

The Aboriginals’ Creation stories are a sacred part of their history. Some stories are only passed on to men, some are passed on to only women. The Anangu use the cracks and features of the mountain to explain Creation stories to the younger generations. As an outsider, I was lucky enough to have one of the children’s stories explained to me, but that is not my story to tell.

Walking the base of Uluru gave me a deeper appreciation for the historical significance it has to indigenous Australians and how deeply rooted it is in these peoples’ culture. Despite being a popular tourist attraction, it is sacred land first. Along the walk, there were many signs restricting photography and documentation of any kind on certain stretches due to cultural sensitivities in those areas. Similarly, in Aboriginal culture, it is considered disrespectful to show photos of those who have passed, their names are no longer spoken either, as though they never existed.

At the end of the base walk is the Climb, an area where tourists used to be able to hike up the side of the sacred mountain. It wasn’t until October 2019 that the Aboriginals were able to get this disrespectful tourist attraction closed permanently, a triumphant win. The Climb disrespected the cultural significance of the site as it was common for climbers to litter, urinate and defecate on top of the sacred mountain. And yet, many Australians still question why they felt the need to close it.

When traveling to cultural sites, please remember that although the site may have no cultural significance to you, it does to someone else. Show respect for those who graciously allow you on their land.

While I encourage you to go out and see the world, explore new cultures and learn from them, don’t forget to have the mindfulness to know you are not at home. When you travel, you are an outsider. Cultural norms are different, and you should respect those differences. Wear proper attire, attempt to speak the language, try not to stand out. Immerse yourself in the culture — it’ll be a better experience for you and those around you.