The heritage Olympics are coming to Australia – and it will result in a motion to acknowledge traditional Indigenous owners of lands around the world, and do more to recognise their unique contribution.
Australians flock overseas to the ruins of long dead ancient cultures yet overlook much older and still surviving Indigenous cultural sites in their own backyards, says artist and curator Jonathan Jones.
Jones will lead a panel of Indigenous scientists, astronomers and heritage experts at the Sydney Town Hall next Monday that will discuss the wealth of Indigenous cultural heritage that is often overlooked in the south-east of Australia.It is one of two free public events during the heritage Olympics, the term used by its convenor Professor Richard Mackay to describe the 21st General Assembly of ICOMOS being held in Australia for the first time until September 9.
This rich cultural heritage included the world’s oldest ceremonial burial, said Jones. Mungo Man in western NSW’s Lake Willandra was buried with love and ceremony - his body adorned with ochre and his arms crossed - 42,000 to 45,000 years ago. The heritage listing said the Budj Bim lava flows provided the basis for a complex aquaculture system developed by the Gunditjmara. Volcanic rock was used to construct channels, weirs and dams and manage water flows to systematically trap, store and harvest kooyang.
The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape includes fish traps that have been in continuous use for 6600 years. It also contains proof of ancient homes, more than 300 elevated stone huts.Jones said ignorance of this Aboriginal cultural heritage would hold the nation back. “Until we reconcile that, you know, we will never be a full country.”
“There is this extraordinary, lovely relationship happening here, that seems to be based on respect, and yet that’s not our founding story. That’s strange,” said Jones.
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