Indigenous literature, diversity and equality – Québec and the Nordics

Project description

The project's objectives are to:

1. Initiate Collaboration: Spark collaboration between Québec and the Nordic countries by organizing conferences, training sessions, and international symposiums, fostering an environment for rich cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
2. Cultural Positioning: Position Québec within the Nordic and circumpolar cultural landscape, establishing it as a significant player in the literary dialogue of the North.
3. Multilateral Cooperation: Strengthen multilateral cooperation by facilitating exchanges between professionals, writers, and literary readers and student, thereby contributing to a global literary sphere.

Activities

The realization of our objectives will be brought to life through a diverse array of activities that not only focus on literature but also create opportunities for engagement and learning:

1. Translation and Publication: Undertake the translation and publication of the first Greenlandic novel authored by a woman, Mâliâraq Vebæk's Historien om Katrine [Bussimi naapinneq, La femme dans le bus], complete with an informative introduction and presentation.
2. International Symposiums: Co-organize an international symposium in Sweden, exploring the "Imaginaries of genders and sexualities in circumpolar cultural, media, and literary productions." Additionally, host a symposium in Sept-Îles in Northern Québec focusing on "New literary corpus in the North and the Arctic."
3. Poetry Collection Launch: Launch and showcase Liv Maria Róadóttir Jæger's poetry collection, Eg skrivi á vátt pappír [J’écris sur du papier mouillé], translated from Faroese to French, demonstrating the richness and diversity of Nordic literary expressions.
4. Public Lectures and Workshops: Conduct a series of public lectures on "The literature of the Faroe Islands" by Malan Marnersdóttir in Montréal and Sept-Îles and another series on Québec, Innu and Inuit literature, by Daniel Chartier, in Greenland, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, organize a Quebec-Norwegian translation workshop, fostering collaboration and linguistic exchange.

Output and Impact

The anticipated outputs and impact of this project are designed to resonate across various dimensions, contributing to a lasting collaboration:

1. Educational Impact: Provide training opportunities for young professionals in an international context, fostering a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and expertise.
2. Cultural Impact: Strengthen the cultural footprint of Quebec and the French language in Nordic countries, while reciprocally introducing Nordic literary treasures to the Francophone world through translated publications and public activities.
3. Literary Impact: Enrich the literary landscape by introducing and celebrating the works of Nordic authors, thus expanding the scope of available narratives and perspectives.
4. Social Impact: Address contemporary social and cultural issues through symposiums, fostering intellectual and cultural exchanges on diversity and equality within the literary realm and beyond.

Stakeholders and Partners

The success of this collaborative venture hinges on the active participation and support of diverse stakeholders:

1. Academic Institutions: Forge partnerships with institutions such as Université du Québec à Montréal, Umeå University, and Cégep de Sept-Îles, leveraging their academic prowess and resources, in addition to the collaboration of the University of Bergen, the University of Greenland and the University of Sherbrooke.
2. Publishers: Collaborate with esteemed publishers, including Presses de l'Université du Québec and Éditions du Noroît, to ensure the dissemination of Nordic translated works and scholarly publications.
3. Researchers and Authors: Engage renowned researchers like Malan Marnersdottir, Isabelle Boiclair, Kirsten Thirted, Margery Vibe Skagen, Daniel Chartier and Malin Isaksson, who bring specialized expertise on Québec and Nordic literatures, along with the featured authors, Mâliâraq Vebæk and Liv Maria Róadóttir Jæger.
4. Government Agencies: Acknowledge the support of governmental bodies, specifically the Nordisk Ministerråd and the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec, whose financial contributions are instrumental in realizing the objectives of this project.

By involving these stakeholders, our project aspires to create a robust and sustainable network, laying the foundation for continued collaboration, cultural enrichment, and literary exploration between Québec and the Nordic countries.    

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Québec-Pays nordiques : La littérature, au cœur de la diversité et de l’égalité