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The couple were hosted by The Honourable Adam Giles, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and his wife Tamara and Andrew Davies, Acting Park Manager for the Uluru-KataTjuta National Park and estates under a grass roofed open shelter where they received more gifts for Prince George.
Then sitting on a decorated cloth on the rich red earth Senior Anangu women started singing their traditional song with men accompanying on sticks. Walking into the arena, there was a bare chested woman in her early 70s, with her chest decorated with an intricate painting, dancing the traditional Inma, a royal Welcome to Country.
The ritual steps and verses, which were continued by Rene Kultjia, 52, her body painted white and lips daubed with red, and finally Roley Mintama (who appeared in the movie Tracks) his chest featuring a painted snake tell stories from Tjukurpa, Anangu law handed down from the creation ancestors through ceremony, from generation to generation.
The stories of the creation ancestors lay down rules for living, which guide Anangu even today. Some Tjukurpa stories are only passed on to people who have inherited the right to that knowledge. In Anangu culture, the art of dance is reserved for a very small number of special events and is therefore rarely seen. For public performances, only public stories may be performed. Every move and sound is rich with meaning.
The couple were transfixed and afterwards received more gifts, including a stunning carved shield for Prince William and a necklace for the Duchess, which was put around her neck by Barbara Nipper before meeting the artists who painted the works of art pinned to the fence of the Cultural Centre and going into the cafe for afternoon tea.
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An Aboriginal woman performs for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
