Nilak Butler was an Inuit born in Alaska. She was adopted by Archie and Alma McCormick, who gave her the name Kelly Jean McCormick. She was brought up in Tacoma, Washington, where she attended Adastra School for Giften Children. Her adopted mother, Alma, was principal of the private school in Tacoma. She graduated high school at the young age of 13, and she began college at age 14. Nilak became an actress, playing the romantic lead in the film "White Dawn." She became involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM) and married AIM activist Dino Butler. She was present with her husband June 26, 1975, when two FBI agents were murdered near Oglala, South Dakota, which lead to a sensational trial of her husband, who was acquitted.