inukshuk or innunguaq

The official 2010 Olympic emblem was revealed on Saturday night during a televised gala where Olympic organizers explained why they chose "Ilanaaq" over 1,600 submitted entries.

Ilanaaq, (his name) the stocky figure represented as Canada's 2010 Olympic symbol is an inukshuk, an Inuit symbol used for centuries to point travelling Inuit to safety, said John Furlong, CEO of Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee.

The winning designer, Elena Rivera MacGregor, said Canada's hospitality served as her muse: "As Canadians, we are proud of being friendly people; you know, we're . . . non-threatening and we smile."

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said it reminded him of a hockey goalie. "It has a warm and welcoming personality,"

One of Canada's leading experts in the Inuit stone configurations said the emblem is most definitely not an inukshuk.

"An inukshuk is a collection of stones assembled by the northern Inuit to serve as navigational beacons, and can take many shapes. Similar stone figures that resemble humans are called innunguaq", author Norman Hallendy. Click here for more info on Hallendy.

Today, inukshuk symbols dot the Canadian landscape. One, on Vancouver's First Beach, was Ms. Rivera MacGregor's inspiration.

You can decide. By 2010 we will be used to this logo and will think nothing of it but great things for Canada as the world's host and a great competitor.

Norman Hallendy

Norman Hallendy's interest in the Arctic has spanned over 35 years. He has travelled throughout the Canadian Arctic, often in the company of his Inuit friends and mentors. He has lectured widely in Canada and abroad and has several essays published in various venues. He is a Research Associate of the Arctic Institute of North America and a Research Fellow of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and of the Nunavut Research Institute.

Now retired from the public service, he is documenting the physical and spiritual landscape of southwest Baffin Island, where he is affectionately known as Apirqsukti, "the inquisitive one." For his role in interpreting the mysteries of inuksuit, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's 2001 Gold Medal.

Visit the web site Civilization.ca for more information.

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