Anangu

Anangu is a collective term used by many Indigenous peoples of the Western Desert region of Australia to refer to themselves. In Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, Anangu means “people.” The term is commonly applied to groups including Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and related communities, who together form part of the Western Desert cultural bloc.

Geography and governance: Anangu people live across parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia, with large concentrations in the central desert and in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunjatjara (APY) Lands in north-western South Australia. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta area is of particular spiritual significance; Anangu cooperate with the Australian government and park authorities in the management of some lands and protected areas. In many areas, Anangu participate in land management, cultural heritage protection, education and health programs, and in tourism initiatives.

Language and culture: The main languages are Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, which are closely related dialects; Ngaanyatjarra and other Western Desert languages are spoken by other Anangu groups. Tjukurpa, or Dreaming, is the foundation of Anangu law, cosmology and land stewardship, guiding kinship, social obligations and relationships to country. Art, song, dance and storytelling are traditional practices that express connection to land and history.

Contemporary life: APY Lands cover about 103,000 square kilometres and are governed by Anangu associations and councils in partnership with government agencies. Anangu participate in land management, cultural heritage protection, education, health programs and tourism around sacred sites such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta and other north-central sites. Today, Anangu communities pursue language and cultural preservation while engaging with broader Australian society, balancing self-determination with development and service delivery.