Roberts was born in Stanley Mission, Saskatchewan to a northern Cree family who made their living as trappers, fishers, and tour guides.
Dissatisfied with trapping, Roberts left to pursue studies in La Ronge and Yorkton, eventually finding work as an airfreight radio operator and a Cree–English translator.
This experience led to him being offered a job as a broadcast radio announcer by the Department of Northern Saskatchewan.
[1] In 1982, premier Grant Devine's government dissolved the Department and cancelled its communications program, and the following year Roberts joined CBC Radio.
Roberts became the host of Keewatin Country, a one-hour news magazine broadcast weekdays at noon.