Mutawintji (Mootwintji) is a national Park 150klm north-east of Broken Hill.

It is sacred to Aboriginals. It was formerly administered and run by the Parks and Wild life department. But one dark nite the indigenous tribe infiltrated Mutawintji and stormed the park headquarters. They evicted all the rangers, and they took all the signs of western civilisation, such as the office chairs and Tv and telephone and fridges, and they hung them all from some old she-oaks at the entrance. Meaning of course, do not come back.

The government was in a quandary ... they could not storm the park with SAS troops or Commandos against the indigenous peoples ... so they took them to Court. The Government lost and had to hand Mutawintji back to its original owners.

Many things drove the Aboriginals to this desperate act .... one thing, the feral goats, introduced by the white fella, now numbering over 20,000 were camping in the rock shelters and the ammonia from their urine was destroying the paintings. Some of these paintings are the oldest in the world. Mutawintji contains some of the FIRST art ever.

[media width=450]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrq-NHVNaQg[/media]

Enjoy .... greg