Symbolism and Expression Additional Reading

The term Inuksuk (the singular of Inuksuit) means “to act in the capacity of a human.” It is an extension of an Inuk, a human being. These Inuksuit
were designed to be messages fixed in time and space. Others may have been personal notes or grief marking where a loved one perished. Some Inuksuit were never approached and were avoided because of their power; some were sources of good fortune, cures and protection. In addition to their earthly functions, certain muksuk–like figures had spiritual connotations and were objects of veneration, often marking the threshold of the spiritual landscape of the Inummariit, which means “the people who knew how to survive on the land living in a traditional way.”