Etok was born in the camp of Qirnituartuq, near the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec, Canada. His mother was Sarah, and he has a brother, Joe Willie. The family originated from the Tasiujaq region, later moving to the areas of Nachvak fiord in Labrador's Torngat Mountains, and the Koroc River area of Quebec's Ungava Bay watershed.