Dedication Allan Angmarlik died in an airplane crash near Kimmirut Nunavut in July of 2000 Previously while working for the Inuit Heritage Trust he interviewed several Inuit elders to help us gather information about the inuksuk As well on our behalf Mr Angmarlik asked the elders who were delegates at the 1998 Nunavut Social Development Council meeting what they thought about our book on building inuksuit The Inuit elders responded by indicating that they had no opposition to our project and that they supported it in principle They did want to point out that the inuksuit built should be made for recreational purposes The quotes of these Inuit elders were collected and translated by Allan Angmarlik We respectfully dedicate this book to Allan
Contents What is an Inuksuk Putting Together Your Inuksuk Adhesives A Place for Your Inuksuk Stones Instruments of Expression Where to Get Stones Preparing Your Stones Why Build an Inuksuk Balance Wind and Weather Communication Messages in Stone Direction Navigational Aids Respect A Symbol of Appreciation Strength The Sentinel Endures A Circle of Stone Friends Index 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32
What is an Inuksuk n inuksuk a powerful symbol of the Canadian Arctic is a stone structure that resembles a human Traditionally inuksuit plural have been built by the Inuit to act in the place of messengers Some inuksuit are ancient they have been standing for thousands of years in the homeland of the Inuit A The meaning of a specific inuksuk depends on the intent of the person who builds it In the past inuksuit were erected to act as signposts to those who journeyed across Canada’s vast northern lands An Inuit hunter might have built an inuksuk to tell about a good hunting or fishing place or to mark a spot where surplus food was stored Arctic travellers built inuksuit to help those who followed to navigate a safe trail across the tundra Some inuksuit were built to A magical scene An inuksuk at dusk 4
show the direction of the correct valley or pass to use An inuksuk might also act as a message center mark a good resting place or identify an Inuit family’s home The inuksuk has changed with time Formerly inuksuit were built by piling stones in a particular way but not frequently in the shape of a human figure Today however inuksuit are often built to look like stone people All the inuksuit in this book were built by the author near her home in southern Ontario in celebration of the enduring arctic tradition I myself have made some inuksuit near Nattilik Any rock can be used to make an inuksuk Any person was allowed to make inuksuit Adamie Nukiguak Inuit elder born 1914 near Pangnirtung This little human-like inuksuk was built recently It seems to be basking in the beauty of the evening sky Inuksuk Ee-nook-sook A stone marker that acts in the place of a human being Inuksuuk Ee-nook-SOOHK Two stone markers Inuksuit Ee-nook-sweet Three or more stone markers the plural form of inuksuk Inuksukkat Ee-nook-sook-cut Many little inuksuit Follow the steps in the borders on the lefthand pages throughout the book to build different shaped inuksuit Learn more about inuksuit in The Inuksuk Book Maple Tree Press 1999 5
