The Teachers' Defiance

Teacher’s Defiance: A Family Story of Resistance in WWII Norway

March 6, 2026

Edvard Brakstad was among the educators who took part in the Teachers’ Protest, a collective act of moral courage that challenged the forced Nazification of Norway’s schools. While imprisoned at a concentration camp above the arctic circle outside of Kirkenes, Edvard kept an illegal diary documenting his experiences. It is an extraordinary firsthand account of resistance, resilience, and conviction in the face of oppression.

His grandson, Erik Brakstad holds the stories of his father, grandfather, and uncle who each were each arrested by the Nazis at different times during the war. The Brakstad family story is set within a broader movement of collective resistance and highlights the impact of educators who refused to surrender their values.

In addition to his historical work, Erik is deeply engaged in cultural and educational programming. He has served as staff at several Norwegian language camps and now travels twice a year to Minnesota to lead Skogfjorden for Adults in Bemidji, and most recently co-founding Solheim Nordvest, a Nordic Northwest sponsored Norwegian language camp for adults in southwest Washington. Based in Portland, Oregon, Erik has also spent the past decade working as a construction trainer for Tivnu, a social justice–focused gap year program, alongside running his own general contracting business.

Cost

General Admission: $25

Member Admission: $20

Arts for All (Requires valid Oregon Trail EBT Card): $5

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