David Unaipon was born in 1872 at Point McLeay Mission Station, South Australia, son of James and Nymbulda Unaipon (Ngunaitponi). His early years were spent balancing the Indigenous lessons of his father (an initiated Ngarrindjeri man) with the lessons on scripture and etiquette provided by the Mission deacon and Aborigines’ Friends Association secretary, George Taplin. Unaipon’s father, himself a remarkable man who worked to preserve his own Indigenous culture within the confines of a Christian and colonial regime, was the first Ngarrindjeri deacon of Point McLeay church (unanimously elected in 1871). James Unaipon also helped in the transcription of Ngarrindjeri stories for Taplin’s many publications. Amongst Taplin’s many publications, James Unaipon’s hand is most evident in
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Citation: Miller, Benjamin. "David Unaipon". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 May 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4499, accessed 22 November 2024.]
