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Campbell, Liam: Darby. One hundred years of lile in a changing culture, Sydney 2006, ISBN 0733319254

Table of Contents        ¦         Cover Text        ¦         Book Review

Table of Contents

Reader's Note -iv-

Dedication -v-

Map of Warlpiri Country -vi-

Chapter One

The Oldest Man in Australia -1-

Chapter Two

Jukurrpa: Dreaming, Life and Law -6-

Visitors, Recorders and Filmmakers -23-

Chapter Three

Walking a Different Road -28-

Visitors, Promoting Warlpiri Culture -40-

Visitors, Bush Mechanics and Satellites -43-

Chapter Four

Painting Culture -44-

Visitors; Art Mob -66-

Chapter Five

A New Ceremony -68-

Visitors; Missionaries -82-

Warlpiri Worriors -95-

Chapter Six

Yuendumu: Living on Yurrampi -98-

Visitors, Government -108-

Visitors, Naturalists -114-

Visitors, Researchers -120-

Visitors, The White Toyota Mob -126-

Chapter Seven

Proper Head Drover Man -130-

Visitors; Pastoralists and Prospectors -137-

Chapter Eight

Get Short for Nothing -164-

Visitors, Policemen -171-

Visitors, Board of Enquiry -183-

Chapter Nine

The Good Old Days -184-

Visitors, Explorers -201-

Country Can't Cry -212-

Endnotes -214-

Bibliography -219-

Project participants -222-

Acknowledgements -226-

Copyright and photographic credits -226-

Sponsors -227-

Audio CD -228-

Cover Text

'That was how we were in the good old days.' Born in the bush before Whitefellas entered his country, Darby Jampijinpa Ross lived through a time of great change for his people and died the day after his hundredth birthday. 'Children. Oh, everything there! Women there, young girl: they kill 'em whole lot there.' He survived the deaths of his family in the 1928 Coniston massacre before travelling widely as a stockman, cameleer, drover and prospector. After assisting the war effort, he returned to his traditional country northwest of Alice Springs where he became a much loved community and ceremonial leader. He gained recognition as a successful artist and a strong advocate for Aboriginal Law and Culture. 'We would paint them with ochre and feathers. We would say, 'We're going to teach you youngfellas so you can look after the country'.' At Yuendumu, Darby became a strong supporter of the Baptist Church, a consultant for Parks and Wildlife and was the curator for the Yuendumu Men's Museum. He was an enthusiastic storyteller in Warlpiri and English and inspired others to follow in his footsteps. 'Old Darby had an idea. He cut these sticks and made 'em like a little boomerang - little tiny clutch out of mulga (wood). He was really Bush Mechanic that old man!' (Francis Jupurrurla Kelly) An amazing life of good humour and willingness to share his stories of Jukurrpa (Dreaming). Law and Culture make him one of Australia's unsung heroes. His contributions range across activities as diverse as television, sport, natural history and art. The voice of Darby Jampijinpa Ross represents the richness of Indigenous Australia. 'European peoples, Aboriginal peoples - we're living in one lot, now. All family.' Liam Campbell met Darby in 1989, and began recording his stories in 1995. Darby wanted them to be made into a book and they looked for support to expand the project to visit country, record further stories and create an archive of photographs. Darby identified a small group of participants in the project. Darby's nephew Thomas Jangala Rice was identified as kirda (owner) for the material and Paddy Japaljarri Stewart as kurdungurlu (guardian). Elders Jack Jakamarra Ross and Paddy Japaljarri Sims were also major participants. This model reflects Warlpiri codes for the management and dissemination of cultural information. Darby's story is also a record of the Warlpiri people and deals with the Indigenous experience in Central Australia in the twentieth century. Warlpiri Media and Warlukurlangu Artists provided community support and oversight of the project. The book features photographs by Emmy award-winning cinematographer Scott Duncan. A wide range of individuals and organisations took part and aimed to create a book that not only Darby could be proud of, but all people of Yuendumu would have an interest in, with historical, cultural, social and academic value beyond the Warpliri community.