Vitually every nation has a uniquely National Symbol. Here in Canada, we have several.
The Maple Leaves, Mounties and Beavers are symbols that form an immediate association with Canada.
So does the Inukshuk.
What is an Inukshuk? Glad you asked.
The mysterious stone figures known as inuksuit can be found throughout the circumpolar world. Inukshuk, the singular of inuksuit, means “in the likeness of a human” in the Inuit language.
These monuments made of unworked stones are used by the Inuit People for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of an Inukshuk is “Someone was here” or “You are on the right path.”
One of our guests Sherri Winsor, an artist from St. John’s, Newfoundland also made an Inukshuk. But hers is seen by a lot more people than most of the one’s that dot the barren landscape of an otherwise featureless tundra.
The Nunatsiavut people of Labrador, have recently (2005) gained a measure of political and economic soverignty and were in the process of constructing a buiding in Hopedale to house their legislative assembly.
It is quite an impressive structure for such a small, remote town. The top of the building was to be topped with an Inukshuk as a symbol of the region.
There was really no shortage of skilled native craftsmen to fashion a suitable sculpture. However, the only medium they were able to use was stone, the weight of which would send the sculpture crashing through the roof. Quite a problem.
Enter artist Sherri Winsor.
Sherri was able to construct an Inukshuk within the parameters established by the architects and engineers of the building. She built an impressive Inukshuk using materials other than stone and within the 500 lb. limitation.
October 2011 update: The scheduled opening of the building (Sept. 12) has been delayed by some engineering problems with the building’s Dome. It’s fortunate that Sherri’s Inukshuk wasn’t made of stone.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)