Community: Indulkana
Art Centre: Iwantja Arts (Indulkana S.A.)
Area: APY Lands, South Australia
Born: c1949
Biography:

Kanakiya was born near Watarru, far to the south west of Indulkana. Her mother's country is also at Watarru while her father's country is at Walkatjara. Kanakiya says, "I wwas a spinifex baby, growing up on my homelands. Then when I was little we travelled to a bush camp near Mimili. I spent a lot of time there growning up. I have done a lot of work here at Granite Downs (Indulkana) in Aged Care for the community old people. I assisted at the Health Care Clinic too. Long time ago I worked at the Old Store packing shelves and things. I also assisted the teachers at the school. I have three children and four grandchildren. I was one of the first members at the art centre. Today I help Cheryl the manager as an Art and Craft Coordinator. I do paintings about bushtucker and food sI like to eat. I did a glass workshop. I have made designs for necklaces and keyrings. I made lino cuts of lizards, snakes. I also make piti (wooden artefacts) of goannas and special jukurrpa (dreaming) designs of our country".

Kanakiya has successfully exhibited at the 2006 Desert Mob Exhibition in Alice Springs and the Our Mob Exhibition in Adelaide. In 2007 she also exhibited paintings at Skin to Skin and prints a Works on Paper in Canberra.