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INUKSUK ANIRNILIK
INUKSUK WITH A SPIRIT
 Sometimes inuksuit are built out of respect for a much-loved
person, serving as a memorial to that person's spirit. One Inuit story tells of
inuksuit that were built along the shore of a bay as memorials to women who
drowned near there. It is told that many years ago, the men of an Inuit
community went away hunting. While they were gone, the women went out onto the
sea ice to fish for salmon. But spring was coming, and the winter ice was
beginning to melt. Suddenly, the ice that the women were on broke fro the shore
and began to drift away. Only one woman dared to jump ashore. The rest were
carried out to sea and drowned. When the men returned, their grief was great.
They built an inuksuk for each drowned woman because they wanted the women's
souls to be on dry
land, and not out in the wet sea.
In traditional Inuit culture,
shamans were people who had great
magical powers and knowledge. As |
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| This inuksuk is "sacred" or
"given as a gift." The |
| photographer gave it two matches and wished
for good |
| weather for the rest of his travels. His wish
was granted. |
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