Inukshuk

Resolute Inukshuk, originally uploaded by davebrosha.

At the Bruce Peninsula National Park visitors center a small sign was posted telling people not to build Inukshuk. Parks Canada defines Inukshuk as "an Inuit stone cairn having the rough outline of a human figure." But the word can be more closely translated to English as, "something which acts for or performs the function of a person."

As far as I can decipher these rocky monuments are visual landmarks for the inhabitants of arctic Canada. The barren landscape and unusual solar activity make land navigation difficult. Inukshuk are markers that help Inuit and other arctic peoples orient themselves.

Part of the reason for this rock person craze is the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. The official logo is an Inunnguaq: "imitation of a person" built out of boulders, it is a more rare type of Inukshuk. Vancouver's Olympic organizers have dubbed their mascot Ilanaaq, the Inuit word for "friend."