Lecture and book fair during polar evening at Ishavsmuseet on April 22 at 7:00 PM.

Stein Ørnhøi should be familiar to most of us. He sat in the Storting for SV for two terms, from 1977 to 1985, and has worked for NRK-TV since the mid-1960s. More recently, he has been a political expert commentator for both NRK and TV2.

It was Brigitte Bardot who sent us out into the ice to hunt seals, says Stein Ørnhøi. When the fur-clad film diva – France’s answer to Marilyn Monroe – launched the international campaign against seal hunting, it was a bit much for many. At least here in Norway. And since the young Norwegian television saw it as an important task to highlight Norwegian work and everyday life in an objective way, it was also a natural task to give a sober picture of what was really going on in the ice. The international campaign clearly gave an incomplete picture of an industry that was important to Sunnmøre and large parts of Northern Norway. There was therefore full support from the management of the television when the proposal to go on a seal hunt was launched.

The NRK team was drafted as regular trappers. It was probably most practical that way, Ørnhøi recalls, when and if we were to meet Canadian authorities. Ørnhøi was also impressed by the crew's endurance, and praises them for the camaraderie they showed to these strange NRK people who were everywhere filming in all sorts of strange situations. But we also helped with the pelting of skins, he says.

Three programs were made for television after this trip, and the first was shown on NRK in October 1968. In addition, an international program was made, a concentrated program that was an excerpt from these three programs we made. 

The trip to the hunting grounds at Newfoundland was a big investment for the young Norwegian television. But I think everyone thought it was a good investment. The program from "Polarstar" went straight into a national and international debate about hunting and hunting. We were shown that Norwegian hunters were skilled and professional. In addition, we were given a picture of an important Norwegian industry, says Ørnhøi, who is looking forward to returning to Brandal on Friday, April 22.

After the lecture, a herring dinner with milk soup will be served in the café at the Ishavsmuseet. Registration for dinner is required. Herring has always been popular, and it may be a good idea to arrive early to secure a seat.