“Brief entries only will hereafter be made of other things than ethnological information, geological or geographic and other things that concern the purpose of our trip to the Arctic, for I am becoming worried  about the capacity of my two notebooks, especially if we should stay all next winter, as I at present feel inclined to do..”  

Vilhjálmur undertook his first expeditions when he was a student of anthropology at Harvard University. These were journeys to Iceland in 1904 and 1905 for the purpose of obtaining human bones for research in anthropological anatomy. Vilhjálmur Stefansson was best known, however, for his extensive scientific expeditions into the unexplored regions of northern Canada.

Stefansson's expeditions constitute impressive achievements, in the fields of both exploration and research, and include numerous elements of the societies and natural environment of the North. Vilhjálmur spent a total of ten winters and seven summers travelling through the northern regions. With his companions, he travelled on foot and by dog sledge, covering a distance of approximately 32,000 kilometres, often in extreme conditions.

 Vilhjálmur’s first journey to northern Canada was in 1906 – 1907, when he spent the winter among the Inuit of the Mackenzie Delta. During this period he became familiar with the Inuit language and was able to gain first-hand knowledge of their culture and way of life. He wrote the book Hunters of the Great North as well as a number of articles about his stay with the Inuit.

Vilhjálmur undertook another expedition to the Arctic during the years 1908 – 1912, accompanied by  Canadian zoologist Rudolf M. Anderson. On this expedition Vilhjálmur was able to gather new and important data, as he was the first scientist to study the culture and community of the Copper-Inuit on Victoria Island.

In 1913 Vilhjálmur set off on the Canadian Arctic Expedition which lasted for five years - the longest continuous Arctic expedition to be undertaken up to that time. His main objective on this occasion was the geographical exploration of the Canadian North-West, which is now the territory of Nunavut. Among other achievements derived from this expedition was Vilhjálmur’s discovery of areas in the Canadian archipelago, unknown to Europeans, namely the islands of Borden, Brock, Meighen and Lougheed. As a token of gratitude for this accomplishment, the Canadian government in 1952 named an island after him. Stefansson Island lies to the north of Victoria Island. Early during the expedition the ship Karluk was trapped by ice in the Beaufort Sea and Vilhjálmur went with some men on a hunting trip to get fresh meat. During the trip a sudden storm drove the Karluk away from shore, and, in spite of much effort, Vilhjálmur was unable to get back to the ship. The Karluk was subsequently lost along with eleven crew members.  Later, some were to blame him for having left the ship and for the tragic events which followed.

But no man is an island, and during his northern explorations Vilhjálmur had much contact and communication with the local people. Unlike contemporary heroes of the extreme north, Vilhjálmur did not travel around or across the arctic regions; he travelled into their cultures and environments. He was often asked if he had travelled to the North Pole, to which he replied that he was a scientist, not a tourist.

Vilhjálmur’s books contain large numbers of photographs taken on expeditions which he took part in or lead. His photographs, books and diaries affirm his positive image and progressive attitude towards the Far North and its inhabitants. They bear witness to a resourceful and energetic people, worthy of our respect, whose culture and technology were successfully adapted to the natural environment. Vilhjálmur adhered to the basic anthropological principle that by only placing oneself in the situation of other people is it possible to understand them. Such is also the spirit of The Friendly Arctic Exhibition. As visitors journey through the exhibition, following in Stefansson’s footsteps, they travel over the vast Arctic regions of North America, gaining insight into the great explorer’s thoughts and experiences.