How to Make an Inushuk (Snow Cairn)

The Village

Home
Animals
Appropriate Technology
Barter
Calculators & Resources
Chickens
Blank page
Blank page
Blank page
Blank page
Construction
Conversions
Creating New Institutions
Dogs
Family
Farming & Gardening
Finances
Food Production & Stocking Up
Homesteading & Tools
Household Tips
Hunting & Fishing
Jewelry & Decoration
Natural Health
Preparedness & Self-Sufficiency
Relocation
Security
Skills Inventory & Development
Stocking Up & Storage
Traditional Skills & Crafts
Transportation
Links
iowa unemployment

An inukshuk is a cairn of rocks erected by the Inuit people of the Arctic to create a recognizable landmark. It often takes the form of a man, and has been adopted as the symbol of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Along with the maple leaf and the beaver, the inukshuk is becoming another symbol of Canada.

You can make the inukshuk from flat rocks or, in northern regions, out of blocks of snow. For starters, find some boxes that have the basic dimensions of one-half foot by 1 foot by 2 feet. Pack snow into the box and let it set for a few hours to solidify. You will need six blocks, all the same or nearly the same size.

After removing the blocks from their form, assemble them as in the picture, at right. To make the structure sturdier, pour some water over the legs and let them freeze before stacking the other blocks. Two horizontal blocks are necessary to make the arms.