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The mysterious stone figures known as Inuksuit can be found throughout the circumpolar world. Inukshuk, the singular of Inuksuit,
means "in the likeness of a human" in the Inuit language. They are monuments made of unworked stones that are used
by the Inuit for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the Inukshuk is "Someone was here" or "You
are on the right path."
The Inuit make Inuksuit in different forms for a variety of purposes: as navigation or directional aids, to mark a place
of respect or memorial for a beloved person, or to indicate migration routes or places where fish can be found. Although most
Inuksuit appear singly, sometimes they are arranged in sequences spanning great distances or are grouped to mark a specific
place.
These sculptural forms are among the oldest and most important objects placed by humans upon the vast Arctic landscape
and have become a familiar symbol of the Inuit and of their homeland. A familiar Inukshuk is a welcome sight to a traveller
on a featureless and forbidding landscape.
An Inukshuk can be small or large, a single rock, several rocks balanced on each other, round boulders or flat. Built
from whatever stones are at hand, each one is unique. The arrangement of the stones indicate the purpose of the marker. The
directions of the arms or legs could indicate of an open channel for navigation, or a valley for passage through the mountains.
An Inukshuk in the form of a human being is called an Inunnguaq. This type of structure forms the basis of the logo for
the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
It is our hope, that your use of the Canadian handcrafted Inukshuk, will assist you with safe boating.
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