The first book in the Yinti series of three books. The stories are linked in a sequence that shows Yinti’s development from a young bushie to a competent station worker and adult.
Yinti is a traditional Walmajarri Aboriginal boy growing up Great Sandy Desert in the remote North West of Australia – one of the most marginal environments on earth. This is the story of Yinti’s coming of age.
He has no contact with white people until the last chapter of the book when he meets his first white man, first horse and first bullock.
The stories are based on people and events as told to Pat Lowe by Jimmy Pike.
Jimmy Pike (deceased) was born near Japingka, a waterhole in the Great Sandy Desert, in about 1940, and his early years were spent as a hunter and gatherer. He walked out of the desert when he was 14-years-old when his family moved to a Kimberley cattle station and became a stockman. He spent a number of years in prison where he took up painting and soon became a well-known artist and earned his living through his art. Today, his prints and paintings hang in galleries throughout the world.
Pat Lowe was born and grew up in England but dreamed of migrating to Australia, which she did in 1972. She worked as a teacher in Africa and as a prison psychologist in Australia, but writing has always been her passion. She met Jimmy Pike in 1979 and a few years later set up camp with him in the desert. What followed was a collaboration with Jimmy on a number of books. She also worked with Jukuna Mona Chuguna and Ngarta Jinny Bent on their stories. She now spends her time in Broome.
Desert Dog won the WA Premier's Literary Award and was also a Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book.
