Margaret Paddy Nanyi was born in Old Darwin Hospital in 1962. From her parents and grandparents, she belongs to Gurindji, Bilinarra, and Warlpiri language groups. Margaret’s parents worked on Old Wave Hill Station before the Wave Hill Walk-off in 1966.
She grew up moving between the communities of Daguragu and Lajamanu and attending primary school in both communities.
Margaret has worked in many places within the Daguragu/Kalkarindji community including the Daguragu creche, bakery and cooking breakfast and lunches in the council office for the CDP workers. In Kalkarindji, she has been employed by the school, clinic, aged care, the shop and the social club.
Margaret now spends her time doing cultural activities in her community, teaching the young girls about bush medicine and wajarra (ceremony). She also spends time in the Art Centre painting her kilipi (bush banana) and kurtakarla (bush coconut) designs.