Inuksuk (alternatively inukshuk in English, or inukhuk in Inuinnaqtun) is a man-made stone landmark or cairn, used by the Inuit, Inupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America. This region, above the Arctic Circle, is dominated by the tundra biome, containing areas with few natural landmarks. The inuksuk may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for hunting grounds, or as a food cache. Inuksuit (plural) vary in shape and size, with deep roots in the Inuit culture. Historically, the most common type of inuksuit are a single stone positioned in an upright manner. At Enukso Point on Baffin Island there are over 100 inuksuit and the area has been designated one of Canada’s national historic sites. These Inuksuit have become a rather common appearance throughout Canada with the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Inuksuit have also begun to be recognized around the world as an iconic Canadian symbol, thanks in large part to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic logo. I wanted the colours to portray the setting sun to the land and the water. © 2009 Anne Hale