Sunday, May 29, 2011

Inukskuk Cairn

Earlier today a friend sent me information on Inukshuk Cairns.  Although, I've long-been fascinated with cairns in general I'd not realized that they are often constructed representing a human figure; in this case they are referred to as an Inunnguaq Cairn. The longer arm of an inunnguaq points in the direction that you should travel. Sometimes an inukshuk has a peep hole in the middle - if you look through it, another inukshuk can be seen in
 the distance.
Evidently I'm not the only one enchanted by these stone structures -  Constructing inuksuit cairns in parks in Canada has become so widespread that in 2007 park officials issued a notice on the north shore of Ontario's Georgian Bay  'urging visitors to “stop the invasion” of inuksuit.' 
Funny, eh?!

Inukshuk sculpture by David Ruben Piqtoukun (photo courtesy of Wikimedia)

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