Nordic Studies Press
October 9 is Leif Eriksson Day, a time to remember the Norse voyages to North America around the year 1000.
At L’Anse aux Meadows, on the northern tip of Newfoundland, the remains of a Norse settlement offer a tangible connection to this chapter of Nordic history.
The voyages described in The Sagas of Icelanders brought Norse explorers to lands already inhabited by Indigenous peoples. Their presence in North America was brief, but the story continues to invite reflection on exploration, encounters, and the many peoples who have shaped the continent’s history. Leif Eriksson is celebrated on October 9 because Norwegian-Americans in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago promoted the motto that "Leif came first." October 12 has been celebrated as Columbus Day. The day is now called Indigenous Peoples Day.
Nordic Studies Press is proud of two Sámi books in our collection, Turi: Account of the Sami and Antiphony. Both contribute significant insights into the culture of Scandinavia's indigenous people, the Sámi. Please check them out.