Thanks for visiting and being respectful, not everyone is unfortunately. My cousins are Aboriginal and have worked in and around Uluru, some of the stories they tell of travellers are truly horrific! The national park around Uluru does get closed or sections of it get closed during certain ceremonies for the local Aboriginals, but it is open nearly all the time otherwise.
Climbing Uluru will finally be banned completely this year, very happy about that!
No worries, would be interesting to read about some of their views on the closure? I spoke to a few around the rock and got very mixed views - but that wasn't unexpected, it's very controversial and with the whole 'capitalism tourist thing happening' there are a number of view points which seem to have nothing to do with traditions.
I hail from the South and was pretty much well born and raised in the bush, from the age of 4 I was out hunting and finding my grub. I spent allot of time with and around Aboriginal communities down this way and so that is reflected in my feelings for being respectful to the bush.
'As a bushman' from the South my view is not fully informed for a view on the Ayres Rock closure; I believe that when you go for a walk in the bush, a bit of wander, a walk about.. your not really looking to go anywhere, but will go everywhere - fence, oceans, mountain, time has little meaning... even rocks - they are not owned by anyone, they are just there. If you come across these things you walk through, over, on top...their is no offence to the land in doing so if you feel it's calling, it's a part of allowing yourself to discover the bush and it to discover you. There are a few exceptions, but the bush lets you know..
It would be a shame that people who live in the area and need time with the bush would...consciously avoid the rock, due it being marked by too many tourists and the behaviours of some idiots in my view. In the case of Ayres rock I reckon it should be local Aboriginals who live there that should hold the greatest say/view point as they are the ones most likely to be impacted and their future generations.
Where can you let go and find yourself deep in bush if you can't go everywhere?, going where ever you feel the need, you hear things and see things that you couldn't see if you were 'caged' from being allowed to roam free. I suspect most people would not get this view point, but that's mine anyways.
I hope it works out for the best for you cousins in the area and that their voice carries weight in the decisions to come.
Cheers