Tiger Tjalkalyirri

[1] In the early 1920s Tjalkalyirri migrated, with several family members, to Watarrka Country in the Northern Territory, where he had strong connections.

In the mid-1920s he moved again to become a stockman on Henbury Station; here he learned to ride horses and camels and became noted for his tracking abilities.

Based on these skills he was chosen as a guide for missionaries Ernest Eugene Kramer and John Henry Sexton on their 6000 km camel trek to take a census of Aboriginal people in the region.

Although he respected Christianity he did not adopt the faith as other members of his family, like his younger brother Pastor Peter Bulla, did.

While at Hermannsburg Tjalkalyirri also helped linguists and anthropologists to understand Aṉangu culture and was respected for his knowledge of songs, dances and artefact manufacture.

[5][6] Tjalkalyirri played an active role in the 1960 centenary celebrations of John McDouall Stuart's first expedition and 'discovery' of Central Australia and,[1] in 1967 participated in the Hermannsburg Choir tour led by Doug and Olga Radke.

He was present when, in November 1983, Prime Minister Bob Hawke promised that Uluṟu would be handed back to its traditional owners.