Publikationer

Research | Forskning - peer review

The Qimmeq (Greenland sled dog) has worked continuously with the Inuit in Greenland for more than 800 years. However, they now face drastic population declines caused by climate change, urbanization, and competition from snowmobiles. This study sequenced 92 modern and ancient genomes to investigate… The Qimmeq (Greenland sled dog) has worked continuously with the Inuit in Greenland for more than 800 years. However, they now face drastic population declines caused by climate change, urbanization, and competition from snowmobiles. This study sequenced 92 modern and ancient genomes to investigate how centuries of isolation shaped the regional Qimmeq populations and the impact of European contact. We found distinct regional populations and evidence for two migrations of dogs into Greenland with the Inuit from Canada. Furthermore, we found that there is minimal European ancestry in present day Qimmit and limited recent inbreeding despite low heterozygosity. These insights are critical for conservation efforts aimed at preserving the Qimmit amid environmental changes and cultural transitions. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

In northern and western Greenland, human–qimmeq (Greenlandic sled dog, Canis lupus familiaris) relationships are evolving rapidly amid profound environmental and social change. Although the number of sled dog teams is declining, qimmit continue to play a vital role in Inuit and Kalaallit life—not on… In northern and western Greenland, human–qimmeq (Greenlandic sled dog, Canis lupus familiaris) relationships are evolving rapidly amid profound environmental and social change. Although the number of sled dog teams is declining, qimmit continue to play a vital role in Inuit and Kalaallit life—not only as working animals but as active participants in practices of knowledge sharing, care, and identity formation. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with hunters (piniartut), mushers, and cultural knowledge bearers, this article explores the contemporary roles of qimmit within Greenlandic society. It examines how these relationships support intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge and belonging, while also negotiating tensions between lived practices and formal heritage frameworks. Situating qimmit within critical discussions of living heritage and human–animal relations, the article argues that qimmit are not merely cultural symbols, but relational beings embedded in adaptive, negotiated, and resilient practices central to Inuit and Kalaallit life. Læs mere

Research | Forskning

The essay examines the unique and complex role of sled dogs, known as qimmeq (singular, plural: qimmit), in Greenlandic culture, particularly in the context of polar bear hunting. Focusing on the artworks of Jacob Danielsen (1888-1938), a Greenlandic hunter and self-taught artist, and Harald Moltke… The essay examines the unique and complex role of sled dogs, known as qimmeq (singular, plural: qimmit), in Greenlandic culture, particularly in the context of polar bear hunting. Focusing on the artworks of Jacob Danielsen (1888-1938), a Greenlandic hunter and self-taught artist, and Harald Moltke (1871-1960), a Danish painter who documented Greenlandic life, it highlights the regional variations and adaptations in hunting practices across Greenland. This exploration serves to contextualize Arctic environments through visual and material culture, illustrating how these artworks offer insights into the human-dog relationship, Inuit resilience, and survival strategies in the challenging Arctic landscape. Læs mere