Clive Webber Kingston, Ontario, Canada webonweb2 "at" yahoo.com "It is better to accept the consequences of what you've done than to regret not taking the chance in the first place."
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Created by fire, shaped by wind and water, and belonging to the earth, the effects of the elements combine to create a truly Canadian symbol: The Inukshuk.

The Yukon Inukshuk that started it all. Grizzly Valley, Tombstone Park, Yukon Territory
Photo taken 17 June 2004. Lat/Long: N64 26 W138 24

The inukshuk (technically spelt and pronounced as "inuksuk", plural "inuksuit") is a deep-rooted symbol to the Inuit people of the North; a stone landmark and directional marker that signifies safety, hope and friendship. It comes from the Inuktitut language, literally translated as "something which acts for or performs the function of a person", or more simply from the words "person" (inuk) and "substitute" (suk).

Inukshuk at the bottom of the world Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Chile Made by Clive on 20 March 2006 Lat/Long: S50 58.130 W73 01.631

The inukshuk is a common sight across the Canadian landscape, particularily in the Arctic - a place close to my heart after spending time there in 2004.

On my first solo trekking trip, I hiked into the mountains in the Northern Yukon near the Arctic Circle during the summer solstice. Surrounded by the elements and bathed in 22-hour sunlight, it was a breathtaking but unforgiving place. With extreme weather, deadly wildlife, sheer cliffs and loose rocks, one bad step could mean game over - with help days away at best. About 6 hours into the first day, I had lost the trail.

Inukshuk of the Pacific Ocean Suwarrow Atoll, Cook Islands Made by Clive on 28 May 2008 Lat/Long: S13 12.374 W163 07.550

I had never been in a position like this; I was alone and at the mercy of the elements (ironic, in an attempt to embrace them). I was suddenly filled with an overwhelming sense of dread.

What brought me back was a little pile of rocks. An inukshuk. I caught sight of it and instantly felt at peace. The most important part was not that it would lead me back to the trail, but was a sense that I was not alone; at some point, someone had been here, and might have felt as I had.

This was the moment a seed was planted in my head. The inukshuk is a symbol that we Canadians grow up with, but until we venture outside and find ourselves lost, we hardly give it much thought. Out in the wilderness is where the inukshuk resides, a ghost of past adventures and guide to new ones.

I tatooed my skin with an inukshuk and the 4 elements. The elements represent nature and adventure. When we venture into nature, the inukshuk is symbol of humanity, invoking confidence and strength. When we return to the comforts of home, the inukshuk beckons to us, invoking our spirit and fascination of what lies beyond it.

Inukshuk created to mark the start of the Water Adventure
Cedar Island, Kingston Ontario, Canada
10 November 2007. Lat/Long: N44 13.254 W76 27.480