Qimutjuk - Snowdrift

Indigenous Knowledge

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: Steven Airo

English

Term Dialect
Sastrugi Standard English
Snowdrift Standard English

Inuktut

Term Dialect
Kimutjuk Nunatsiavummiutut
Qimugjuk North Qikiqtaaluk, Aivilingmiutut, Kivallirmiutut
Qimugjuk Inuinnaqtun
Qimugřuk Nattilingmiutut
Qimugyuk Kangiryuarmiutun
Qimujjuk South Qikiqtaaluk
Qimutjuk Nunavimmiutitut - Sanikiluarmiut

Inupiaq

Term Dialect
Qimuagruk North Alaskan Iñupiaq

The Indigenous Knowledge App