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SUBJECT:  PROFILE OF THE LARGE AND ACTIVE NORWEGIAN DIASPORA 
COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. 
 
Ref:  SECSTATE 86401 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  The Norwegian diaspora in the United States is a 
large identifiable group with some 4.5 million people and maintains 
deep and firmly institutionalized connections to Norway.  This cable 
responds to reftel request for information about this group. 
Several Norwegian-American organizations exist, including for 
example, the Sons of Norway, the Norwegian Seaman's Church, and the 
Norse Federation.  Such organizations provide travel grants to 
Norway, educational scholarships, and awards.  The Norwegian 
diaspora communities are also deeply engaged in scientific, 
engineering, medical, and educational institution building.  For 
example, the Norwegian government hosts a transatlantic science week 
in the United States, attended by American and Norwegian officials, 
to facilitate and increase cooperation between the two countries and 
put bilateral agreements on science and technology to work.  Another 
initiative is The Kavli Foundation, which established research 
institutes at leading universities in the United States and around 
the world.  The foundation sponsors science symposiums, workshops, 
and partners to support the internationally renowned Kavli Prize, 
recognizing research excellence in science. 
 
¶2.  (U) Summary continued:  Opportunities for diaspora engagement in 
Norwegian conflict resolution and peace building also exist, such as 
the Norwegian-American Parliamentary Exchange Program (NAPEP) and 
the Norwegian-American Parliamentary Staff Exchange Program. 
Through these programs, the Norwegian Government invites members of 
Congress and their staff to visit Norway and meet Norwegian 
politicians, government officials, and a variety of interest groups. 
 A Norwegian Expatriate Parliament was also created, by which 
Norwegian Americans can discuss issues with the Norwegian 
Parliament.  Post has had limited direct engagement to date with the 
diaspora community, as our work focuses primarily on developments in 
Norway.  However, given our common goals, our Public Affairs section 
does link up occasionally with diaspora community groups, and our 
Front Office and Pol/Econ section are closely involved with such 
efforts as NAPEP and, when possible, the GON's Transatlantic Science 
Week.  End Summary. 
 
Background:  Norwegian Diaspora 
------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Leaving aside exciting tales of Viking history and 
conquests, and starting from the more recent history in the 1800s, 
many Norwegians immigrated to the United States and sent remittances 
back to Norway.  Many eventually returned to Norway later in life. 
However, many also remained in the U.S. and became dedicated to 
helping other Norwegians get there, too.  They worked as immigration 
agents, sent advertisements to local Norwegian newspapers on the 
benefits of immigrating to the United States, and wrote to family 
and friends encouraging them to come to America.  Through all this, 
the Norwegian-American diaspora has always held on to its heritage 
and sought to keep its ties to Norway alive through organizations, 
education, cultural awareness and much more. 
 
¶4.  (U) Norwegians are an identifiable group in the United States. 
According to www.Norway.org, the Norwegian Government's official 
internet portal, there are more than 4.5 million people of Norwegian 
ancestry in the United States today.  Of these, approximately 3 
million claim Norwegian ancestry as their sole ancestry.  Large 
populations of Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans are found in 
Minnesota, Washington state, California, Illinois, Wisconsin, North 
and South Dakota, and Iowa. 
 
Norwegian-American Organizations 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) There are several organizations in the United States with 
the goal of maintaining strong ties between Norwegians and 
Norwegian-Americans:  The Norse Federation/Nordmanns Forbundet 
(www.norseman.no), is a nonprofit organization founded in 1907 which 
seeks to strengthen cultural and personal ties between Norway and 
Norwegians abroad, as well as their descendants and friends of 
Norway throughout the world.  Benefits of membership include 
discounts in travel, published news information on Norway, 
educational grants, membership tours and pilgrim hikes.  The 
Norwegian Seaman's Church (www.sjomannskirken.no) is a 
Lutheran-based resource center and organization that answers the 
needs of expatriates, Norwegians, or those who need to keep in touch 
and ascertain their social, cultural, and spiritual sense of 
belonging.  They have churches and mobile pastoral services 
available in the U.S. and other countries for seamen, students, 
business people, tourists, families and other traveling Norwegians. 
The Federation was established to secure the moral and religious 
education of Scandinavian seafarers, but to also provide them a 
"breathing space" where a fellow countryman could lend an ear. 
 
¶6.  (U) Sons of Norway (www.sofn.com), founded in 1895 by 18 
COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. 
 
Norwegian immigrants in Minnesota, initially supported members and 
their families from financial hardships during sickness or death. 
Later they expanded their mission to include the preservation of 
Norwegian heritage and culture through language camps, heritage 
classes, scholarships, handicrafts, and cooking in the United States 
and Canada.  The American Scandinavian Association (ASA, 
www.scandinavian-dc.org) is a non-profit cultural organization 
incorporated in the District of Columbia.  The goals of ASA are:  to 
promote cultural exchange between the United States and the Nordic 
Countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; to 
increase understanding of the Nordic peoples and societies among 
Americans; and to provide a forum where people interested in 
Scandinavia can meet and enjoy Nordic culture and activities. 
 
Educational Exchanges 
--------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Connections between the Norwegian Diaspora and Norway are 
deep, old, and firmly institutionalized.  There are several venues 
through which the Diaspora can reach out.  For example, the Lutheran 
Brotherhood Insurance Company in Minnesota, awards an annual "His 
Majesty King Olav V" travel grant to cover travel expenses for a 
two-week stay in Norway.  This was established in 1985 in the hope 
of giving a special grant to a Norwegian-American who contributed in 
a particular way to Norwegian-American culture.  The Emigration Fund 
of 1975 was established by the Norwegian Parliament to provide a 
scholarship to Americans for advanced or specialized study in Norway 
for subjects dealing with emigration, history, and relations between 
the two countries. 
 
¶8.  (U) The College of St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota, a 
four-year college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, was founded by 
Norwegians in 1874, originating in the immigrants' desire for higher 
learning and to prepare immigrant Norwegians and others for careers 
in business, politics, religion and other professions.  This college 
has contributed significantly to the American liberal arts education 
while maintaining an academic center with a strong program for the 
study of Scandinavian culture.  St. Olaf also hosts the 
Norwegian-American historical association (www.naha.stolaf.edu), a 
private membership organization dedicated to preserving the 
Norwegian-American experience. 
 
¶9.  (U) The Norwegian-American Foundation (www.noram.norway.com) was 
created in 2001 to inform North Americans on contemporary Norway and 
the Norwegian-American community as well as ensuring that new 
generations in Norway and the United States learn of the history and 
strong bonds between the two countries.  Selected other educational 
Norwegian-American organizations are:  www.lakselaget.org, 
www.torskeklubben.org, scandinavianstudy.org, and www.amscan.org. 
 
¶10.  (U) There also exists a collaborative effort among six 
U.S.-based colleges that share a common identity as institutions 
with historic origins in early Norwegian immigration to the United 
States.  Called the Nordic American Learning Alliance (NALA), the 
six institutions -- Augsburg College, Augustana College, Luther 
College, Concordia College, Pacific Lutheran University, and 
University of North Dakota -- participate in efforts to assist 
Norwegian students by helping them through the admissions process 
and providing them scholarship opportunities.  These institutions 
are known for their high-quality education and their ties to the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church (www.gradusa.org). 
 
¶11.  (U) Finally, the Norwegian Researchers and Teachers Association 
of North America (NORTANA) is a non-profit organization for 
researchers and teachers based in the United States and involved in 
Norwegian language, literature, and area studies.  NORTANA promotes 
the study of Norwegian and Norway at all levels, and works to 
facilitate cooperation between scholars engaged in these fields 
(www.nortana.net). 
 
Scientific and Research Exchanges 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  (U) The Norwegian Diaspora community is deeply engaged toward 
scientific, engineering, medical, and education institution 
building.  For example, the Norwegian Government hosts an annual 
Transatlantic Science Week in North America, involving multiple 
government ministries.  This year's event took place in Minneapolis, 
MN on September 27-30, a location reflecting the area's heritage as 
well as highlighting the close ties between the Norwegian and 
American societies.  Science Week began as a strategy for Norway to 
strengthen bonds with the United States and Canada but evolved into 
an annual event.  The main goal is to increase transatlantic 
cooperation in research, innovation, and higher education.  The GON 
also wanted to create a transatlantic arena to showcase Norwegian 
research and innovation as well as collaborative activities 
(www.norway.org). 
COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. 
 
¶13.  (U) Another example is the Kavli Prize established by 
Norwegian-born physicist, business leader, innovator, and 
philanthropist Fred Kavli.  He moved to the United States in 1956 
and in 2000 founded The Kavli Foundation in Oxnard, CA, to support 
scientific research around the world.  The foundation has 
established research institutes at leading universities in the 
United States and around the world; it sponsors science symposiums 
and workshops, and it awards the internationally renowned Kavli 
Prize, recognizing research excellence in astrophysics, 
neuroscience, and nanoscience (www.kavliprize.no).  Separately, the 
"Fulbright Arctic Chair" is awarded to a Distinguished Norwegian 
Researcher Lecturer program that allows for researchers, scholars, 
and lecturers in the academic fields of Arctic Geology, Arctic 
Biology, Arctic Geophysics and Arctic Technology to study in the 
United States. (www.fulbright.no). 
 
Norwegian Government Outreach to the Diaspora 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶14.  (U) The Friends of Norway caucus in the Senate and in the House 
of Representatives was established in 1999 by Norwegian-Americans in 
Congress to work towards strengthening the contacts between 
Norwegian and U.S. elected legislators, and exchange views between 
U.S. and Norwegian politicians on issues, interests, and policies 
bilaterally between Norway and the United States.  Current 
co-chairman of the Friends of Norway Caucus, Representative Rick 
Larsen, believes it to be important to Norway and the United States 
to cooperate strongly on major issues facing the two countries.  He 
believes that, "As the polar ice caps recede, it will become very 
important for Arctic nations to work together to ensure the fair and 
safe use of Arctic resources, and I hope that United States and 
Norway will work together in that regard in the future". 
 
¶15.  (U) The Norwegian Parliament, or "Storting", in 2007 created 
forums and a secondary parliament for Norwegian expatriates and 
their descendants called "Norgestinget," or Norwegian Expatriate 
Parliament (NEP), where they can discuss issues and voice their 
concerns and problems related to the Norwegian Government.  The 
first meeting was held June 22, 2007, where 60-70 interested 
individuals and representatives from Norwegian communities and 
associations around the world attended.  The assembly agreed to 
establish 'Norgestinget' with the Norse Federation as the permanent 
secretariat.  The next meeting was scheduled for 2008 but postponed 
until summer 2009.  So far, post is unaware of updates regarding the 
2009 meeting.  The project also includes online forums where 
Norwegians and their descendants abroad are able to contribute ideas 
and thoughts (www.norgestinget.no). 
 
¶16.  (U) Comment:  Post has limited direct engagement with the 
diaspora community.  However, given the natural linkages between our 
goals and those of many of the diaspora community groups, we do link 
up occasionally.  For example, we are reviewing opportunities to 
collaborate with Sons of Norway regarding an educational exchange 
program.  We have also asked Sons of Norway for an educational grant 
to send a recruiter to the United States to identify potential 
exchange host families for programs with Norway.  In addition, the 
Norse Federation, or Norsemannsforbundet, applies annually for 
grants to support the attendance of Norwegian teachers at a summer 
institute at Luther College in Iowa, which post has often been able 
to supply.  Finally, post contributes to educational fairs, provides 
venues and show cases, study abroad opportunities and American 
institutions around Norway.  Separately, the Front Office and 
pol/econ section interact with -- and are often directly included in 
-- the Norwegian-American Parliamentary Exchange Program (NAPEP) 
visits to Norway.  Incoming officers sometimes have the opportunity 
to make contact in Washington, DC with the Friends of Norway caucus 
in Congress, as well as meeting Norwegian diaspora community 
elements during occasional visits to the U.S. or during Norwegian 
diaspora community visits to Norway.  End Comment. 
 
DANIELS