What is an inukshuk?

An inukshuk is a figure made of stones or boulders, traditionally constructed by the Inuit people of what is now Canada. These figures have been located in archaeological sites from as early as 2400 BCE, but they still serve as a symbol of aboriginal Arctic people.

In the Inuit language, inukshuk means "to act in the capacity of a human." They were built as location aids to hunters and navigators, and some marked the location of food. Some of these figures also had spiritual connotations and were venerated by the Inuit people. Inukshuk serve as an important aspect of Inuit cultural history.