Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 17/05) - Peter Irniq is back in France, putting the finishing touches on the inukshuk meant to connect Canadian fallen soldiers with their homeland.

The unveiling of the inukshuk will take place on Oct. 30, during the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey which will see 250 delegates, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit veterans and youth from around Canada gather. The group will visit Ypres, Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach, where Irniq's inukshuk is now being built.

Irniq was in France last month searching for the right stones and establishing the perfect location for the inukshuk. He returned to Iqaluit for a week while the base of the inukshuk was being constructed.

"It takes awhile for the base to dry," said Irniq in Iqaluit before leaving for France.

"Hopefully I will have spiritual help from Mother Nature to keep the weather good for the base to dry."

Once dry, Irniq expects to complete the inukshuk in "a couple of hours."

He is bringing the top stone from Iqaluit "to finish it off." The bulk of the stones come from France.

Veterans and delegates have been asked to bring gravel and stones from their respective communities to lay around the inukshuk, connecting all cultures.