Tea & Talk with Naja Hendriksen: Meeting Contemporary Greenland

Meeting Contemporary Greenland:
A Greenlandic Perspective on Language, Identity and Hope

"What happens when a language is discouraged from being spoken, and what does it mean to hear those words spoken again?"

We're thrilled to be welcoming Naja Hendriksen, a Greenlandic educator, public speaker and entrepreneur for a Tea & Talk at the Polar Museum.

From Naja,

"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.

Image credit: Naja Hendriksen