A sketch of Yuendumu and its outstations

Abstract

Yuendumu is an Aboriginal settlement of fairly recent establishment (1946). The encroachment of white men into Warlpiri territory has brought great changes to the life-style of the people, but they have attempted at all times to fuse traditional values with those aspects of white culture that they find desirable. The first section outlines Warlpiri-European contact, the characteristics of southern Warlpiri territory, and the structure and administration of Yuendumu. The second section outlines the traditional economy of the Warlpiri people and characteristics of the present-day economy of Yuendumu, and shows that in spite of a great many introduced factors there is a thread of continuity based on the social system and the traditional life-style. Lastly there follows a description of the outstations which base themselves on Yuendumu, with their aspirations and problems.