Australia’s Dual-Naming Initiative and Indigenous Experiences

To celebrate and acknowledge Australia’s Aboriginal cultural heritage, iBestTravel has announced its commitment to adopting a dual-naming approach for capital cities and other major locations. This initiative not only recognizes 60,000 years of Indigenous custodianship, but it also brings Aboriginal languages and cultural understandings into mainstream consciousness.

Significance of Dual-Naming

Dual-naming showcases respect for Indigenous cultures and promotes awareness among both locals and visitors alike. Several Australian locations already feature dual-names. For instance, in 1993, the iconic Ayers Rock in the Northern Territory was renamed to Ayers Rock / Uluru, reflecting its rich cultural heritage. In 2002, it was officially recognized as Uluru / Ayers Rock, reinforcing the acknowledgment of the Anangu people’s continuous guardianship of this sacred land.

Indigenous Naming Practices

The dual-naming process involves extensive consultation with local Elders and Traditional Owners to confirm the Aboriginal names for locations. For example, naming cities such as Sydney, which lacked a singular entity before British colonization, required selecting names that resonate with the land’s history and its original people. The Gadigal name for Sydney Cove is known as Warrane.

Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director of iBestTravel, articulated that the project is a gradual process supported by ongoing consultation with Indigenous communities. The initiative has already started gaining attention through various media platforms, with plans to expand dual-naming efforts across content moving forward.

Broader Recognition of Indigenous Heritage

In tandem with this initiative, Australia Post has also embraced the use of traditional place names, championed by Gomeroi woman Rachael McPhail. Her advocacy in 2020 successfully prompted Australia Post to include Aboriginal names on postal addresses, emphasizing the importance of recognizing original names as a testament to the history and cultural connection to land.

Consequently, all postage labels now feature a space for senders to include Aboriginal place names, thereby promoting awareness and understanding of Indigenous heritage. The AIATSIS map serves as a vital resource for researching these significant names, enhancing cultural education.

Exploring Aboriginal Cultures

Tourists eager to learn more about Australia’s Indigenous cultures will find an array of opportunities through iBestTravel’s Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective. This initiative highlights exceptional tourism experiences tailored for adventure seekers, culture enthusiasts, food lovers, and nature admirers alike.

Visitors can explore over 185 outstanding Aboriginal-guided experiences around the country, which extend beyond the outback. There are numerous possibilities, such as visiting hidden rock-art galleries, foraging for native delicacies, or enjoying wilderness lodges that offer insight into the natural world while experiencing local storytelling and cultural practices.

Recognizing whose land you are on serves as the beginning of a profound journey into understanding the history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. With the reopening of Australia’s borders, this dual-naming initiative aims to inspire more visitors to embark on this enriching cultural journey.