How Saqqaq became part of the journey

The first time I came to Saqqaq was at the end of a long journey along the coast. We had traveled more than 900 kilometers, visiting different settlements along the way. When we arrived, something felt different.

There was a certain rhythm to the place. The landscape opened towards Disko Bay, with icebergs moving through the water, and the village itself felt both calm and well kept. People were open and welcoming, and there was a sense that life here was still closely connected to the surroundings.

When we later began looking for a second location, this time in the Disko Bay area, Saqqaq was the first place that came to mind. But it was not somewhere we wanted to go without first understanding how it would be received.

We began by returning to the village and speaking with the elders. In Greenland, their perspective carries weight, and it felt natural to start there. The conversations were open, and the idea was well received — in part because it came from people with a local connection, rather than from outside.

We then met with the village council, and later invited the wider community to a gathering where we shared the idea. Around half the village came. The response was thoughtful and supportive.

It was also the community who helped shape what followed. The location we had first considered was set aside, and instead, a small valley closer to the village was suggested. It is here the place is today — close enough to remain connected, but still separate in its own landscape.

Since then, the involvement has continued. Knowledge of the area — the waters, the weather, and the land — comes from people who have lived with it over time. Some have helped map routes, others guide, and some simply share their perspective when needed.

The result is not something placed into the village, but something that has grown in relation to it.