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The Where’s Waldo of our backcountry
By Marija Caron
The secret is out. Well half of it is.
Many citizens of the Elk Valley have notice little stone men along the highway and river paths all with the signature staff in his hand. Who is making them? How many are there? I began asking myself these questions and wondering who is making us all smile? These elusive Inukshuks are the Where’s Waldo of our backcountry.
Doug Secord, a Calgarian, who works in Elkford creates these amusing statues. I caught up with Doug and asked him a few questions.
How many statues are there?
“There are a total of 17 from Elkford to Longview and more to come.”
What do you call them? Little Dougies?
“Little Dougies is cute… but no, just Inukshuks.”
How do you pick the spot to build them?
“I look for a level … protected… not too obvious spot with a good supply of rocks and in the future a little harder to spot… some people like to knock them down.”
Why did you start building them?
“Just for fun.”
How long have you been making them?
“Two years ago I started making them in the bush around Elkford on my split for something to do and then started making them on my way home to Cow Town on my first day off.”
Doug you have given many kids and parents something to look for whether driving along the highway or hiking up our many trails. He left me a little definition of an Inukshuk that I thought was appropriate to share.
The Inukshuk is a stone cairn used by the Inuit people to mark good hunting spots or to indicate the way home. It is a symbol of trust and reassurance. Others were here before us, and we do not have to forge our own path.
That sounds like the Elk Valley to me.
Thank you Doug Secord!
Photos by Doug Secord
