Sermiliqaq

East Greenland

August 30, 2015

Hello,

In response to my photographs from Greenland, a friend of mine wrote:

“I loved the pictures.  I did not realize the people there were of Asian descent.”

I have attached a map of the Polar Arctic.  From the location of various modern day countries and islands, we can guess the likely immigration routes by land, by sea and over the ice, routes that originated in Asia.

In addition to our base at Tasiilaq, our group visited the settlement of Sermiliqaq (pop 220).  On the edge of a fjord, the busy village has many colorful houses perched atop rocky hills and cliffs.

I also had the pleasure of meeting a “newly arrived” family.

Back in Tasiilaq, we visited the small yet informative museum: carvings, weavings, masks and mementoes.  

The small “monster” carving is called a tupilaq.  They are a special art form native to Greenland. They are carved from narwhal or walrus tusks, wood or caribou antlers.  I bought two at the gift shop:  made of antler.

Always immigrating,

Jan