Kenojuak Ashevak was an iconic Inuit artist known for her drawing "The Enchanted Owl" from 1960. A documentary focused on her living conditions and talent, showing her drawing with concentration by flickering lamp light. She was born in 1927 and learned traditional crafts from her grandmother. Ashevak contracted tuberculosis and her children died while she was in treatment. She began making applique designs and was the only woman featured in a 1959 print release. Ashevak received numerous honors and died in her hometown as she wanted, having never attended school or learned English.

1. FOR INUIT CULTURE,
SHE WAS AN ICONIC
LIGHT OF HAPPINESS
AND A DANCING
OWL.
By: Sandra Martin

2. THE ENCHANTED OWL
• Kenojuak Ashevak drew her famous sketch “The
Enchanted Owl” in 1960.
• Sold more than $50,000 in 2007.
• Significant reason why John Feeney made a
documentary on her life.

3. THE DOCUMENTARY
• Focuses on her living condition and talent.
• For instance, it states “Later, she makes a drawing in the
flickering light of an oil lamp, drawing with an uncanny
concentration, confidence and fluidity, almost as though she
has projected her imagination like a shadow onto the paper
and is merely tracing the image with her pencil. There is no
hesitation, no second-guessing, no erasing.”
• By the end of the documentary, The Return of the Sun was
another famous painting of Ashevak.
• From the documentary and the painting, she made enough
money that her husband was capable of affording a canoe.

4. BIOGRAPHY
• She was born on October 3rd, 1927, in an igloo in
Ikirasaq.
• Unfortunately, her father, Ushuakjuk, was murdered by
other members of the camp. Reason for his death is
known.
• Ashevak begin to live with her grandmother who
taught her traditional crafts such as sewing sealskin
clothes with caribou sinew.
• For family purposes and to trade for goods with the
Hudson's Bay Company.

5. CONTINUE…….
• At the age of 19, her mother and stepfather arranged a
union for her with hunter Johnniebo Ashevak. After two
year they got married.
• This was the same year, 1948, when federal government
began issuing family allowance benefits to Inuit and
keeping track of them by number, instead of name.
• Ashevak's number was E7-1035.

6. CONTINUE…………..
• In 1951, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She went
to Quebec City hospital for treatment.
• In the process, her children died while waiting for her
return.
• In 1955, became a part of Alma Houston's crafts studio
and began making sealskin appliques on handbags.
• Rabbit Eating Seaweed, a design that Houston found it
amazing. Therefore, he encouraged Ashevak to carve.
• It was the only work by a women included in the 1959
print release.

7. CONTINUE……
• She spent her last few years living in her own home in
Cape Dorset.
• By this time, she is three times widowed and had
numerous biological and adopted children
• Including the artist Arnaqu Ashevak, who died in 2009,
her son Adamie, her daughter, travelling companion
and translator Silaqqie, and a multigenerational
extended family.
• She died in her sleep in her hometown as she wanted.

8. FEW HONORABLE
ACHIEVEMENTS
• She was among the original inductees into the Order of
Canada in 1967.
• She was awarded a Governor-General's Award in
Visual and Media Arts in 2008.
• She also created an owl design for a stained glass
window in a chapel at Appleby College in Ontario in
2004.

9. INTERESTING FACT
• She never went to school, she never studied art, she
never learned English.

10. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS?
• 1.) Why do you think the Canadian government would
identify First Nations by numbers, instead of names?
• 2.) As we know, Kenojuak never went to school, never
learned art, and never spoke English. Therefore, what
do you think is the significant factor behind her talent
for drawing and success?