Storytelling and Drumming Echo in Scoresby Sound

The vast snowy expanses and icy fjords of Eastern Greenland and Scoresby Sound have long been home to the Inuit. Intertwined as they are with the Arctic landscape, they’ve developed a resilience and resourcefulness that has given shape to rich cultural traditions – storytelling and drumming among them. This May, PONANT collaborates with The Explorers Club during a luxury Arctic expedition that gives you an Inuit’s view of their heritage.

If you were to zoom out and see Scoresby Sound from above, it would resemble a network of trees. Its massive trunk points inland from the Greenland Sea then divides into smaller branches that sprout even tinier tendrils. It is massive, one of the world’s largest fjord systems. The main waterway stretches 68 miles from the sea. The longest single fjord is some 210 miles long. And in some places, the water is more than 4,500 feet deep. 

Cliffs rise from the fjord’s waters on all sides, soaring skyward into gargantuan mountains. You might think that this is nowhere for humans to live. But the Inuit would prove you wrong. 

The Explorers Club Members Provide an Intimate Glimpse of Inuit Culture

On the May 2024 departure of our Inuit Spring at the Edge of Scoresby Sound, we have the unique privilege of exploring this breathtaking region with a specialist of Inuit culture and Explorers Club member Ann Andreasen. She is also the principal of the Uummannaq Children’s Home and director of the Uummannaq Polar Institute, an outdoor educational program of the Children’s Home. Ms. Andreasen is bringing some of her former students along to share their personal insights – and unique talents. 

Storytelling and drumming are their specialties. On this very special expedition, they’ll share their talent with PONANT guests, illuminated by the cultural observations and teachings of Ms. Andreasen. They’ll be accompanied by filmmaker and fellow Explorers Club member Mike Magidson, who spends much of his time making compelling documentaries about the Inuit. Here’s a preview:

The Urgency of Storytelling 

Historically, the Inuit have been nomadic hunters, relying on the rich marine life of the Arctic waters for sustenance. In kayaks and on dog sleds, they have skillfully navigated the frozen landscape to provide food for their families. But history did not provide instruction manuals for the hunt. Instead, their close relationship with – and reliance on – nature has been deeply ingrained into their cultural identity through the oral tradition.

Inuit survival has long depended on passing down crucial knowledge from generation to generation, so storytelling has played a vital role. It’s easy to envision elders gathering the community together to share wisdom, tell of legends, and recount tribal history through oral narratives. These stories have gone a long way in teaching the youth to hunt. But they have also preserved the cultural heritage of the Inuit.

Echoes of the Inuit Drum

You’ll learn firsthand that drumming is another integral part of Inuit culture, serving both practical and ceremonial purposes. Traditional Inuit drums, often made from caribou or seal skin stretched over a wooden frame, produce a distinct sound that resonates with the deeply felt rhythms of the Arctic. Across generations, the Inuit have communicated with drums, sending messages across the tundra or from hillside to hillside. Think of it as an Arctic Morse code that might have warned people of harsh weather coming in, or alerted hunters to a herd of caribou coming their way. 

In ceremonial contexts, such as celebrations or spiritual rituals, drumming takes on a sacred dimension, connecting the Inuit to their spiritual beliefs and the natural world. Many Inuit hold animistic beliefs; that is, they believe that animals, plants, and other elements of nature possess spirits. When drumming takes on a prayerful essence, the drummer is calling on the harmonious relationship between the natural world and its inhabitants. 

Keeping the Intangible Inuit Heritage Alive

The fragile Arctic environment of Scoresby Sound has been dramatically affected by climate change, with its rapidly melting ice and ever-shifting ecosystems. These changes also threaten the traditional way of Inuit life in this region. 

During our expedition, you will witness some of the efforts to preserve and revitalize Inuit culture. Cultural initiatives like Ms. Andreasen’s teach Inuit youth traditional skills, such as hunting, fishing, and craftsmanship, while also keeping storytelling and drumming traditions alive. These efforts safeguard both the tangible aspects of Inuit culture and the intangible elements that shape a sense of identity and pride among the community members.