GREENLAND'S NEW LIFE

Year Published: 1959

Description: "Greenland's New Life" dates to 1959. The film shows the location and physical features of Greenland; explains its new position in the modern world as the center of the short polar air routes. Portrays the life of the Greenlanders, explains their origin, and describes their change in half a century from nomadic hunters to fishermen living in small permanent communities where life is patterned after the ways of Denmark. The film was released by Arthur Barr, and photographed by Hjördis Kittle Parker. • 0:17-0:30: Introduction to Greenland, an isolated island between North America and Europe, mostly within the Arctic Circle. • 0:35-0:49: Description of Greenland's continuous daylight in summer and perpetual darkness in winter. • 0:52-1:00: The interior of Greenland is a barren ice cap, up to 2 miles thick, covering 85% of the island. • 1:07-1:28: The narrow fringe of land between the ice and the sea features steep granite mountains and glaciers. • 1:31-1:36: Icebergs from Greenland's glaciers pose hazards in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. • 1:40-1:54: Despite the ice, summer brings beauty with Arctic flowers and polar wool in sheltered valleys. • 2:00-2:11: Historical migration of Eskimo peoples and Norsemen to Greenland. • 2:13-2:25: Modern Greenlanders are a mix of Eskimo and European ancestry, living in small communities. • 2:28-2:32: Greenland is under the protection of the Danish flag. • 2:39-2:44: Radio towers were once the only link to Denmark and the outside world. • 2:48-2:58: World War II increased interest in Greenland, making it a key military base and weather station. • 3:02-3:16: Greenland is now a crucial outpost for the defense of the Free World and a center for intercontinental air routes. • 3:19-3:23: Greenlanders are adapting to modern life. • 3:27-3:39: Transition from solitary hunters to fishermen due to changes in sea temperature. • 4:01-4:06: Fishing has become a major industry in Greenland. • 4:18-4:25: Cod fishing is now a primary occupation. • 4:31-4:45: Fishermen work together to handle large catches. • 4:47-5:02: Fish are prepared for export, providing income for Greenlanders. • 5:15-5:29: Shift from a nomadic lifestyle to living in permanent communities. • 5:32-5:47: Nuuk is the capital and largest colony, with houses made of imported wood. • 5:50-6:17: Modernization of Greenlanders' homes and lifestyles, influenced by Denmark. • 6:20-6:24: Greenland became part of the Danish Kingdom in 1953. • 6:27-6:40: The National Council addresses the needs of a changing society. • 6:43-6:57: Education and youth programs are provided. • 7:06-7:16: The church plays a significant role in community life. • 7:18-7:31: Hospitals are crucial for controlling infectious diseases. • 7:34-7:49: The community store symbolizes Greenland's new economy. • 8:05-8:13: Coal is mined and imported to Greenland. • 8:16-8:26: Coal is distributed throughout the community. • 8:29-8:47: Water supply is managed with tank trucks due to freezing conditions. • 8:50-8:57: Limited agriculture and sheep farming in southern Greenland. • 9:02-9:16: Traditional ways are preserved, such as living in sod houses and wearing traditional costumes. • 9:19-9:36: Women take pride in their traditional bead collars and decorated boots. • 9:39-9:58: Greenlanders reflect strength and adaptability, emerging from isolation to join the modern world.

Complete Record: "Greenland's New Life" dates to 1959. The film shows the location and physical features of Greenland; explains its new position in the modern world as the center of the short polar air routes. Portrays the life of the Greenlanders, explains their origin, and describes their change in half a century from nomadic hunters to fishermen living in small permanent communities where life is patterned after the ways of Denmark. The film was released by Arthur Barr, and photographed by Hjördis Kittle Parker. • 0:17-0:30: Introduction to Greenland, an isolated island between North America and Europe, mostly within the Arctic Circle. • 0:35-0:49: Description of Greenland's continuous daylight in summer and perpetual darkness in winter. • 0:52-1:00: The interior of Greenland is a barren ice cap, up to 2 miles thick, covering 85% of the island. • 1:07-1:28: The narrow fringe of land between the ice and the sea features steep granite mountains and glaciers. • 1:31-1:36: Icebergs from Greenland's glaciers pose hazards in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. • 1:40-1:54: Despite the ice, summer brings beauty with Arctic flowers and polar wool in sheltered valleys. • 2:00-2:11: Historical migration of Eskimo peoples and Norsemen to Greenland. • 2:13-2:25: Modern Greenlanders are a mix of Eskimo and European ancestry, living in small communities. • 2:28-2:32: Greenland is under the protection of the Danish flag. • 2:39-2:44: Radio towers were once the only link to Denmark and the outside world. • 2:48-2:58: World War II increased interest in Greenland, making it a key military base and weather station. • 3:02-3:16: Greenland is now a crucial outpost for the defense of the Free World and a center for intercontinental air routes. • 3:19-3:23: Greenlanders are adapting to modern life. • 3:27-3:39: Transition from solitary hunters to fishermen due to changes in sea temperature. • 4:01-4:06: Fishing has become a major industry in Greenland. • 4:18-4:25: Cod fishing is now a primary occupation. • 4:31-4:45: Fishermen work together to handle large catches. • 4:47-5:02: Fish are prepared for export, providing income for Greenlanders. • 5:15-5:29: Shift from a nomadic lifestyle to living in permanent communities. • 5:32-5:47: Nuuk is the capital and largest colony, with houses made of imported wood. • 5:50-6:17: Modernization of Greenlanders' homes and lifestyles, influenced by Denmark. • 6:20-6:24: Greenland became part of the Danish Kingdom in 1953. • 6:27-6:40: The National Council addresses the needs of a changing society. • 6:43-6:57: Education and youth programs are provided. • 7:06-7:16: The church plays a significant role in community life. • 7:18-7:31: Hospitals are crucial for controlling infectious diseases. • 7:34-7:49: The community store symbolizes Greenland's new economy. • 8:05-8:13: Coal is mined and imported to Greenland. • 8:16-8:26: Coal is distributed throughout the community. • 8:29-8:47: Water supply is managed with tank trucks due to freezing conditions. • 8:50-8:57: Limited agriculture and sheep farming in southern Greenland. • 9:02-9:16: Traditional ways are preserved, such as living in sod houses and wearing traditional costumes. • 9:19-9:36: Women take pride in their traditional bead collars and decorated boots. • 9:39-9:58: Greenlanders reflect strength and adaptability, emerging from isolation to join the modern world.

Transcription

[Music] this cold Bleak land of ice and snow is Greenland an island long isolated from the world it lies between North America and Europe so close to the top of the world that almost all of its land surface lies within the Arctic Circle here in this Northern Land There are summers of continuous daylight and Winters when the Sun never Rises or faintly glows on the horizon the interior of Greenland is a Barren waste a great block of snow and ice that in places is 2 mil thick this ice cap covers nearly 85% of the world's largest island only a narrow Fringe of land remains between the ice and the Sea here steep mountains of granite rock form a barrier that holds back the vast ice cap the ice pushes through gaps and the form glaciers that grind their way down to the Sea the glaciers carve the fjords of Greenland's rugged coast and fill the coastal Waters with great blocks of ice many of these icebergs float Southward to become hazards in the shipping lanes of the North Atlantic but this Northern land is not all ice and Barren Rock the brief summer season brings unexpected Beauty to the cold land in sheltered valleys Arctic flowers spring up to brighten the landscape Meadows are carpeted with the Shaggy heads of polar wool for many centuries nomadic Eskimo peoples from the West migrated along the coastal Fringe and as early as the 10th Century bold Norsemen came to settle Greenland Shores today the greenlanders are a mixture of Eskimo and European ancestry a hardy people adjusted to the rigors of a harsh land the greenlanders live in small communities between the Mountains and the Sea Under the protection of the Danish flag for many years tall radio towers were their only Dependable link with Denmark and the outside world but World War II suddenly awakened interest in this remote land and Greenland became an important military base and weather station today Greenland is a key Outpost in the defense of the Free World with the growth of InterContinental air transportation this island has become the center of the short polar roots that link the major cities of Europe and North America Greenland's people are newly educated to the ways of Modern Life in the past the greenlander was a solitary Hunter gliding silent over the Arctic Waters in his skin kayak he hunted the seal and walrus that provided his whole existence food clothing light and heat this self-sufficient pattern of Life ended in the 1920s the sea had become warmer this change forced the seal and walrus northward the warmer Waters attracted vast schools of fish and the hunter became a fisherman today the throbbing engines of fishing boats have replaced the silent kayak and Greenland's Waters have become one of the great fishing grounds of the Atlantic under Danish leadership fishing stations have been established as centers of a growing industry now the greenlander uses new tools and new methods to provide for his family he fishes for the Cod the world's most important food fish no no longer a solitary Hunter he now works with others to handle the great catches of fish the fish are prepared for shipment to world markets for the Cod does not directly Supply the greenlanders needs as the seal and wallrus once did frozen fish filets and dried Cod are two valuable exports in return for the products from the sea the greenlander receives money to buy the necessities of life the money economy has brought a new way of living to the greenlanders once a solitary nomadic people they now live in small permanent communities most of the communities are scattered along the Southwest coast the most accessible portion of this icebound land goob is Greenland's capital and largest Colony here in this treeless country the houses are made of wood imported from northern Europe in half a century these people have left A Primitive culture to pattern their ways after the life of modern Denmark their homes are furnished with sofas chairs pictures and electric lights they wear clothing made of cotton and wool rather than skin and fur and their day-to-day life becomes increasingly European as contact with the modern world continues long a colony of Denmark Greenland became an actual part of the Danish Kingdom in 1953 greenlanders and representatives of the crown meet together to solve the problems of this distant portion of Denmark elected by popular vote the National Council administers to the needs of a changing Society schools are provided to educate Greenland's Youth and after school children take part in worldwide youth programs Girl Scouts practice the same scouting activities as the girls of other lands European games have been introduced and our popular Recreation the church has played a leading role in the development of the new Greenland and church services are an important part of community life hospitals are vital to the strong health program long isolation has left the people susceptible to many infectious diseases of the outside world tuberculosis is controlled in modern San Arium the community store is the symbol of Greenland's new economy no longer self-sufficient the greenlander must purchase all the things he has learned to use all these Goods must be imported to this unproductive land a continuous flow of food is needed for the growing population and building materials are required for new construction Some Coal is mined in Greenland but additional supplies are brought from Europe coal is loaded into trucks and carried to distribution points throughout the community here Housewives secure fuel to heat their homes and cook their food water supply is a major problem in this Frozen land where water pipes would freeze and break tank trucks are used to distribute water for household use agriculture is limited by shallow soil and a short growing season but some food crops are grown in hot houses and the southern Meadows support a growing sheep industry old ways are not forgotten some families live in sod houses reminders of Greenland's past the Hunter and his kayak are still a part of Greenland's life and women and girls wear the colorful traditional costume on special holidays and Sundays young women are especially proud of their gay bead collars and of their decorated skin boots the faces of the greenlanders reflect the strength and serenity of a people who have learned to live in a Stern land they also reveal the new ways of a people emerging from long isolation to take their place in the modern world for

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