Much has been written on Aboriginal mobility, particularly in remote areas (see Taylor 1996a, 1996b; Taylor & Bell 1999; Young & Doohan 1989). But while Aboriginal people are highly mobile, their movements are usually confined within a region and have focal points of reference. By comparison, the non-Indigenous population in remote communities is effectively much more transient: individuals move in and out of the region (see Table 16.4). This partly explains the different emphases and viewpoints of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people: whereas non-Indigenous people complain about Warlpiri workers not turning up to work from one day to the next, Warlpiri people complain about non-Indigenous people coming, staying for a year or two, and then leaving forever, and thereby demonstrating a lack of commitment to the people and the place.^[14]

- 161 - Table 16.4 shows the turnover of managers or coordinators of some selected organisations at Yuendumu (numbers are potentially higher, as I have no data for the periods I was absent). These indicate that the average stay of a non-Indigenous manager or coordinator at Yuendumu is a fraction over two years. Other non-Indigenous staff turnover is probably even higher.

It is indicative that the non-Indigenous persons who have stayed at Yuendumu longest are those with the fewest complaints about the 'Warlpiri work ethic'. They are the ones who call Yuendumu home, and have meaningful relationships with their Indigenous colleagues and workers. To varying degrees, they have a good understanding of Warlpiri culture and have acquired Warlpiri language skills.