Event information
Meeting Contemporary Greenland:
A Greenlandic Perspective on Language, Identity and Hope
From Naja:
"What happens when a language is discouraged from being spoken, and what does it mean to hear those words spoken again?
Growing up with a Greenlandic Inuk father whose generation was encouraged to leave their language and culture behind, I have seen how history continues to echo through families and everyday life. Today, I have the privilege of teaching the very words my father was discouraged from speaking.
Rather than meeting Greenland through headlines, you’ll meet the people behind the stories: stories of loss, resilience, humour and hope. Together, we’ll explore how language carries far more than words; it carries history, relationships and ways of understanding the world. Along the way, you will learn a few Greenlandic words and explore how traditions —including practices represented in museum collections— are being rediscovered and carried forward by new generations.
Aluu! (Hello!) My name is Naja and my hope is that you leave this talk not only knowing a little more about Greenland, but feeling you have truly met some of the people who call it home."
Tea & Talks are designed for a non-academic audience and offers the chance to learn something new in a friendly environment. Bring along a notepad (or just an open mind) and join us for a cuppa.
Accessibility
We host the talks in the SPRI Lecture Theatre. There is step free access through the side entrance.
There is a row at the back for step-free seating options and space for wheelchair users along the rear wall.
The Lecture Theatre has four steps down to the chair seating area.
If you have further questions about accessibility, please visit https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/accessibility/ or get in touch via groupvisits@spri.cam.ac.uk.
