This is an Inuksuk (pronounced In-OOK-Shook). It means "to act in the capacity of a person”. It is a spiritual, sacred and directional figure built with natural stones, deeply rooted in the Inuit (Arctic native) culture originally for the purposes of communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the Inuksuk is "Someone was here." or "You are on the right path." It had many specific uses, depending on the structure and placement. In more recent times, it symbolizes strength, fortitude, determination and friendship. It has become a symbol of various organizations and events, including the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver [friendship and welcoming the world] and the Summit of the Americas [friendship and cooperation].
We see them from time to time in people's yards, sometimes in a garden or more often, at the end of a driveway or creek-side or river-side, where rocks are plentiful and lots of people will see them.
This particular one is approximately 5 ft tall. It's about 45 minutes from our house on a hillside at the end of a driveway and from a different angle, you can see the nearest town off in the distance.
We have an awesome glass one high up on a window ledge in our vaulted living room. We have some great pics of it and you'll see a new one some day when I'm low on photo ideas and the sun is shining at just right to make it look like fire and ice.
As always, many thanks for dropping by and for your input ... and in this case, reading all this stuff .... if you get this far ... ;-)
Wow! I did not know that! It looks to me a little like a person- I sort of see a torso, arms and legs. How neat that it gives a specific message for the person who comes across it!
Also called a cairn....we sometimes see small ones out on the trails we hike. I think in this case they're being used as trail markers, for directional purposes. Really nice shot, Anne.
When we bought our cottage property the first thing we noticed were all the Inuksuks. Love them - they add so much interest and get some of those darned rocks off the ground so you don't trip. *lol*
Anne: thanks for that nice shot and info. I have seen this type of "rock pile" many times in Ontario, between Fort Francis and Nestor Falls. Other Native Canadian tribes must also continue this custom. The stacks of natural rocks are typically placed neatly along the Trans-Canadian Highway in readily seen spots where the road has been channeled through granite or volcanic hills. What they mean in this day and age along the main Canadian east-west highway, I do not know, but I have never seen one anywhere near the size of the one you picture above. Best wishes, and thanks again.
Really pretty and interesting- wish I had seen this one first, just looked up what a Inuksuk was! Love the one of your hubby standing on top too! These are awesome symbols-thanks for sharing!
I love this. Would you mind if I used it with the children I teach.......a little group of eight 9 and 10 year-olds who don't quite cope (yet) with all the literacy challenges of mainstream! This is SO good and I do love the title!
@sarah19 Thanks Sarah, yes of course you may use it. I wasn't sure about posting the second pic in my keeper album [from a respect point of view] but it was just at the edge of a rock quarry and was more an advertising tool for their huge rocks so hopefully no one minds.
@sunnygreenwood
Oh thank you. I just love the idea of silent messages that can be shared by those with limited abilities in terms of reading and writing. Will let you know how they respond at some point!
August 18th, 2011
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Oh thank you. I just love the idea of silent messages that can be shared by those with limited abilities in terms of reading and writing. Will let you know how they respond at some point!