The European settlers' culture involved structured farming for food production whereas the Arrernte culture had traditional practices of hunting for their food.

Western farming believed that by building fences on the land it could be kept by the settlers and the Arrernte people would not hunt the cattle.

The European settlers believed the Arrernte had to be shot in order to protect their cattle and water supplies. 

The Arrernte saw the cattle farming as a waste of water resources and believed the cattle should be hunted whereas the European settlers saw cattle farming as an investment into future food production

European culture viewed hunting as an unsuccessful way of producing food whereas the Arrernte found it to be a successful means of food production.