Inuksuk

October 21, 2012

Waylon Wiseman, AVC 2013, travelled to Hopedale as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of writing.

This is an inuksuk that I built. Although I meant to be respectful during its construction, I was very conflicted emotionally. Inuksuks were traditionally used as a point of reference to help Inuit peoples of the Arctic navigate towards fishing places, camps, hunting grounds, and other important destinations. Today, the inuksuk is a symbol of culture. A culture to which I do not really belong.

During my time with  the Chinook Project, I felt a constant internal struggle. To  an outside observer, Hopedale is a community in desperate need of consistent, quality veterinary care. But how are these outside observers perceived by the community, once they have arrived? My greatest concern during my involvement in this project was whether we would be welcomed into the community, or whether our presence would be resented?

While in Hopedale, I had the privilege to meet many amazing people. People who were kind, generous, and caring not only towards us, but also towards the animals they love so much. And seeing these people put so much faith and trust in us to help their loved ones, I could not help but feel that perhaps we were not so different as people after all.

We may have different cultures, different histories, and come from different ancestry. Our skin color may be different, and we may use different languages. However, I believe that respect is something that can unify us all. And this was the intention with which I came to Hopedale, and also with which I constructed my inuksuk. With any luck, my inuksuk will continue to stand for many years to come, and will serve as my symbol of respect for the people of Hopedale.