PROMPT ONE: STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen. You could pose a general question (examples below) and give people some time to themselves to jot down or think about their answers before opening the discussion. Alternatively, you could ask participants to share their thoughts with a partner before starting a group discussion.

What surprised you most when watching this film? What scenes stood out for you?

What did you expect the film to be about? How did the film compare to your expectations?

Why do you think the filmmakers wanted to tell this story?

What did you know about Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) before watching this film? How did the film change (or reinforce) your perception of the country and its people?

If you could, what question(s) would you ask Kirsten, Peter, or Gideon? What question(s) would you ask the filmmakers?

Why do you think this film is called Winter’s Yearning? What is the significance of “yearning” in the story?

PROMPT TWO:

“WHEN THE RAVEN TURNS WHITE”: WAITING FOR ALCOA

“Tulukkat qaqortippata (When the ravens turn white)” is a common Greenlandic expression drawn from Inuit folklore that is used when a person is waiting for a much hoped for but unlikely outcome. How does this saying relate to the events of the film?

In the film, former Premier of Greenland, Kuupik V. Kleist, states, “We are in need for establishing other significant economic activities besides the fisheries.” Why is that? What factors make the country’s economic situation so precarious? How is climate change affecting the lives of the people? What impact is it having on livelihoods?

How did the people of Maniitsoq respond to the news of the ALCOA aluminum plant? Why was the ALCOA project so significant for the town and for the country?

About 150 citizens came to the public meeting about the ALCOA project. After which, one attendee said, “If our ancestors had been alive to see Maniitsoq today with its current poor industry, they would probably say: ‘Don't think about the past. Rather, think about your future.’" What do you think he meant? What do you think he was talking about when he referred to “the past”? What perceived future benefits would this project bring?

What caused the ALCOA project to be delayed? The Maniitsoq mayor explains that ALCOA still has the option of establishing the plant in Maniitsoq and that the people of the town must exercise patience. What effect did the project’s delay have on the people of Maniitsoq? Peter wonders "What if the aluminum plant never happens? What will we do then?" What options do the people of Maniitsoq have? What would you do if your community was in this situation?

Peter explains that his role as the aluminum coordinator is “to keep the citizens updated. To inform them how far the project is coming along.” But over the seven years he’s had the position he’s only met with ALCOA twice. How does Peter feel about his role in this situation? How does it impact his relationship to his community?

When it becomes clear that the ALCOA project will likely never happen, how do Peter, Kirsten, and Gideon and the other residents of Maniitsoq react? How do you think your community would react in this situation?

PROMPT THREE:

A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY: INDEPENDENCE VS INTERDEPENDENCE

Kalaallit Nunaat is still dealing with the legacy of Danish colonialism and its aftermath. In what specific ways did the legacy of colonialism affect the lives of Kirsten, Peter, and Gideon?

The Act on Greenland Self-Government was granted in 2009 as well as the right to hold a vote for full independence from Denmark. In the film, a newspaper headline declares “Large Majority in Favor of Independence”, but Peter says, “If we want to obtain independence, we must make sure that we can earn our own money. We must be able to produce and export so that we can be self-supporting. Just like our ancestors did. That's not how it is today.” What factors contributed to the country’s dependence on Denmark? What did Peter mean by, “just like our ancestors did”? What is different today from their ancestors’ time?

Kirsten, a young woman who works in a fish processing factory, is hanging out with her girlfriends and they talk about pregnancy and their peers having children. How do these young women feel about pregnancy and parenthood? Why does Kirsten’s mother encourage her to stop taking birth control pills? Why does Kirsten want to get an education first?

Gideon discusses the challenges of life in Maniitsoq with a young woman who had lived in the capital city Nuuk and was thinking about returning there for two years to study finance. How did she feel about life in Nuuk compared to Maniitsoq? Why is it significant that people who grow up in Maniitsoq are less fluent in Danish than people in Nuuk? What are the biggest challenges for young people from Maniitsoq?

Peter says, “There's been a lot of talk about independence but today, the reality is that most of the young people move to Denmark. That's the strange thing about it: We want independence, but people are fleeing the country.” Why do young people move to Denmark? What impact does emigration have on the Maniitsoq community and the country?

In Gideon’s workshop, one of the participants asks “Why do we Greenlanders have this tendency to look down on ourselves?” and Gideon responds, “I'm a Greenlander too, and I don't feel like that!” How do you feel about this exchange? What does it suggest about the social and cultural dynamics at play in the country?

Gideon says, “When you consider dependence--whether it's waiting for the authorities or alcohol or gambling addiction-- it's the same mechanisms that are at work. The result is that you are put in a waiting position that creates frustration and, in the end, self-pity. I gladly admit these problems. Because we can only deal with them if we talk about them.” What do you think about Gideon’s perspective? Do you agree? How do you think this relates to the delayed Alcoa project? How does it apply to the country’s relationship with Denmark? Why is the theme of “dependency” significant to the story the film is telling?

At the end of the film, Gideon explains, “My greatest dream for Greenland is...You might expect me to say independence. But it's just to see my fellow citizens having self-confidence and a spirit of community.” Why do you think Gideon prioritizes self-confidence and a spirit of community as a precursor to independence? Gideon says, “If we get there, we have nothing to fear in the future.” What are your thoughts about this? What lessons can we draw from this that apply to our own communities?

PROMPT FOUR:

MAKING USE OF EVERYTHING: GREENLAND’S PATH TO THE FUTURE

One of the elder residents at the retirement home tells Kristen, “I have a lot of respect for Greenland. And it's a good thing that people have become more aware about the country. That is rewarding.” Why is it significant for Kirsten to hear this from an elder member of the community? The resident also says, “We inherit the challenges of our ancestors.” What does she mean by this? How does this relate to the themes of the film and the country's current situation?

Peter says, “History tells us that our ancestors were eminent at making use of everything. We should look at how they made use of the resources and go back to this way of thinking.” How do Peter, Kirsten, and Gideon each demonstrate their ancestors’ way of thinking in their own journeys?

Later, Gideon talks about his own alcoholism and the impact it had on his life. He says that he’s grateful his wife divorced him because it forced him to look at his choices, “I stopped blaming others and sought help.” How is seeking help, different from dependence? How did Gideon make use of his own experience to chart a different path for himself? How does community support and “interdependence” differ from the “dependence” model that exists between Kalaallit Nunaat and Denmark?

Early in the film, Kirsten longs to be rich enough to go to an Eminem concert, but later she talks about how her arrest and community service gave her a sense of purpose she never expected. She says, “Changes may come someday, but you don't know when . Being able to give something to those who need it. It's incredibly wonderful.” How has Kirsten’s outlook on the future shifted? What can we learn from Kirsten’s journey?

In one counseling activity, Kirsten is asked to “map out” her plans for the future, detailing all of the resources, supports, and challenges connected to reaching her goals. Why is this process important for her? How does this benefit Kristin? How does this activity mirror the experiences Peter and Gideon have in the film?

At the end of the film, Peter shifts his focus from the ALCOA project to a new vision for Maniitsoq’s future. He explains, “There are a lot of whales just outside Maniitsoq. We've begun to understand that we can use the whales for more than food. We hadn't thought about that before. So that's why we're now developing the idea that Maniitsoq must be the City of Whales.” How are Gideon and the town making use of their experience with ALCOA to chart a new path for their collective future?

Peter and a friend talk about the collapse of the ALCOA project and lament that the country accepted the American company’s project rather than a Norwegian company that also showed interest. Peter says the Americans are only interested in making money, “they don’t have their hearts in it like the Norwegians.” What does this exchange reveal about the community’s attitude toward ALCOA and more broadly, the United States now that the project has been indefinitely delayed? The United States and U.S. companies have demonstrated increasing interest in Kalaallit Nunaat for its resources and strategic location. Europe and China are also eager to tap into the islands’ wealth. How might the collapse of this project impact Kalaallit Nunaat’s relationship with the U.S. and its future on the global stage?

Although Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) is two-thirds the size of the continental United States, the country’s population, 56,000, is one-tenth the size of the least populous U.S. state, Wyoming. The island’s expansive wealth of natural resources presents opportunities for the predominantly Inuit population but also serious risks. What are some of the unique challenges the people of Kalaallit Nunaat face? What opportunities do they have as they attempt to gain full economic and political independence?