While building an inuksuk on the land can take Piita Irniq an hour or two, building one at the British Museum in London required considerable logistics.

SA国际影视传媒淏uilding an inuksuk outside my homeland normally takes a lot of time,SA国际影视传媒� said Irniq.

Many emails are exchanged in advance, in this case with curator of the Americas section of the museum Amber Lincoln.

The right rock must be found, such as the Kentish ragstone supplied by the Gallagher Group from its Hermitage Quarry 50 miles outside London.

Irniq, Lincoln, stone conservator Tomasina Munden, curator Ian Taylor and videographers Sian Toogood and Lee Roberts travelled together by train.

SA国际影视传媒淗ere I had to build the inuksuk on the spot to make sure I knew how to put it back together when it gets to the location. As an inuksuk maker I already visualize in my head, with my eyes, what the inuksuk is going to look like,SA国际影视传媒� said Irniq.

But safety consideration at the quarry meant many rules, including wearing steel-toed boots and hardhats SA国际影视传媒� and not being able to go into the quarry.

SA国际影视传媒淲hich is new to me, because my eyes did all the work in this particular case SA国际影视传媒� which particular rock is going to be the foundation, which is going to be a part of the inuksuk. I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 pick up any rocks at all. It made it a little more difficult,SA国际影视传媒� said Irniq, who has built inuksuit all over North and South America and Europe.

Lincoln explains the inuksuk will be part of an exhibition, which is SA国际影视传媒渟till very much a work in progress.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he working title is Arctic Homelands, Changing Climates but that is not yet determined. The exhibition will be on display at the British Museum May 28 to August 23 in 2020. It focuses on the history of the Arctic through the lens of weather and climate, so it is a circumpolar emphasis,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭he exhibition will focus on human ecology SA国际影视传媒� the ability to harness ice and weather conditions to create captivating traditions and artistic expressions.

SA国际影视传媒淭he exhibition will explore the Arctic through the diverse perspectives of its Indigenous peoples. Themes will include food and resources, human/animal relationships, ecological knowledge, and artistic and story-telling practices.SA国际影视传媒�

Irniq, Lincoln, Munden and Taylor took a whole day to build the inuksuk. Irniq also spoke with an assembled crowd of roughly 70 people gathered near the museumSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuit exhibit, sharing Inuit history and culture, as well as Inuit dreams and aspirations SA国际影视传媒� which can be summed up with his well-known words: SA国际影视传媒淚glu to internet in less than 60 years.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒業 know my ancestors have survived hereSA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he inuksuk is a silent messenger for Inuit, a voiceless land marker built by Inuit for many thousands of years. It symbolizes the survival of Inuit. Without inuksuit, Inuit would have never survived. It is normally built in areas of good fishing, good seal hunting, good caribou hunting, and crossing places (alluit)SA国际影视传媒� he says, adding that when he is around inuksuit on the land he is never scared.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know my ancestors have survived here.SA国际影视传媒�

Irniq says inuksuit can be likened to a traditional GPS for Inuit, and the SA国际影视传媒渓ook-through windowSA国际影视传媒� is like a telescope.

SA国际影视传媒淭he way southern Canadians or Europeans get the message is when I say ItSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of like for you, travelling on the major highways and you see McDonaldSA国际影视传媒檚 (golden arches). In modernity, you travel on a major highway and you see a McDonaldSA国际影视传媒檚, you know youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to eat,SA国际影视传媒� Irniq says.

He also point out inuksuit should not be confused with inunnguat (imitation of a person), which have arms and leg and indicate a murder or suicide took place.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou donSA国际影视传媒檛 see those very often on the land,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Lincoln says the British Museum is also consulting with a few Arctic communities, SA国际影视传媒渨ho we hope will contribute to the exhibition as part of ongoing research partnerships and museum documentation collaborations.SA国际影视传媒�

The list of collaborators so far includes the Shishmaref Erosion and  Relocation Coalition of Shishmaref, Alaska, an Inupiat village, the Inuit Circumpolar Council-Alaska,  several people from the Mittimatalik Arnait Muqsuqtuit Collective, and the International Reindeer Herders Association of Kautokeino, Norway.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are also in the process of commissioning works of art by indigenous artists, including Piita Irniq. Others are, master Sakha carver Fedor Markov, and we are working with the Embassy of Imagination to collaborate with a youth group of Kinngait in order to create a large art piece for the exhibition.SA国际影视传媒�

For Irniq, travelling the globe sharing Inuit pride and stories, whether with organizations and museums, or shopkeepers and restaurant staff, is an adventure.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have lots of adventures,SA国际影视传媒� he said.