Minyawu was born ca 1944 at Pungarnu in the north of Martu country, and grew up in the Punmu area. He is the last Warnman speaker. As a young man, he was one of the last Martu to leave the desert. In 1966 he was instructed by elders to travel north to see if there was anyone left in the desert. This journey took him a 1000 kms walking from the Karlamilyi river up to Anna Plains station in the far north and back again.