The grasslands of mainland Australia are not densely populated. Photos of the sprawling fields of cropped grass and bush feature kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, and fox – seldom humans. However, the Aboriginal culture of the area is rich and diverse in history and customs.
Uluru is one of the most distinctive sights in Australia: a massive land mass that glows red at sunset, surrounded by flat, dry land. It’s a must-see tourist attraction in Northern Australia, and belongs to the Anangu people, the Aboriginals who inhabit the area.
There are walking tours, led by the Anangu people, up and around Uluru, however climbing is forbidden among the Aboriginal tribe. Technically, tourists may climb the attraction, but there are signs asking for them to respect the ancient rules. The forbidding of summiting Uluru comes from the Dreaming, Native Australians core belief.
The Dreaming states that a very long time ago, Ancestor spirits came down to Earth in human form, and created the animals, plants, etc. These Ancestor spirits also forged the special relationships between the land, the people, and the animals. Once all this was finished, the Ancestor spirits turned into trees, stars, rock formations, springs, and other geological features. Native Australians believe that the Ancestor spirits never left Earth, that they simply reside in the form of various beautiful sites. As you may have guessed, Uluru is one of these sacred sites. The Anangu people do not climb the rock out of respect for their creators.
There are walking tours, led by the Anangu people, up and around Uluru, however climbing is forbidden among the Aboriginal tribe. Technically, tourists may climb the attraction, but there are signs asking for them to respect the ancient rules. The forbidding of summiting Uluru comes from the Dreaming, Native Australians core belief.
The Dreaming states that a very long time ago, Ancestor spirits came down to Earth in human form, and created the animals, plants, etc. These Ancestor spirits also forged the special relationships between the land, the people, and the animals. Once all this was finished, the Ancestor spirits turned into trees, stars, rock formations, springs, and other geological features. Native Australians believe that the Ancestor spirits never left Earth, that they simply reside in the form of various beautiful sites. As you may have guessed, Uluru is one of these sacred sites. The Anangu people do not climb the rock out of respect for their creators.
Before Australia was colonized by the Europeans, the Aboriginals ruled the land. These people have immense knowledge of the natural ways of their country, and they may be responsible for many Australian phenomena, including why many plants in Australia are fire-resistant.
The Aboriginal people used to burn large portions of woodland in carefully controlled, low-intensity fires, with specific plans, to promote pasteurization and lure in various animals. There were specific ways of burning these woodlands, so that the people could use the space for a certain purpose. For example, if there was a lack of kangaroos in the area, the land was burned so that the remainder was a coarse grass, the kind of grass kangaroos typically like to eat.
This all sounds completely unacceptable today, however it may have been for the best. Due to these fires taking place all over the country for thousands of years, the ecosystems changed. Because they created such diverse areas of farmland, there are many kinds of vegetation that grow in seemingly similar land. Most plants are resistant to fire, so large, destructive bushfires are very uncommon. The burning of the woodlands to create grasslands also affected the monsoons – because of the higher ground temperatures, the dry season extended well into the monsoon season, meaning there was a great deal less rainfall.
The Aboriginal people used to burn large portions of woodland in carefully controlled, low-intensity fires, with specific plans, to promote pasteurization and lure in various animals. There were specific ways of burning these woodlands, so that the people could use the space for a certain purpose. For example, if there was a lack of kangaroos in the area, the land was burned so that the remainder was a coarse grass, the kind of grass kangaroos typically like to eat.
This all sounds completely unacceptable today, however it may have been for the best. Due to these fires taking place all over the country for thousands of years, the ecosystems changed. Because they created such diverse areas of farmland, there are many kinds of vegetation that grow in seemingly similar land. Most plants are resistant to fire, so large, destructive bushfires are very uncommon. The burning of the woodlands to create grasslands also affected the monsoons – because of the higher ground temperatures, the dry season extended well into the monsoon season, meaning there was a great deal less rainfall.
Sources:
Australia. Australian Indigenous cultural history. 31 March 2015. 28 November 2016. <http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-cultural-heritage>.
Kroff, Jens. Aboriginal land care. 23 July 2016. 27 November 2916. <https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/land/aboriginal-land-care>.
Parks and Wildlife - Western Australia. Traditional Aboriginal burning. 2 June 2015. 29 November 2016. <https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning>.
Wikipedia. Uluru. 21 November 2016. 28 November 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru>.
Wyrwoll, Karl-Heinz. How Aboriginal burning changed Australia's climate. 11 January 2012. 28 November 2016. <http://theconversation.com/how-aboriginal-burning-changed-australias-climate-4454>.
Australia. Australian Indigenous cultural history. 31 March 2015. 28 November 2016. <http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-cultural-heritage>.
Kroff, Jens. Aboriginal land care. 23 July 2016. 27 November 2916. <https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/land/aboriginal-land-care>.
Parks and Wildlife - Western Australia. Traditional Aboriginal burning. 2 June 2015. 29 November 2016. <https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning>.
Wikipedia. Uluru. 21 November 2016. 28 November 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru>.
Wyrwoll, Karl-Heinz. How Aboriginal burning changed Australia's climate. 11 January 2012. 28 November 2016. <http://theconversation.com/how-aboriginal-burning-changed-australias-climate-4454>.