Rover Thomas was born at Gunawaggi, Well 33 on the Canning Stock Route. His mother, Ngakuyipa (Nita) was a Kukatja woman, the two fathers who brought him up were Lanikan Thomas and Sundown, both Wangkajunga men.
When he was ten, he moved with his parents to Billuna Station in the Kimberley, where he began to work as a stockman. Here, sometime during World War II, he was initiated into traditional law. He later worked with a European fencing contractor before returning to Western Australia and the Bow River Station in the north-eastern Kimberley. He later worked at the Texas Downs Station and the Mabel Downs Station.
In early 1975 he came to live with the Warmun community at Turkey Creek. At this time Aboriginal people had finally been awarded equal pay with white workers and as a result many station owners expelled them from their properties.
in that year Thomas the Krill Krill ceremony came to Rover Thomas in a dream.
- Writers:
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- Date written:
- 2022
- Last updated:
- 2022
