King Charles marks Uluru handover anniversary in London
Nine Anangu traditional owners have travelled to London to meet King Charles, marking 40 years since their historic reclamation of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Nine Anangu Indigenous people have greeted King Charles in London to commemorate the 40th anniversary of reclaiming land title to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and have issued a warm invitation to the royal family to revisit.
The Anangu traditional owners travelled from Australia and spoke with the King, 76, in the Downer Room at the Australian High Commission and chatted about jet lag, environmental issues – particularly the lack of water – and how popular Uluru is.
“His Majesty joined us for our anniversary and the issue we spoke about is the water, we need it to rain, the harshness of Uluru and also about our history with art,’’ said Craig Woods.
The Anangu people presented Charles with a vibrant acrylic painting on canvas from artist Eunice Woods. His Majesty presented the Anangu people with some traditional slipware pottery from Fitch and McAndrew.
The King, who has been to Australia 17 times and has maintained a strong interest in Indigenous affairs ever since attending the Timbertop School in Victoria as a 17 year old, then watched a traditional performance and also a film to mark the four decades of reclaiming the land title to one of Australia’s most famous icons in front of an audience in the main marble floored hall.
Anangu elder Sammy Wilson said he would be honoured if the royal family returned, having shown Prince William and Princess Catherine around the rock on a previous tour and given that there was discussion about the pair coming back to Australia, he wanted their children to also visit Central Australia learn about Indigenous history.
“I was very proud and happy and privileged to meet the King,’’ he said.
“We see the picture of Uluru on the screen here and it brings us feelings of peace and sadness and happiness as well.’’
Mr Wilson said that this Australia House event, coming almost two years to the day of the Voice referendum, was “part of the (Voice) conversation in Australia and its still going to be recurring and coming back (for debate)’’.
In 1976, the Australian parliament passed the Aboriginal land rights (Northern Territory) Act, enabling the First Nations peoples could claim land where traditional ownership could be proven.
The Hawke Government handed back the title deeds for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Anangu on 26 October 1985. The ceremony to return the title took place at the base of Uluru, where hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people saw then-Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen pass over the title deeds to Uluru-Kata Tjuta.
As part of the same ceremony, Anangu peoples signed an agreement to lease the park back to the Australian Parks and Wildlife Service, establishing a joint management arrangement for a period of ninety-nine years.
Mr Wilson said the board of management which looks after the park continues to have discussions about management of it into the future.
The Anangu people will mark the 40th anniversary of the Handback of Uluru-Kata Tjuta at a public celebration concert on October 25 at the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku sunrise site, where Mr Wilson said he will take the King’s pottery.
“At the 40 year anniversary I’ll bring it and say “we’ve got a gift from the King’.’’.
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