The act of remembering and retelling experiences plays a far greater role than we often realise.
Safeguarding cultural memories strengthens local identity, fosters resilience, and connects generations. When it comes to preserving heritage in the Arctic, climate change, particularly permafrost thaw, threatens to melt away both important physical sites and historical traditions. Protecting these places and the stories attached to them is essential not only for local communities but also for our shared understanding of human adaptation and cultural continuity in the Arctic.
The Mapping Memories project seeks to document, sustain, and share cultural heritage in two Arctic communities: Ilulissat (Greenland) and Longyearbyen (Svalbard), through participatory storytelling and digital mapping. By engaging youth in recording memories and stories from Elders and older residents, the project helps the knowledge transfer between generations,while raising awareness of the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage.
The project comprises two interconnected sub-projects:
- Reviving Grounds – Inuit storytelling and cultural sites in Ilulissat
Located at the UNESCO World Heritage site Ilulissat Icefjord, this sub-project documents and maps traditional stories and sites of cultural importance as told by Elders. Through participatory mapping, youth will gather and preserve these narratives, which will later be shared through exhibitions and booklets at the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. - Mining Memories – Industrial heritage in LongyearbyenWith the closure of Mine 7, Longyearbyen faces a transition away from its coal-mining past. This sub-project collects personal stories and memories tied to the town’s industrial heritage and its transformation into a post-industrial community. By linking stories to specific sites, the project creates a collective archive to be shared in partnership with local institutions such as the Svalbard Museum.
Together, the sub-projects address key goals of the Nordic Arctic Programme:
- Strengthening social resilience by fostering community cohesion, intergenerational dialogue, and cultural inclusion.
- Enhancing climate and environmental resilience by raising awareness of how climate change impacts both heritage and living conditions in the Arctic.
Outcomes will include participatory digital maps, exhibitions, booklets, and community engagement activities that make Arctic heritage and the impacts of climate change visible and accessible. The project contributes to Nordic and Arctic cooperation by highlighting cultural diversity, promoting knowledge exchange, and supporting resilience in the face of rapid change.
