National Geographic tells Tales of the Arctic

National Geographic Magazine has published an article written by Claudio Aporta, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, in its on-line edition for October. The article, which is accompanied by two photographs also taken by Aporta, addresses the Inuit community’s ability to navigate seemingly invisible paths that emerge each autumn when the snow falls.

Below is an excerpt from the article.

Tales of the Arctic: Inuit Wayfinding in Eastern Canada

Toward the end of every summer the Inuit hunters of Igloolik, in the eastern Canadian Arctic, await with anticipation the formation of sea ice that will connect their small island to the significantly larger Baffin Island and to the mainland.

In the fall the immense, snow-carpeted Arctic landscape acquires its full presence. In such vastness, someone unaccustomed to such a powerful place can feel extraordinarily small.

The rest of this article, and pictures taken by Aporta, are available on-line at National Geographic Magazine . To find the story to click on “Anthropology,” and then “Inuit Wayfinding” displayed on the map.