Elie Pinta

The Qissiat Tales Project (qissiat is a Kalaallisut, Greenlandic, word for driftwood) involves the study of Greenlandic archaeological wooden remains to increase our understanding of human-environmental interactions in the North Atlantic/Eastern Arctic. Given recent climatic and environmental changes, we will focus on driftwood because it is the primary source of wood in the treeless Arctic, and this resource is expected to disappear in the next few decades. Furthermore, despite its ecological and cultural significance, driftwood has rarely been the focus of a research project in Greenland. Drawing on archaeological collections, modern driftwood accumulation, and interviews, this project will investigate millennia of driftwood management and use from the perspective of several Greenlandic cultures (Paleo-Inuit, Norse, and Pre-contact Inuit) in connection with the current knowledge and experience of modern communities. The involvement of local artists, driftwood enthusiasts, elders, and educators will allow us to preserve, share, and contribute to the community’s rich knowledge in ways that appeal to both current and future generations. The Qissiat Tales Project is a community-led effort that will merge past and present ecological knowledge systems using wood sciences, archaeological visualization, and digital media to address an urgent situation for both local and scientific communities across the Arctic.