music

Elizaveta Dobrieva sits in her apartment in Lavrentiya, Chukotka holding the keeper of her clan, a wooden female figure called Yiakunneun.

A fading culture adapts to the changing times in this Arctic town

We were eating more than I thought possible, including jellied whale casserole and fresh apricot buns, while Elizaveta Dobrieva’s family explained that their ancestors descended from the polar bear and the killer whale. Then Elizaveta disappeared into the back room of her apartment in Lavrentiya, Chukotka, and came back cradling a dark wooden carving. Its…

Zoe Oopik Elveru in her bedroom.

Meet Zoe

“Zoe Oopik Elverum. Pond Inlet. I’ve been here my whole life, attended school, never lived anywhere else. I love to be called a nerd, to me nerd stands for Not Even Remotely Dorky. I’m also the Vice President of Nasivvik Student Council, so that’s pretty awesome. I write songs of what I feel, and I…

Margrét's piano with sheet music

(Post 3 of 3) “Here, I am half way to heaven. I’m not sure I’m going to get any closer.” Margrét Heinreksdöttir, 79. Retired journalist, lawyer, judge, humanitarian. Photo by Eric Guth.

The men's choir sings

(Post 2 of 6) Look at these happy gents and welcome to the Store Norske Mandskor’s annual concert. This is the local men’s choir, named after the mining company, and Eric and I have rarely seen such a combination of skill and heart, and it left me bursting with joy From stirring harmonies about mining…