Inuksuit above the hamlet of Igloolik, Nunavut. (Inukshuks)

Inuksugait

Silent and expressive on the land, these stone Cairns called Inuksugait have served the Inuit through countless generations. Their purposes have been many. They have guided travelers over land and sea, and have marked fishing spots on lakes and rivers. They have shown the location of caches and driven caribou towards waiting hunters. They have communicated messages, served as memorials and, for some, remain personal remembrance of one's passage through life. Inuksugaits are an enduring symbol of strength, purpose, and resilience. May their message continue to inspire successive generations of Inuit with pride in their past and hope in their future.

These are Inuit Inkuksuit (ᐃᓄᒃᓱᐃᑦ, plural form of Inuksuk ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ) that rest upon a hill overlooking the hamlet of Igloolik (ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒃ) which is on Igloolik Island in Foxe Basin, Qikiqtaaluk Region in Nunavut, Canada. The name "Igloolik" means "there is a house here". It derives from iglu, meaning house or building, and refers to the sod houses that were originally in the area, not to snow igloos.