An Inukshuk is a figure made of piled rocks or boulders constructed to communicate with others. Inukshuks have been part of the Arctic’s history for thousands of years. The oldest Inukshuk dated back to a period circa 2,400 to 1,800 BCE. The word Inukshuk can be translated to: “something which acts for or performs the function of a person.”
Inukshuks served as communication, navigational and survival aids, marking special places and historical sites. The arrangement, shape and size of an Inukshuk indicate its purpose. The most common shape of Inuksuit (plural) is in the human form, with the stones arranged to resemble arms, legs and a head.
Inuksuit are most commonly found in Alaska, Greenland and Canada and are the national symbol for Inuit in Canada. In Inuit culture, it is considered taboo or bad luck to destroy one.
As a part of the BSNC Summer Internship Program’s cultural component, interns created their own mini Inukshuks.