Tiny Tuesday - Inukshuk

Inuksuit (singular, inukshuk or inuksuk) are man-made stone landmarks of varying sizes which form part of the ancient culture of the Inuit folk in the Arctic regions of North America. Historically the most common type of inukshuk was a single stone placed in an upright position, although nowadays we generally think of the shape shown in this blip – ie a humanoid or cross-type shape. There seems to be some dispute as to whether humanoid inuksuit arose solely in the Inuit culture or whether they just started to appear when Europeans came on the scene. An inukshuk in humanoid form is called an inunnguaq (don’t ask me how to pronounce it!).
 
Genuine inuksuit are made of unworked stone. They can serve a variety of functions, including as navigational aids (where the arms or legs can point the way), and as memorials marking a place of respect for a beloved person. They can also be places of veneration, signifying the abode of the spirits. Inuksuit without arms often indicate the location of a food cache.
 
Our offspring, after they’d seen inuksuit during a holiday in Canada many years ago, enjoyed building them on the beach with small stones. I hope no-one ever subsequently demolished them, as Inuit tradition forbids their destruction!
 
The model inukshuk shown in this blip was bought by my Editor in Lake Louise Village about 3 years ago. It’s made of jade and is only about an inch high. It's highly polished, which is not quite authentic, but it's rather lovely.

Many thanks again to jensphotos for hosting TT.
 
(I suspect that fellow blipper Inukshukne will like it!)