Saturday, October 14, 2006
Stone Piles
Inukshuk/inuksuit/inukhuk/inukhut, but sometimes pronounced inutsuk, are seen all over the Pacific Northwest on banners, in giftshops, or informally along rocky beaches. When the pile of stones is built to resemble a human figure, it is an inunguak or inunnguaq. Whatever their form or precise name, they are all representations of signposts erected in the past by Inuit to designate wildlife hunting grounds, good harbors, or other landmarks on wide-open and featureless territory. They can consist of a few stones piled up, or they can have pointing horizontal features to serve as directional markers. Recreating these piles is a popular pastime among children and adults, as these children are doing outside the Anthropology Museum in Vancouver. The most famous contemporary one, The Inukshuk by Alvin Kanak of Rankin Inlet, stands along English Bay in Vancouver. Its design has been incorporated into the logo for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver.