Print

Share This

Email

Send to a Friend

Please fill out this form. We will email the link to this page to your friend right away. All fields marked are required.
Your First Name: Your Last Name:   Your Email:   Your Friend's Email: Yes, I would like to receive National Wildlife Federation emails.	Your Personal Message:

Make an Inuksuk

The Inuit, a group of people native to the Arctic, used stones as signposts. They stacked the stones in a certain way to mark safe trails, special places, and good sites for hunting and fishing. The Inuit called each of these stone figures an inuksuk—which means "something that acts in place of a person."
   

A small inuksuk can liven up your garden or mark a special place in your home. Here?s how to make one for yourself.

1. Leave no stone unturned.
   Go outside and look for stones, rocks, and pebbles about the size of your hand or smaller. Flat ones are best for stacking. Get permission before taking stones from someone else's property. (You can also buy stones from craft stores and garden centers.) Once you have collected your stones, you may want to scrub them clean.
2. Get your balance.
   Play around with your stones and see which ones balance best on top of each other.  Don't be discouraged if your inuksuk falls over. You might need to rearrange the stones--maybe even turn some of them over.
3. Keep it standing.
   To prevent toppling stones, use craft glue or bits of modeling clay to hold them together. Glue works best for flat stones--clay for rough, uneven ones. Be sure to let the glue and clay dry overnight. 
    

Activity by Michele Reyzer

Photo by Mark Godfrey