Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International climate action
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • Environmental markets
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    New Nature Positive laws: public webinar

    Watch our public webinars to learn more about proposed changes to our environment laws.

    Watch now

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    • Campaigns
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. National Parks
  4. Parks Australia
  5. Media releases | Parks Australia
  6. Aboriginal language enshrined in Uluṟu World Heritage statement

Sidebar first - EN - International activity

  • Energy

Sidebar first - EN - National parks

  • Parks Australia
    • The Director of National Parks
    • Media releases
    • Media centre
    • Freedom of Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Interest Disclosure
    • Climate Change
    • Permits, licences and leases
    • Procurement Feedback Guidelines
    • Publications

Aboriginal language enshrined in Uluṟu World Heritage statement

  • Media release
  • Parks
9 August 2021

For the first time since the inception of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1975, the World Heritage Committee has endorsed the use of an indigenous language to describe a site’s outstanding universal value.

A retrospective statement for the dual-listed Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park – featuring quotes in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara language by two Aṉangu elders – was officially adopted at the recent 44th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in late July.

This is the first time a UNESCO Statement of Outstanding Universal Value has included a language other than English or French, even though there are over 1100 listed properties.

Park Manager Dianne Scopel said the inclusion of Aboriginal language sets a precedent and enshrines the words of two significant Aṉangu leaders.

“The statement describes evidence of one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world as well as the natural and geological significance of this spectacular landscape,” Dianne Scopel said.

“But most importantly, it captures the importance of the area to the Aṉangu people in their own words, a people who have lived here for tens of thousands of years.”

The inclusion of these words, in both languages, was strongly supported by the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Board of Management.

“It is really important to show everyone our language is important, we need both languages. Our language has to stay,” said Chair of the Board, Sidney James.

A Statement of Outstanding Universal Value is the official statement adopted by the World Heritage Committee to summarise why a listed property is of international importance.

Statements for Australia’s properties are written by the Australian Government in consultation with traditional owners and World Heritage advisory bodies. Due to the extensive consultation required, it is common for a statement to take many years to finalise beyond the initial listing of the site.

“We are delighted that the quotes from traditional owners have been maintained as they provide important emphasis to the outstanding cultural values of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park,” Dianne Scopel said.

“This retrospective statement will now be used as a key reference for the protection and management of the property into the future.”

The UN Decade of Indigenous Languages will be observed from 2022, prioritising a need to empower indigenous language users and protect, revitalise, and promote indigenous languages.

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is one of only a few dozen places in the world to have received a dual World Heritage listing for both its cultural and natural values. The land is owned by the Aṉangu people and leased to Parks Australia, who manage the national park in collaboration with the traditional owners.

Excerpt from the Statement of Universal Value for Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park

Ananguku Tjukurpa kunpu pulka alatjitu ngaranyi. Inma pulka ngaranyi munu Tjukurpa pulka ngaranyi ka palula tjana-languru kulini munu uti nganana kunpu mulapa kanyinma. Miil-miilpa ngaranyi munu Ananguku Tjukurpa nyanga pulka mulapa. Tjukurpa panya tjamulu, kamilu, mamalu, ngunytjulu nganananya ungu, kurunpangka munu katangka kanyintjaku.

There is strong and powerful Aboriginal Law in this Place. There are important songs and stories that we hear from our elders, and we must protect and support this important Law. There are sacred things here, and this sacred Law is very important. It was given to us by our grandfathers and grandmothers, our fathers and mothers, to hold onto in our heads and in our hearts. ©

Nintiringkula kamila tjamula tjanalanguru. Wirurala nintiringu munula watarkurinytja wiya. Nintiringkula tjilpi munu pampa nguraritja tjutanguru, munula rawangku tjukurpa kututungka munu katangka kanyilku. Ngura nyangakula ninti – nganana ninti.

We learnt from our grandmothers and grandfathers and their generation. We learnt well and we have not forgotten. We’ve learnt from the old people of this place, and we’ll always keep the Tjukurpa in our hearts and minds. We know this place – we are ninti, knowledgeable. ©

Media contact

Lucy Stone, Parks Australia; 0459 432 942; ParksMedia@environment.gov.au

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

Climate change and energy:

dcceewmedia@industry.gov.au

Environment and water:

media@environment.gov.au

(61 2) 6275 9880

Related

News tile image

Australia signs High Seas Biodiversity Treaty

  • Media release
  • Environment protection
25 September 2023

Pink Handfish seen for the first time in 22 years

  • Media release
  • Parks
23 December 2021

Fresh hope for our native flora with new national native seed strategy

  • Media release
  • Parks
06 December 2021
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
dcceew energy art

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 06 May 2022
dcceew footer small

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water