Johnny Warrkatja is from the Ganalbingu clan. He is the eldest son of Ian Wuluwul Malibirr and renowned fibre artist Lucy Wanapuyngu. As a young boy he spent some time living in homelands including his mothers clan land at Dhupuwamirri. He watched song man and Wanapuyngu elder Roy Ashley and Djambarrpuyngu elder Raymond Marpin paint on bark. They taught him his clan stories, designs and songs. He continues to carry the songs, patterns and traditions for the Ganalbingu and Wanapuyngu clans.