Inuktitut is the language of the Inuit and is a vivid living language based on a diverse oral tradition rich in variation and spoken in far reaching regions including the Canadian Artic, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Labrador and Greenland. It only in relatively recent times that a written system was developed by Westerners to compliment this oral tradition, thus it is not entirely possible to create a definition or spelling in the traditional dictionary sense. The Nunavut Nation and the governing body of Canada are promoting the usage of Inuksuk for one figure and Inuksuit for its plural form. With the increased exposure and influence of Inuit culture on the world stage, it is more common to find it spelled phonetically in English as Inukshuk (Inn-uuk-shook), possibly because it offers clearer guide to pronunciation for English speakers. For the purpose of clarity and prevalence in printed and web based media, we use the Inukshuk spelling for most descriptions on this website.

The artwork created by the Inuit peoples both ancient and modern is as rich in variation as its oral language, which makes it difficult to define with certainty what a traditional Inukshuk is and what form it takes. The Inukshuk is sometimes defined as: in the likeness of man (Inuk, people; Shuk, proxy) from its Inuktitut roots. An Inukshuk’s shape and size often distinguishes its function such as marking the location of traditional caribou hunting grounds, fishing grounds or other important locations. Its form varies from single upright stone to complex cairns composed of many stones. Every Inukshuk offer guidance as compasses, milestones and signs in a landscape dominated by few distinguishing features, only barren tundra, permafrost and fierce snowstorms.

Inukshuk also have deep cultural spiritual significance as a direct connection to their ancestors for generations of Inuit in addition to their practical function mentioned above. They are erected along ancient conduits of human travel to offer a physical manifestation of choice in an uncertain world and offer reassurance, nourishment and trust and as markers signify safety, hope and friendship for generations of travelers. The Inukshuk we craft resemble the Inunnguaq form because it specifically resembles a human to remind us that we have many choices while exploring the path of our life and that we are never alone. When contemplating this ancient symbol of human compassion, we are reminded to share our experience and hospitality generously with those on the path now and in the future.