Sigert O. Patursson (October 15, 1869 – September 17, 1931) was a Faroese explorer. Patursson was born in Kirkjubøur, the son of Poul Peder Pedersen (a.k.a. Páll Patursson), a holder of publicly owned land ( fo, kongsbóndi), and Ellen Cathrine (née Djonesen). His siblings

Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer *Helena, mother of Constantine I Places Greece * Helena (island) Guyana * ...

, Jóannes, Sverri, Gazet and Petur were all prominent figures in Faroese society. The siblings were home schooled by Joen Hans Jacob Petersen, the brother of

Fríðrikur Petersen Fríðrikur Petersen (April 22, 1853 – April 26, 1917) was a noted Faroese Unionist politician and clergyman. Biography Petersen was born at Saltnes in Eysturoy. He was the son of Johannes Petersen (1812–1901) and Susanne Frederikke Oles ...

. In 1889, at the age of 20, Sigert Patursson traveled to western Siberia and the Kara Sea. The journey lasted six years, and when he returned to the Faroe Islands he wrote the book ''Sibirien i vore Dage'' (Siberia Today). The book was published in 12 fascicles from 1900 to 1901, and then combined into a single book with the same title in 1901. In addition to the journey itself, the book focuses on the culture that he discovered there. Among other things, he described a local peasant wedding. A Faroese translation of the book by

Sigrið av Skarði Joensen Sigrið av Skarði Joensen, also Sigrið av Skarði, (May 12, 1908 – July 3, 1975) was a Faroese journalist, teacher, and feminist. Life Sigrið av Skarði Joensen was born in Fagralíð, Klaksvík in 1908, the daughter of Símun av Skarði ( ...

was published in 1994. Patursson also traveled to many other lands, including Mongolia and Egypt, which was very unusual for a Faeroese at that time. Sigert Patursson also wrote several works in support of

Faroese independence The Faroese independence movement ( fo, Føroyska Tjóðskaparrørslan), or the Faroese national movement (), is a political movement which seeks the establishment of the Faroe Islands as a sovereign state outside Denmark. Reasons for complete ...

. He also called for an independent and more varied Faroese economy, envisioning reforestation, seaweed export, coal mining, a textile industry, mills for

wool-spinning Spinning is a twisting technique to form yarn from fibers. The fiber intended is drawn out, twisted, and wound onto a bobbin. A few popular fibers that are spun into yarn other than cotton, which is the most popular, are viscose (the most common ...

, and hydropower. Patursson was broadly ridiculed at the time for these suggestions, with newspaper headlines such as "Is manden rigtig klog?" (Is the Man Crazy?). However, his vision was also praised by some.Justinussen, Jens Christian Svabo. 1997. ''Fanget i fisken? En analyse af den politiske økonomi på Færøerne i efterkrigstiden''. Roskilde: Tek-Sam, p 1.

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