Welcome to project "The forgotten Village"!

Blog

From time to time, we'll be posting some impressions from our research in our Blog and on Instagram.

About our project

In 1953, Grise Fiord - often referred to as the "northernmost village in the world" - was founded by the Canadian government. The aim was to mark presence in the eternal ice during the Cold War.

For this purpose, Inuit families were forcibly resettled from areas 2000 km to the south. The Inuit now had to learn to adapt to their new environment in total isolation and without their usual hunting opportunities. Today about 150 people still live in the village and defy the adverse living conditions.

In July 2023, we travel to Grise Fiord to speak with the Inuit people about their history, culture and challenges. Our research will result in a film, a photo book, a non-fiction book and an exhibition in the Dolderhaus in Beromünster.

We would like to give people in German-speaking countries and especially in Switzerland a better understanding of Canada - one of the most popular travel destinations in this country - and promote awareness of the Inuit culture.

We are also interested in telling the Cold War from the perspective of the Inuit. The story of Grise Fiord can only be understood in this context. In the struggle for territorial sovereignty, military presence and, last but not least, raw materials, the Inuit were instrumentalized by the Canadian government - with consequences that continue to this day.

Basically, the project is aimed at all people of all ages who are interested in culture and history.

Projekt documentation

Find out more in our Projekt documentation ( pdf document ) or in the short clip down below (activate closed caption for translation)!

(activate closed caption for translation!)