Before experiencing Wintjiri Wiru, we encourage everyone to visit the Mala Walk at the Uluru Base Walk. There you will see the tjukuritja (physical evidence) of the Mala tjukurpa (creation story) and gain a deeper understanding of this ancient story that will be brought to life in the outback sky through cutting-edge drone, laser light and sound technology.
Here are some ways you can experience the Mala Story first-hand at Uluru:
- Desert Awakenings Tour
- A free daily ranger-guided Mala Walk - please see your Hotel Reception for details
- See your Hotel Reception or Tourist Information Centre for more tours
You are on Yankunytjatjara Pitjantjatjara land, and we welcome you to experience our Tjukurpa, our story. We are Anangu and we have one of the oldest continuing cultures on earth. The story you will experience tonight has been passed to us from generation to generation. Our ancestors walked this Country, carried this story and shared this story through inma, our songs and our ceremonies.
Tonight we share with you our story in a new way; through sound, lasers, and more than a thousand drones that will light up the sky.
What you will experience tonight has been years in the making. Telling our story the right way is very important to us.
We are sharing the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru and we have been there every step of the way guiding Ayers Rock Resort. A group of 10 senior Anangu from Kaltukatjara and Mutitjulu, have taken great care to tell our story to you in the right way. The words you will hear in the show are spoken in our languages and interpreted in English. The story has many layers and we have carefully chosen every word we are sharing with you. What you see on the ground and in the sky has been developed with us.
Before we reach Wintjiri Wiru, we wanted to remind you of our tjukurpa, the Mala story.
The story begins with the Mala (rufous hare-wallaby) People, living at Uluru, conducting their inma (their ceremony).
An invitation came from the west, to join another inma. This was not possible, as the ceremony had begun, and could not be stopped. So a huge devil dog called Kurpany was created to destroy the Mala inma.
The evil spirit travelled toward the Mala people. Luunpa, the Kingfisher Woman, was the first to spot it. She warned them and they did not listen. The evil spirit shape-shifted into many forms. First, the trees, then rocks, and birds, and ultimately, Kurpany, the devil dog. Luunpa screamed out and told the Mala People that an evil spirit was coming, they finally saw it and became terrified.
The dog attacked and killed many of the Mala men, and in great fear and confusion, the remaining Mala fled South from Uluru. Kurpany did not attack the Mala women. They are still living here at Uluru today. The Kingfisher Woman still keeps watch, and the dog's footprints are embedded in Uluru.
This story is still here and will be forever. It is our story from our old people. Our story will always be held and passed from generation to generation.
We are Anangu, the people of Uluru and Kaltukatjara (Docker River). We are happy to share our story with you. As your travel home, take this with you and share it with your people. This way, we will always be connected.
This is our Country, and we have a responsibility to this Country. We have made sure that the show site has been carefully chosen, to ensure our Country and animals are protected.
We ask that you tread lightly, as you experience our Country and our story.
Welcome to Wintjiri Wiru.
