Kunmanara spent her youth travelling the vast extent of the central desert region and getting to know country intimately. Through her father’s family line, she became a ngangkari (traditional healer) as a young woman. Anangu from all across the APY region used to bring their children to see Kunmanara for her ngangkari work. She always maintained strong connections to her father's family in Nyapari and Kanpi in the West, while living on her mother’s country in the East. Kunmanara drew her inspiration from a wealth of cultural knowledge, and continues to be known for her bold visual language and the deep joy for storytelling that radiates through her paintings.