Expedition Greenland (English version) + Discussion: Women in Viking Societies

Expedition Greenland - Solveig’s Strength and Auðr’s Prosperity

Expedition Greenland - Solveig’s Strength and Auðr’s Prosperity is inspired by the Saga of Erik the Red and Saga of the Greenlanders, the Norse expansion west across the north Atlantic and the retelling of key events in these sagas. The film also tells the fictional story of two women who participated in the discovery of these new lands while settling Greenland and establishing the first Norse settlements there.

Following the screening of the short film, director Scott MacLeod and Dr. Michèle Hayeur-Smith, an eminent specialist in Nordic cultures from Brown University, will lead a discussion on the role of women in Viking societies. Immerse yourself in the exploration of the various facets of women's lives during this time and delve into their lifestyles and the unique contributions they made to their communities. Despite evolving within a predominantly patriarchal society, it appears that Viking women enjoyed certain advantages compared to their European counterparts. Specifically, the power conferred by the magical dimension known as "Seiðr" endowed them with distinct attributes. Whether as homemakers, warriors, or prophetesses, Viking women occupied diverse roles within Scandinavian societies between the 8th and 11th centuries.

Scott MacLeod / MacLeod 9 Productions

About MacLeod 9 Productions: Based in Montreal, MacLeod 9 Productions is an independent film studio with a focus on telling stories of identity, history and individual lives and produces educational films, graphic novels, web tours as teaching tools for schools, libraries, museums, Parks Canada & public. They have produced nine films in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada.

Michèle Hayeur Smith

Michèle Hayeur Smith is an independent researcher and anthropological archaeologist affiliated with the Arctic Studies Center at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution, and with Bridgewater State University’s, Department of Anthropology. Her research interests focus on gender, textiles, dress, adornment and material culture studies. She is largely known for her work in the North Atlantic including Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Scotland and Western Norway. She has undertaking three consecutive research projects focused on gender and the production and circulation of textiles from the Viking Age to the early 19th century all funded by the National Science Foundation, Arctic Social Sciences program.. By bringing Norse women and their labor to the forefront of research, Michèle Hayeur Smith has helped establish the foundation for a gendered archaeology of the North Atlantic. Her innovative work contributes to global discussions about the hidden roles of women in past societies in preserving tradition and guiding change. In 2020 she published a monographed based on her textile research called The Valkyries’ Loom: The Archaeology of Cloth production and Female Power in the North Atlantic.