The Inukshuk is a well-known symbol in the far northern reaches known as the Arctic. Each Inukshuk is unique – built from available stones. Inuksuit (plural of Inukshuk) are amongst the most important objects created by the Inuit, the first people to inhabit portions of Alaska, Arctic Canada and Greenland. The Inuit and their ancestors have lived in the Arctic for over 4,000 years.
The term Inukshuk means “to act in the capacity of a human.” It is a symbol with deep roots in Inuit culture, signifying safety, hope and friendship, and is an extension of Inuk, meaning “human being.” Inusugait – often seen as piles of rock slabs and stones – were usually built to resemble the shape of a person with arms stretching out. Depending on its use, each Inusugait had its own descriptive name. Nuluq showed travelers and hunters the way home. Nalunaikutauk warned of dangerous places. Egunasii showed where food was stored.
The Inukshuk indicated where a significant event happened, or helped hunt caribou herds. The Inuit placed the Inukshuk such a way as to frighten the caribou and then guide them towards waiting hunters who were hiding behind boulders.
Today, the Inukshuk is much more than just a stone marker. It has become a symbol of the Arctic, as well as one of leadership, cooperation and the human spirit. As traditional ways blend with contemporary ways, Inuit and non-Inuit are also building Inuksuit simply to mark their presence both in the Arctic and across Canada.
The Inukshuk comes to the Philippines as a result of the November 2007 Kalinawa Art Foundation (www.kalinawa.com) project entitled “Lantaw-Ani: A Harvest of Indigenous People Visual Arts.” As part of this project, the Embassy of Canada in Manila joined the Foundation in hosting Mr. Mattiusi Iyaituk, an Inuit artist from Ivujivik, Quebec and President of the Inuit Art Foundation (www.inuitart.org), for Freedom to Dream – the first join exhibit of the Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ visual arts and Canadian Inuit art from Montreal’s Galerie Elca London, held in Manila, Cebu and Davao.
These Inuksuit – silent messengers from the Inuit People of Canada – are found in SM Mall of Asia (Pasay), the Marco Polo Plaza (Cebu) and at Magsaysay Park (Davao).