Hans Hendrik

Hans Hendrik (; 2 June 1832 – 11 August 1889) was a Kalaaleq interpreter, Arctic explorer, and the first Inuk to publish an account of his travels. He was born in the southern settlement of Fiskenæsset.

Expeditions

Second Grinnell expedition

Hendrik was hired by the American explorer Elisha Kent Kane for the 1853–1855 second Grinnell expedition to search for the lost Franklin expedition. He established his worth in the winter of 1854, when participating in a search for four of the men who were lying frozen and disabled somewhere northwest of the ship, which was beset in the ice in Rensellaer Bay.

Hendrik located their sledge track, which brought the rescue party to the men. He also assisted with communication with the local Inuit, and was instrumental in hunting efforts, including tracking and finding a wounded caribou in February 1855 when the men were beginning to starve and show signs of scurvy. It was due to Henrik's ability and effort that the important sledging journey to Cape Constitution was completed. For these efforts, Hendrik's agreed upon salary was two barrels of flour and 52 pounds of salt pork.

After the Grinnell expedition, Hendrik returned to Qeqertarsuatsiaat, in western Greenland, where he married. In a report submitted by Sir Francis Leopold McClintock on , near the conclusion of his own expedition in search of Franklin, it was reported by the Inut near Cape York that Hans was residing at Whale Sound.

Hayes' expedition Hendrik made his second northern voyage aboard the United States under Isaac Israel Hayes' American expedition of 1860–1861. At the end of August 1860, Hayes touched at Cape York and picked up Hans, his wife, and child. On 21 December, Hans and astronomer August Sonntag began their ice journey—a journey from which Sonntag did not return. Hans managed to eventually reach an Inuit settlement, saving his own life. The United States reached Upernavik on 15 August 1861, near which Hendrik and his family would remain for the next three years. Following that, they returned to Fiskernaes.

Footnotes