Mapping Memories - Spatial Storytelling for Arctic Heritage Preservation in Times of Climate Change
The Mapping Memories project, led by NordRegio in close collaboration with the Icefjord Centre in Ilulissat, seeks to document, sustain, and share cultural heritage through participatory storytelling and digital mapping. Centered on two Arctic communities, the project comprises two interconnected sub-projects: (1) Reviving Grounds – Inuit storytelling and cultural sites in Ilulissat (Greenland); and (2) Mining Memories – Industrial heritage in Longyearbyen (Svalbard).
Climate change, and permafrost thaw in particular, poses a serious threat to both significant physical sites and long-standing cultural traditions. Safeguarding these places and the stories associated with them is vital not only for local communities but also for advancing a collective understanding of human adaptation and cultural continuity in the Arctic.
By engaging youth in recording memories and stories from Elders and older residents, the project supports intergenerational knowledge transfer while increasing awareness of the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage. Project outcomes will include participatory digital maps, exhibitions, booklets, and community engagement activities to showcase Arctic heritage and the impacts of climate change.
Prof. Joan Nymand Larsen is leading the research at the Stefansson Arctic Institute within the sub-project (1) Reviving Grounds – Inuit storytelling and cultural sites in Ilulissat, situated at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ilulissat Icefjord.
Partners:
NordRegio, Places.nu, Vestlandforskning, Ilulissat Icefjord Center
Related Research Project:
ILLUQ - Stefansson Arctic Institute
Project Period:
August 2025 – August 2026