James was born near Ernabella (now Pukatja) in northern South Australia, to parents Warlawurru (Eagle-Hawk) and Kaarnka (Black Crow).
The grievance related to eight months of unpaid wages from their employer - the Mount Dare station.
In January 1946, James and the other workers moved to the South Australian Riverland, where he assisted in the establishment of the new Gerard Mission.
[2] In 1948, James began his career as a tracker for police and landowners, and gained much of his reputation tracking criminals (including arsonists, poachers and escapees) and lost persons.
[3][4] In 1966, he found nine-year-old Wendy Pfeiffer after she was abducted near Mylor, stabbed, and left for dead in the woods.