Before Missionaries came to Groote Eylandt in 1921, people used to stay in family groups. They followed the pattern set by our laws set for marriages, but the strong men took most wives, and others were left without a wife. There were many murders for this reason and because of raids from other mainland tribes.

There was plenty of food from the sea and the bush. When the water dried up in smaller creeks there were four rivers where people could get fresh water. They moved around in their own areas on Groote.