An inukshuk is a structure made of stones piled on top of each other. Inuksuit, or inukshuks (more than one inukshuk) are used for navigation in the frozen north. Inukshuks are also used to mark sacred places. They can also work like signposts to make a good hunting or fishing spot.
What is an inukshuk made of?
Inuksuk (also spelled inukshuk, plural inuksuit) is a figure made of piled stones or boulders constructed to communicate with humans throughout the Arctic. Traditionally constructed by the Inuit, inuksuit are integral to Inuit culture and are often intertwined with representations of Canada and the North.4 Jul 2013
How is an inuksuk made?
Inukshuks are made of stacked stones that are picked because they fit well together. There is no glue or cement that holds them together. They stay up because they are balanced on each other. Each stone supports the one above and below it.
Can I make an inukshuk?
You can make the inukshuk from flat rocks or, in northern regions, out of blocks of snow. For starters, find some boxes that have the basic dimensions of one-half foot by 1 foot by 2 feet.
Is an inukshuk a cairn?
An inuksuk (plural inuksuit) or inukshuk (from the Inuktitut: ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ, plural ᐃᓄᒃᓱᐃᑦ; alternatively inukhuk in Inuinnaqtun, iñuksuk in Iñupiaq, inussuk in Greenlandic) is a manmade stone landmark or cairn built for use by the Inuit, Iñupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America.
What does a inukshuk symbolize?
Traditionally, they were used by the Inuit in the north as directional markers. An Inukshuk in the shape of a person signifies safety, hope and friendship. Inuksuit have been transformed into a symbol of hope and friendship that transcends borders to reach people all over the world.
What are the different types of inukshuk?
- Nalunaikkutaq, meaning “deconfuser”, is a single upright stone placed on its end.
- Tikkuuti: rock(s) placed or arranged flat on the ground serving as a pointer of directions.
- Inuksummarik or inuksukjuaq serve as major coordination points.
- Inuksuit that serve as message centres.