In the fall of 2021, Hemnes Municipality organized two eventful cultural heritage days, which provided varied encounters with traces of the past. The remains of culture are not always flashy, but for many the trip became a memory for life.
It started with a day and a half of visits for people from the Cultural Heritage Fund, the municipality and voluntary associations. With the restored fishing boat Remi Ketil, the trip went to the largely abandoned Tvertforlandet. Then there was a visit to a venerable farm in Sund, old boathouses, barns and farms in Bjerkadalen, plus Arthurskøtet and Lapphella in Hemnes.
After completing the inspection, we were ready for an open city walk along the seafront of Hemnesberget. Here we heard stories about Lapphella, industry in various forms, the dramatic war events and the reconstruction after the war. Finally, there was a tour of a German mountain bunker, until now unknown to many.
“Are all these cultural relics?” asked one participant. Yes, was the answer. Any trace of human activity can be seen as a cultural monument. This applies regardless of whether the traces were created by farmers, boat builders, teachers or prisoners of war.
In the work on the cultural heritage plan for Hemnes, older boatbuilding, Sami history, forest and wilderness, war history, reconstruction history and so-called technical-industrial history (newer boatbuilding, power development, etc.) have been identified as areas of focus. Together, these create a holistic cultural environment that surrounds our lives.
Imagine how much there is to dwell on, which we can both experience, use and gain knowledge about. The images below are taken from the two cultural heritage days. They provide a glimpse into a diverse cultural environment. You will find many other cultural traces around on our website.
