Making the Arctic a Muslim Home: Strategies of Place-Making in Northern Canada

Monday, Feb. 26, 12-1 p.m.

SN-2025

Bouchra Mossmann, PhD Candidate, University of Southern Denmark will present.

How do Muslims make places in Arctic Canada? In taking up the case of mosque-building as a strategy of place-making for Muslim communities and individuals, I present the first findings to answer these questions. In recent years, three purpose-built mosques have been constructed in Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories; a fourth one is being built. Looking at literature and media, findings suggest that the building of these mosques has been driven by wishes for rootedness, visibility, and – most importantly – the desire to feel at home. But is this also the case when asking local community members? The new mosque communities are highly heterogeneous, representing different ethnicities, generations, gender groups, and branches of Islam, thus raising questions of religious authority and the interpretation of Islamic traditions. I look at home- and place-making strategies and religious practice on an individual and communal level, thereby analyzing the complex interplay of local and transnational factors. By employing the concept of lived religion, I aim to contribute insights into the formation of modern Muslim subjectivity and take the study of Islam into new geographical directions, namely Arctic Canada. Empirically, the paper presents an effort of extensive mapping, drawing on various data from local news outlets and social media to census data and fieldwork.”

Presented by Departments of Geography and Religious Studies

Event Listing 2024-02-26 12:00:00 2024-02-26 13:00:00 America/St_Johns Making the Arctic a Muslim Home: Strategies of Place-Making in Northern Canada Bouchra Mossmann, PhD Candidate, University of Southern Denmark will present. How do Muslims make places in Arctic Canada? In taking up the case of mosque-building as a strategy of place-making for Muslim communities and individuals, I present the first findings to answer these questions. In recent years, three purpose-built mosques have been constructed in Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories; a fourth one is being built. Looking at literature and media, findings suggest that the building of these mosques has been driven by wishes for rootedness, visibility, and – most importantly – the desire to feel at home. But is this also the case when asking local community members? The new mosque communities are highly heterogeneous, representing different ethnicities, generations, gender groups, and branches of Islam, thus raising questions of religious authority and the interpretation of Islamic traditions. I look at home- and place-making strategies and religious practice on an individual and communal level, thereby analyzing the complex interplay of local and transnational factors. By employing the concept of lived religion, I aim to contribute insights into the formation of modern Muslim subjectivity and take the study of Islam into new geographical directions, namely Arctic Canada. Empirically, the paper presents an effort of extensive mapping, drawing on various data from local news outlets and social media to census data and fieldwork.” SN-2025 Departments of Geography and Religious Studies