Inuit Life: Inuksuk & Trails

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During our Inuit Unit, we've been reading the remarkable Julie series by Jean Craighead George about life in Alaska for a young teenage girl. In the original book, Julie runs away from her situation at home and must brave the harsh conditions, so she uses the skills taught by her father, to befriend a pack of wolves.

Since the tundra has little in terms of landmarks, Julie knew how to navigate natures symbols for direction. We learned some trail signs (using stones, twigs or blazes) and challenged each other to following indicators, beginning with an Inuksuk (stone person formation) to start our way.

 

Two of the kids made stick trails by turning twigs into arrows. We have an abundance of broken twigs due to winter winds, something that you would not encounter in the barren Arctic.

When the trail led through too many tiny twigs to tell the way, the kids found thicker branches to indicate the path to stay on.

We also read Inuksuk picture books...

An Inuksuk Means Welcome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXaFLIvCvcA

The Gift of the Inuksuk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xixIRtqYME