Recognized as a first generation Inuit artist, Jessie Oonark was an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (1975), an Officer of the Order of Canada (1984), and is represented in art collections across Canada. Once accustomed to traditional life, Oonark settled in Qamani'tuaq (Baker Lake), Nunavut during the 1950s.

Though mostly known for her drawings and prints, Oonark’s appliqué tapestries are also highly celebrated. In this work of art, pieces of felt are cut out and hand-stitched onto a larger, thicker wool piece to create a scene of individuals (and six birds) travelling in an umiak, a large boat which could hold up to 15-20 people.

Oonark’s prints and textiles have influenced generations of artists, most notably the work of her children William Noah, Janet Kigusiuq, Victoria Mamnguqsualuk, and Josiah Nuilaalik, all of which are represented in the University of Alberta Museums Art Collection.