Kunmanara (Bonnie) Connelly was born in Illurpa, a place near Blackstone in the Ngaanyatjarra lands. When she was young, her mother took her to Ernabella, later they moved to Angus Downs and then Mututjulu.
Her father passed away in Alintjarra, his country was Manta Maru. She had a lot of family in Warakurna and in Blackstone.