Janina, proud Canadian and grand-daughter of two Norwegian immigrants who arrived in Canada in the early 20th Century, has always been fascinated with her Norwegian heritage as well as her connections to Ireland and Scotland. She passionately asked countless questions from childhood onwards as she pursued more and more knowledge about Norway, its land, people, and history. As she grew up, Janina remained connected with family in Norway, and has visited Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and Iceland several times to become more acquainted with Scandinavian culture both past and present. An educator, naturalist, musician, photographer, and poet, Janina enjoys travelling to learn about her Canadian and European heritage and the history, music, lands, seas, and skies which have influenced her own journey.
A student of Norwegian language through the Scandinavian Studies Department of the University of Alberta, Janina also belonged to the Scandinavian Club and danced Norwegian Folk Dance with the Sons of Norway Lodge. In 1986, Janina participated in a student work exchange, travelling throughout Norway and living in Marifjøra, Norway, for the summer, where she tended cattle, picked strawberries and raspberries, and harvested hay in traditional ways.
Passionate about bringing communities together through music, storytelling, and nature, Janina has become a collector and performer of historical Norwegian instruments as well as the Indigenous North American flutes ( in her band, SomeAre Solstice Flutes and Woodland Wellness) and World drums, which are her other musical passions. She is a flute instructor with the World Flute Society.
Now, as a ‘living Viking’, Janina is a member of Njardarheimr Viking Village in Gudvangen, Norway, only 35 kilometres from where her grandfather, Knut, grew up. When possible, she also participates in Viking age re-enactment with members of Vikings Vinland or Calgary's Ulfraendi. Janina is a member of Red Deer’s Norwegian Lafthus, works on planning committees for Heritage Festivals, and offers occasional workshops as well as occasionally being a member and instructor at the Sons of Norway Trollhaugen Language Arts and Culture Camp. She enjoys sharing her Scandinavian instruments whenever possible at Heritage festivals, culture camps, workshops and informal gatherings.
Janina and her partner, John, live on a small farm in Central Alberta where they raise and care for heritage livestock breeds which are relics of the Viking Age and earlier times. Their Soay Sheep, Icelandic Sheep, and Icelandic chickens are unique animals which retain much of their original gene pool and characteristics which remain close to wild animals. The harvest of the ancient fibres and working with these intelligent, independent animals and birds is a journey to the past unto itself.
Wherever Janina goes, nature and learning from the land and its people is front and foremost of everything else. The journey continues …
A student of Norwegian language through the Scandinavian Studies Department of the University of Alberta, Janina also belonged to the Scandinavian Club and danced Norwegian Folk Dance with the Sons of Norway Lodge. In 1986, Janina participated in a student work exchange, travelling throughout Norway and living in Marifjøra, Norway, for the summer, where she tended cattle, picked strawberries and raspberries, and harvested hay in traditional ways.
Passionate about bringing communities together through music, storytelling, and nature, Janina has become a collector and performer of historical Norwegian instruments as well as the Indigenous North American flutes ( in her band, SomeAre Solstice Flutes and Woodland Wellness) and World drums, which are her other musical passions. She is a flute instructor with the World Flute Society.
Now, as a ‘living Viking’, Janina is a member of Njardarheimr Viking Village in Gudvangen, Norway, only 35 kilometres from where her grandfather, Knut, grew up. When possible, she also participates in Viking age re-enactment with members of Vikings Vinland or Calgary's Ulfraendi. Janina is a member of Red Deer’s Norwegian Lafthus, works on planning committees for Heritage Festivals, and offers occasional workshops as well as occasionally being a member and instructor at the Sons of Norway Trollhaugen Language Arts and Culture Camp. She enjoys sharing her Scandinavian instruments whenever possible at Heritage festivals, culture camps, workshops and informal gatherings.
Janina and her partner, John, live on a small farm in Central Alberta where they raise and care for heritage livestock breeds which are relics of the Viking Age and earlier times. Their Soay Sheep, Icelandic Sheep, and Icelandic chickens are unique animals which retain much of their original gene pool and characteristics which remain close to wild animals. The harvest of the ancient fibres and working with these intelligent, independent animals and birds is a journey to the past unto itself.
Wherever Janina goes, nature and learning from the land and its people is front and foremost of everything else. The journey continues …
