Australia travel info and guidelines for indigenous Australia
How to travel responsible across the Aboriginal land
When you are travelling through Australia, you are travelling through the land that was once completely occupied by indigenous people. Nowadays mostly land not of importance to the white fellas (that's us the people with with skin) is inhabited by Aboriginal people. This roughly includes many parts of northern West Australia, the Northern territory, the north of Queensland and parts of South Australia and New South Wales. For land owned by Aboriginal people you will most certainly need a permit, if you want to travel through it. Please, check with Visitor centres or local police before heading off.
Aboriginal people have a strong spiritual connection to their land. You should accept any restrictions Aboriginal people request of you. It might be that you are not allowed to visit certain places, because of their culture significance.
In the Aboriginal culture business of men and women is strictly separated. This includes ceremonies typically held at sacred sites. Certain sites are of limits for women, e.g. the Bunjil shelter in the Grampians., some are forbidden for men.
Alcohol consumptions is sometimes forbidden in Aboriginal communities, because the Aboriginal law does not say anything about how Aboriginal people have to deal with it. When the white settlers forced the Aborigines to leave there land, many Aborigines started to drink alcohol, because they lost their connection to their land and thereby a big part of their identity. This is still a problem is Australia. Visitors are not allowed to drink alcohol either in those communities.
I love to take picture of the places I visit, as probably most of the Tourists do. But when you taking picture of Aboriginal people or cultural activities, please always ask, if you allowed to do so. When I did the Aboriginal walkabout in the Blue Mountains, we had visited a sacred site showing several engravings in particular an engraving of an ancestral being. The guide asked us not to take any pictures of this engraving for cultural reason. Also if you intend to use pictures you have taken in any publications, you need to seek copyright permission from the indigenous people shown in the pictures
Please do not in any way disturbed any cultural site. Not only is it prohibited by Australian law, but it also destroys parts of an ancient culture that has survived for so long and of which we all certainly can learn. When purchasing any Aboriginal art and craft work make sure it has a label of cultural authenticity. This creates economic support for communities.
In the ends it is all about respect for other and yourself. Never do anything on purpose that will harm others.