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The Inuksuk (pronounced IN-OOK-SOOK) is a figure of stone, traditionally erected by Canada's Arctic Inuit people to serve as guides for safe journeys through the frozen north tundra. The plural of Inuksuk is 'Inuksuit'. Inuksuit come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (see below). They can delineate between land ice and sea ice, show a safe crossing, mark a dangerous stretch of water, mark a harbour, a caribou crossing or a good hunting area.
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- See sculptures below. |
Today, they stand as eternal symbols of leadership, encouraging the importance of friendship and reminds us of our dependence upon one another. (see samples below)
We have come to understand that the word Inuksuk can mean many things. The word itself is an Inuktituk word meaning "in the image of man" and comes from the word "inuk" which means "human being". Our friends Augiak and Nija Novalinga taught us that it also means a "safe place".
"The cold climate and rugged terrain make the Arctic a challenging place to travel in. Those who do are guided on their journey by inuksuk that stand along the way. These landmarks can show the way forward, as well as the safest and best routes home. Years ago, knowledge of these routes was passed on orally. An Inuk could tell another how to travel across vast distances by describing the landscape and the various shapes of the inuksuk along the way. One man told of travelling almost 2,000 km (over 1,200 miles) guided by a song his father taught him describing the inuksuk he should look out for that would mark his way."
Inuksuit are also used as directional markers. The longest arm may point to the closest village where you will find safety. Some will point to Niqirtsuitug (the North Star). Inuksuit can serve as a spiritual symbol, a place of worship, a place of judgement and decision making or a location for celebration.
The Inuksuk is a symbol of the human spirit. It recognizes our ability to succeed with others, where alone we might fail. It reminds us of our need to belong to something greater than ourselves and prompts us to reconnect with our individual responsibility to invest our efforts today so that we may all have a better tomorrow. The Inuksuk conveys the importance of personal contribution and it reinforces our ability to commit to common goals.
Popular appeal combined with official recognition has expanded the Inuksuk's realm from the cold Canadian Arctic to the warmth of Canadian hearts.
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1 1/2 " x 4" x 6 " |
1" x 2" x 4" |
3" x 5 1/4" x 9 1/2" |
 On April 1, 1999, Canada's geographical and political map changed when a new jurisdiction, Nunavut, was created. Nunavut was formed from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories and was officially named Canada's third territory.
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Inuksuk Silhouette
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* Symbolism of the Nunavut flag: The colours: blue and gold symbolize the riches of the land, sea and sky; red is a reference to Canada. The inuksuk symbolizes stone monuments which guide people on the land and mark sacred and other special places. The star is the Niqirtsultuq, the North Star, and the traditional guide for navigation. The North Star is also synmbolic of the leadership of elders in the community.