Inuksuk
An inuksuk, or inukshuk, is a stone structure traditionally created by the Inuit and other Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, primarily in Canada. These figures are constructed from carefully stacked stones, serving various communicative purposes, such as navigation or signaling the presence of resources like food caches. The word "inuksuk" translates to "to act in the capacity of a human," reflecting the structure's role in conveying messages that can be understood by specific individuals or communities. Inuksuit have a long history, with some dating back to 2400-1800 BCE, and they are often symbolic of northern Canada.
These structures vary in size and shape, with different types serving distinct functions. For instance, smaller formations called nalunaikkutaq typically convey direction, while larger inuksummarik serve as prominent navigational aids. While the term "inuksuk" is commonly used to refer to all stone figures, true inuksuit do not have limbs or heads; those that do are known as inunnguaq and are often created by non-Indigenous peoples. Inuksuit have also played a role in contemporary social issues, such as raising awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. The inuksuk has gained broader recognition, notably as part of the branding for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, though this use has sparked discussions about cultural representation and authenticity.
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Inuksuk
An inuksuk, or inukshuk, is a figure made of piles of stones or boulders. The Inuit people of North America and people throughout the Arctic have a tradition of making inuksuit, which is the plural of inuksuk. They make the figures to communicate with one another. The word inuksuk means “to act in the capacity of a human” and is related to the Inuit word inuk, meaning “person.” The oldest known inuksuit have been found in archeological locations dating back thousands of years.
Background
Some inuksuit are thousands of years old. Archaeologists have found specimens on sites dating as far back as 2400 to 1800 Before the Common Era (BCE) on the southwest of Baffin Island in Canada. Most inuksuit have been built in northern regions of Canada, but some have also been built in Alaska and Greenland. They are often used to symbolize northern Canada and areas in the Arctic. The flag of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, which has a large Indigenous population of Inuit and other First Nations peoples, even includes an inuksuk on top of a white-and-yellow field. The National Historic Site Inuksuk Point in Nunavut is a good place for viewing traditional inuksuit. Baffin Island is another location where people can see traditional inuksuit. The Inuit people have famously made and still make inuksuit.
Overview
Indigenous people make inuksuit for many reasons. These rock formations are often seen as “helpers,” as they assist in conveying important messages to other people. Sometimes the messages are clear to all Inuit people, but other times the messages might make sense only to a family member of the person who originally created the inuksuk. One common function of an inuksuk is to act as a navigational aid. A figure might point in the direction of a village or indicate the location of a good hunting ground. An inuksuk could also indicate that the location itself was important. For example, an inuksuk could reveal that a cache of food is hidden in an area, or the snow might be very deep there. An inuksuk could also provide information to specific people. For example, if a hunter wounded a prey, but the prey escaped, an inuksuk could point in the direction of the wounded animal to help the hunter find it later. Although inuksuit are built for many reasons, real inuksuit (those built by people native to the Arctic) are constructed for a reason other than aesthetics or fun. They all communicate information and play an important role in the lives of the Inuit.
Inuksuit are made from rocks that are piled on top of each other. The people making the figures choose specific rocks, stones, and boulders because of their size and shape, which affect how the stones will fit together when placed on top of each other. An inuksuk is formed only by stacking rocks and does not use any type of cement, mortar, or glue to connect or stack the stones. Because each inuksuk has been made from rocks found in a specific place, it is unique and unlike any others. People who make inuksuit have learned how to choose and stack the stones to keep the figures stable and convey the desired messages. Inuksuit can be made very small or very large. The size and scale of the inuksuit depends on their purposes and meanings. Inuksuit are most often formed with stones that have flat bottoms, which makes them easier to stack. People also often use rough igneous rocks because they stack well.
The Inuit create various types of inuksuit, which are classified by their size, shape, and purpose. In general, the smallest and simplest inuksuit are nalunaikkutaq. These formations are just stones that are placed upright and usually meant to convey direction. Another type is the tikkuuti. These formations also often point in a direction, but each can include one stone (such as a triangle stone pointing in a specific direction) or numerous stones stacked together. This type of inuksuk might be used to indicate a good hunting ground. The inuksummarik are very large formations that are often built using boulders. The boulders make the formations easy to see, making an inuksummarik a good tool for navigation. Although people commonly refer to all human figures constructed from rocks and boulders as inuksuit, these human figures are actually called inunnguaq. The Inuit people do not construct inuksuit that have a head, arms, and legs. Stone figures that include all those parts are inunnguaq. These figures are commonly constructed by non-Indigenous peoples in Canada and other regions.
Although some inuksuit from thousands of years ago are still standing, many are deconstructed soon after they are made. An inuksuk that indicated the location of thin ice or a dangerous current would be deconstructed as soon as those conditions changed so that people were not confused by the formations’ messages. Yet, navigational inuksuit and some other types were left standing without being deconstructed because their messages did not change over time.
In 2010, the Winter Olympic Games were held in Vancouver, Canada. The Canadian Olympic planning committee attempted to honor the First Nations people by including an inuksuk as the logo for that year’s game. The multicolored logo was named Ilanaaq, which means “friend” in the Inuit language. Nevertheless, numerous groups of First Nations people were upset by the logo. The Inuit people pointed out that the colorful logo, which included a head, arm, and legs—was not a real inuksuk. Other First Nations peoples felt that the logo represented only some First Nations peoples, since not all groups of Indigenous people create inuksuit. Although the design was criticized by some, the Olympic committee that created the logo included representatives from the First Nations peoples, including the heredity chief of the Squamish First Nation. These representatives supported the design of the logo.
In 2015, a group of female activists in Ontario constructed over 1,800 inuksuit along the Chedoke Rail Trail to bring attention to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, a prominent social issue in Canada. The display encouraged the government to take action against this issue. In addition, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Rome State, which created the International Criminal Court (ICC), Canada donated an inuksuk to show its willingness to work to protect vulnerable First Nations people. The inuksuk is displayed outside the ICC headquarters at The Hague. In 2023, artist Piita Irniq created an inuksuk which is displayed in front of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum at Bowdoin College in Maine to honor the resilience and survival of First Nations people.
Bibliography
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