What the Heck is an Inukshuk?
January 17, 2008
Inukshuk on Whistler MountainIf you've been to Whistler you may have noticed a stone figure, resembling a person, standing near the top of the Whistler Mountain Gondola or at the top of the Peak Chair. This picture was taken earlier this week as we were enjoying sun for the first time in quite some time! We're not complaining though - Whistler Resort has enjoyed over 6 meters of snow so far this season.
An inunnguaq [inukshuk] forms the basis of the logo of the 2010 Winter Olympics designed by Vancouver artist Elena Rivera MacGregor. Inuksuit have also begun to be recognized around the world as an iconic Canadian symbol, thanks in large part to the Vancouver 2010 logo, but also to the construction of inuksuit around the world.
The word inuksuk means "something which acts for or performs the function of a person." The word comes from the morphemes inuk ("person") and -suk ("ersatz or substitute"). It is pronounced inutsuk in Nunavik and the southern part of Baffin Island (see Inuit language phonology and phonetics for the linguistic reasons). In many of the central Nunavut dialects, it has the etymologically related name inuksugaq (plural: inuksugait).
So the next time you're cruising around on Whistler Mountain and see a huge, rock formation you'll know what you're looking at.
If you would like more information read the Wikipedia entry here.