 Born near Ernabella (now Pukatja) in northern South Australia to his parents, Warlawurru (Eagle-Hawk) and Kaarnka (Black Crow), he spent his late childhood at the Ooldea Mission.He left the area in 1945, being wrongfully arrested in the case of the Mount Dare station manager found guilty of assault and maltreatment of Aborigines.He moved to the South Australian Riverland, where he assisted in the establishment of the Gerard Mission.