when she was 19, her mother, silaqqi, and stepfather, takpaugni, arranged for her to marry johnniebo ashevak (1923–1972), a local inuit hunter. kenojuak was reluctant, she said, even playfully throwing pebbles at him when he would approach her. in time, however, she came to love him for his kindness and gentleness, a man who developed artistic talents in his own right and who sometimes collaborated with her on projects; the national gallery of canada holds two of johnniebo's works, "taleelayo with sea bird" (1965) and "hare spirits" (1960).