Sacred-Sites International Blog

Sacred Uluru

Uluru or Ayers Rock, in Australian, is sacred to aboriginal owners, as a place that figures prominently in their origin history. Despite this fact, the Board of Uluru-KataTjuta National Park has decided against a ban on climbing the rock. There is, however, a new management plan that includes the option of closing the rock in the future should the percentage of visitors who climb the rock decline. The government ruled that the rock’s popularity with tourists should have precedence over the aboriginal’s preference against climbers.

There were many protests by aboriginals who wanted their wishes to be honored, however, unlike the case of Devil’s Tower or Mato Tipila (Bear Lodge in Lakota), located in Wyoming, there was no compromise. The rock is part of the United States National Park System. Devil’s Tower is sacred to Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne and Kiowa as a place where two young girls being chased by a bear were rescued by the Great Spirit who raised the ground to protect them. The rock that was formed still shows the claw marks of the bear. There is a voluntary ban on climbing at Mato Tipila during the month of June when sacred ceremonies are conducted at the rock.