Indigenous Heritage
The Flinders Ranges and Outback covers such a vast area of South Australia, and so many different environments, it's no surprise that it is one of Australia's richest areas of Aboriginal heritage and living culture.
Aboriginal language groups do not have defined borders - their country blends into neutral zones referred to by various Aboriginal people as shared countries. Adnyamathanha of northern Flinders Ranges have shared country with Kuyani, Arabunna, Kokatha, Nukuna and Barngala language groups. Likewise, Arabunna language groups of Lake Eyre region share country with Wankangurru/Yarluyandi, Adnyamathanha, Kokatha, Barngala and Antakirinja language groups, and the Yankunytjatjara peoples of the central interior have shared country with Antakirinja, Pitjatjantjarra, Kokatha and Eringa language groups.
The association of the Adnyamathanha people with the Flinders Ranges and, in particular, the area around Mount Searle and Angepena is still strong, and it remains uncommon to find group members living any great distance from the Ranges area.
The natural features of the Ranges is still of strong personal significance to the Adnyamathanha and the geology, topography, flora, fauna and climate all feature in traditional stories and legends. Indeed the whole area is criss-crossed by many mythological tracks and song lines that tell how the land, animals and plants were formed.Some stories and information have been lost with the passing of older members of the community, while other secret information may soon be lost because male initiation traditions have stopped. The last full initiation took place in the late 1940s, and the last individual of full Aboriginal descent associated with the original Ranges groups died in 1973.
In northern Flinders Ranges, the Adnyamathanha people at Iga Warta welcome visitors to share their culture and knowledge of the Yarta (land). They offer tours, accommodation and bush camping. Travellers on the Oodnadatta Track are in the traditional country of the Arabunna language group. The track stretches the length of these lands, with Roxby Downs near the southern edge and Coober Pedy on the western border.
Arabunna Cultural Tours, based at Marree, has a range of tours of this country including seven-day tours that include Lake Eyre and Mound Springs, day tours and tailored tours.
The Yankunytjatjara language area covers an extensive tract of land throughout the central arid interiors of Australia, across the western state borders.
The Great Victorian Desert west of Coober Pedy marks the southern most border and the mystical and confronting sight of Uluru indicates the northern boundaries of Yankunytjatjara country.
