Móðurmal Norðurland was founded by a couple of mothers living in the North who recognized the value of preserving their children’s heritage language. Elena has been a part of Móðurmál in the south for many years, and she and Marianne decided to take the step to start the spark in the north.
Móðurmál Norðurland seeks to reach the entire Northern region, with Akureyri and Húsavík being the largest towns.
The groups goal for the first semester was to meet people who were interested in contributing to and being a part of the group. The group plans monthly “multilingual” activities in Húsavík or Akureyri.
The November events (November 23rd and 24th) focused on parents/guardians. Maria Sastre, a board member of Móðurmál, a teacher and leader of a group in the south with many years of experience, came to visit and conduct an event to present Móðurmál and give parents and guardians ideas on how to handle bilingualism at home.
The gatherings in Húsavík and Akureyri have raised awareness about the necessity of preserving our children’s languages and traditions through discussions and debates. During these events, we strengthened and formed new relationships with families who speak Swedish, German, Spanish, and English as second languages at home.
We’ve learned that quality is more important than quantity, and that every seed we plant will germinate in some way or another, and promote diversity, identity, and respect.
The future will unfold in small and beautiful steps, and we see 2025 as a year to build and connect with people and institutions who want to be a part of this project.
