Darby Jampijinpa Ross (c. 1905 – 14 March 2005) was a respected Warlpiri elder who was born at Ngarnayarlpirri in the Tanami Desert.
[1][2] He is often referred to as one of the last 'old people' at Yuendumu to really know the country, the songs, the names of the plants and animals and to have traversed large tracts of land on foot.
Many Warlpiri songs, dances, stories, words pictures and place names died with him.
[3][6] During World War II Ross began working as a wolfram miner at Hatches Creek and, later in the war, spent some time working with the Native Labour Gang in Alice Springs where he unloaded supply vehicles and collected firewood.
[1] Ross died in 2005, while residing at Hetti Perkins Hostel in Alice Springs just 1 day after receiving a telegram from the Queen congratulating him on turning 100 years old.
This book is an account of his life and Ross worked closely with Campbell, and was interviewed many times, to complete it.