Qimutjuk - Snowdrift

Indigenous Knowledge

Qimugjuit ᕿᒧᒡᔪᐃᑦ
'In the early fall, heavy snowfall makes large, soft, rounded drifts called uluangnait, so named because they look like cheeks. Later, the uluangnait are shaped by winds, especially the Uangnaq wind into drifts called uqalurait. These drifts are tongue shaped. Uangnaq also creates another kind of drift known as qimugjuk, meaning "ridged", because it forms on the lee side of an obstacle, such as a rock or raised piece of sea ice exposed to the wind.' (Iglulik, North Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut Arctic College Media. 2020. Anijaarniq: Inuit landskills and wayfinding. Retrieved from: https://www.anijaarniq.com/snow.)

Qimutjuk ᕿᒧᑦᔪᒃ 
'(qimujjuk) pl. -it, (1) snow strees made by a gale (2) snow-drifts.' (Nunavimmiutitut, Schneider 1985: 304)

Qimugjuk ᕿᒧᒡᔪᒃ 
'snowdrift' (Baffin/Kivalliq, https://tusaalanga.ca/glossary?l=Q)
'snowdrift carved by the wind; sastrugi (from Russian zastrugi)' (Inuinnaqtun, Angulalik 2012: 77)

Western Knowledge

Snowdrift
'An accumulation or bank of snow formed when wind blows snow against an obstruction; often considerably thicker than the surrounding snowcover.' (National Snow and Ice Data Center)

Sastrugi
'wind-driven snow shapes that resemble sand dunes; may form on top of sea ice or land-based snow cover; can vary in size and complexity but often forms parallel to prevailing wind direction.' (National Snow and Ice Data Center)

Profile photo credit: "Qimutjuit, San" by Lisi Kavik-Mickiyuk, 2026. Used with permission.
Second profile photo: "Qimutjuit, Sanikiluaq (2)" by Lisi Kavik-Mickiyuk, 2026. Used with permission.