Since then, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park has been jointly managed by Aṉangu Traditional Owners and Parks Australia.
In 2025, to mark the 40th anniversary of the historic event, this project is organising a publication that chronicles the contribution of the Joint Board of Management to sustainable management and conservation. The project will present the history through Aṉangu eyes.
As time passes, fewer of the senior Aṉangu who were involved in the land rights movement and establishing Joint Management at Uluṟu can contribute to the project. The 40th anniversary celebration and book will recognise and celebrate this generation – and enable them to hand over their stories to younger Aṉangu.
Called the ‘Nyiri Ulurunyatjara’ (meaning ‘paper about handback’), community engagement is central to this project. Six Aṉangu members have been elected to the project committee and Dr Diana James, an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Humanities and Arts at the Australian National University and the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music at Adelaide University has been engaged as the project coordinator.
In a great way to get the ball rolling and build excitement, Dr James hosted a workshop with the project team and other community members to start brainstorming ideas for the publication and exhibition, including exploring photo collections and oral histories with Elders.
The publication will be made available at the UKTNP Cultural Centre, Connellan Airport, Ayers Rock Resort retailer, bookstores and online.
