By Romaine Moreton

The opening sequence of The Last of the Nomads sets up the drama. While it is the expedition to bring back Warri and Yatungka from the desert in order to save them from the severe drought, there is the undercurrent of the hostility of the land itself as perceived by outsiders. For people not of that country, the land is uninviting because of the absence of knowledge and songs that would enable one to survive in this environment.

The journey for Warri and Yatungka though is as much about the white explorer’s perception of this place, and the need to conquer it in order to bring back the two Elders. Though respect for the Mandildjara people and the knowledge of this place is acknowledged, there is also a futility that endures due to the absence of Mandildjara voices and perspective.