Angaangaq Lyberth
Encyclopedia
Angaangaq is a Kalaallit
(Greenland
ish) Inuk
who was asked by his people to be a shaman. He has been quoted on the effects of global warming
in Greenland
. He has represented the Arctic peoples in the United Nations General Assembly
, and frequently speaks before governments and universities.
Angaangaq was raised in a remote village in Greenland where the influence of Christianity was minimal. His grandmother Aanakasaa, herself a healer, recognized him as a baby to be the one to carry on the tradition of healer in the family. She trained him to become the next shaman.
It was only in 2004 that Angaangaq accepted the request of his family to become their Angakoq (shaman). It is a very serious request, not to be taken lightly. After years of being the runner to the world for his Elders, bringing the message of the melting of the ice, Angaangaq went to the sacred mountain to speak to the Creator. When he came down from the mountain he accepted the immense responsibility of being a shaman.
Kalaallit
Kalaallit is the contemporary term in the Kalaallisut language for the indigenous people living in Greenland, also called the Kalaallit Nunaat. The singular term is kalaaleq. The Kalaallit are a part of the Arctic Inuit people. The language spoken by Inuit in Greenland is Kalaallisut.Historically,...
(Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
ish) Inuk
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
who was asked by his people to be a shaman. He has been quoted on the effects of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
in Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. He has represented the Arctic peoples in the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, and frequently speaks before governments and universities.
Angaangaq was raised in a remote village in Greenland where the influence of Christianity was minimal. His grandmother Aanakasaa, herself a healer, recognized him as a baby to be the one to carry on the tradition of healer in the family. She trained him to become the next shaman.
It was only in 2004 that Angaangaq accepted the request of his family to become their Angakoq (shaman). It is a very serious request, not to be taken lightly. After years of being the runner to the world for his Elders, bringing the message of the melting of the ice, Angaangaq went to the sacred mountain to speak to the Creator. When he came down from the mountain he accepted the immense responsibility of being a shaman.