Kya was born into the Southern Water Tribe. She married Hakoda, the son of village elder citizens, Kanna. They had two children, Sokka in 83 AG and Katara in 85.
On the morning of the Southern Raiders, Kya, Kanna and Katara were spending time together when ash mixed with the snow. Kanna told Kya to hide Katara, as she was the only Waterbender left. Kya found a tent and hid her daughter before her child was discovered. As Katara watched from behind the barrel, she attempted to waterbend to defend her mother. However, the guard mistook Kya as the last waterbender and killed her in front of her only daughter. Three years prior to the series, Kya's family was deeply affected by her death. Feeling guilty and shame for not being the village whet his wife was killed, Hakoda left for wolf Cove, Katara became a waterbender who was determined to use her bending skills to save others from suffering the same fate as she and Sokka trained to become a warrior.