Voices

In Arjeplog we have a living storytelling tradition and storytelling has been and is an important part of people's lives. The founder of the Silvermuseet, Einar Wallquist, documented various stories - memories, legends and the occasional tall tale. Significant pieces of Arjeplog's common memory, which are preserved together with other submitted stories in our archive.

In the Voices project, we have now been able to expand the archive material, through interviews with ten older people. These are people who represent different ways of life, who have a great deal of knowledge about life here and important events in the municipality. Their stories help us to understand both local history and our present.

Five of the interviews were conducted with people connected to the Laisvall mine, an era that has shaped living conditions in our municipality. It is important to tell the story of life in and around the mine, something that Boliden Mineral also has an interest in documenting.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Arjeplognytt and photographer Peder Lundqvist. Marianne Hoffman, who in addition to being an experienced journalist has extensive knowledge of local conditions, has conducted the interviews. Peder Lundqvist has photographed the participants.

Our idea is that parts of the interviews will eventually be made available through the museum's database, our website or in a future exhibition. The interviews will be made visible via Arjeplognytts website, and possibly Peder will use the photos in an exhibition.

We are very pleased that through this collaboration we have been able to document important stories from life in Arjeplog. The goal is to be able to continue this work in some form.

In addition to the Silvermuseet's own funds, Sparbanken Nord and Boliden Mineral AB have contributed to the project.