Inuksuit Mark Our Fishing Lake

Description

Condition:          No condition noted.

Description by Artist:     No description by artist found.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:  Among the largest and most conspicuous inuksuit are those that direct the traveller by acting as indicators. Before someone inexperienced embarks on a trip, someone who is familiar with the area being traversed shares information on the appearance and message of particularly significant inuksuit. To knowledgeable eyes, indicator inuksuit can communicate vital information such as: depth of snow; safe or dangerous crossing places; where ice is dangerous in spring; the deep or shallow side of a river; where there is plenty of game or where fish spawn; where food or supplies are cached; where there are good hunting grounds for seal, walrus or whale; and where there are hauling-out places for seal and walrus, or landing sites for boats and kayaks. A tuktunnutiit announces a rich caribou hunting area by sporting antlers and sometimes scapula, driftwood or walrus skulls. Some inuksuit on the southwest coast of Baffin Island are erected to warn travellers of dangerous currents beneath thin ice. These inuksuit are dismantled at the approach of summer.

Many other inuksuit are used as navigational aids. They can indicate the best route home, the position of the mainland from a distant island, the direction of a significant place inland, such as a ceremonial site, major transition points between water and land routes and the locations where fog is prevalent between islands. They can also act as astronomical sight lines, lining up the viewer to the pole star and the mid-winter moon.

Premium edition Artist Proof # V / V