'The events described in this chapter occurred before the coming of the colonists. That was a time when land was clearly demarcated by different Aboriginal groups and, where conflict occurred, it was over women and resources rather than land, as described by Dandy Danbayarri in his story Waringarri (War Parties). The Gurindji characterise this time before European invasion as an unchanging but cyclical period of social and natural order, and predictability.'