Publikationer

Teaching | Undervisning - peer review

I dette kapitel illustreres overgangsproblematikker i sygeplejerskeuddannelsen med sygeplejestuderendes transition til nyuddannede sygeplejerske. Det er nemlig en særdeles overvældende periode, hvor nyuddannede sygeplejersker oplever realitetschok med stress, udbrændthed og skyld, fordi de ikke selv… I dette kapitel illustreres overgangsproblematikker i sygeplejerskeuddannelsen med sygeplejestuderendes transition til nyuddannede sygeplejerske. Det er nemlig en særdeles overvældende periode, hvor nyuddannede sygeplejersker oplever realitetschok med stress, udbrændthed og skyld, fordi de ikke selv synes, at de magter at håndtere det fulde ansvar for patientplejen, selvom de netop har overstået en sygeplejerskeuddannelse. Indledningsvist defineres kapitlets centrale begreber efterfulgt af en redegørelse for transitionsteorier og et institutionelt etnografisk (IE) ståsted til undersøgelse af nyuddannede sygeplejerskers oplevelser. Med IE flyttes blikket fra det individuelle perspektiv til det institutionelle for at vise, at følelsesmæssige og kropslige oplevelser skabes af turbulente arbejdsbetingelser på medicinske afsnit med akut syge patienter og personalemangel. Det anbefales afslutningsvis at betragte travlhed, fordeling af ansvar, introduktion af nyuddannede sygeplejersker som et fælles anliggende. Sygehusafsnit med “robuste fællesskaber” har nemlig mest succes med at fastholde personale som nyuddannede sygeplejersker, der i stigende grad forlader faget. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Fredag 15. marts åbner Europa-Kommissionen sit længe ventede kontor i Nuuk. Men på trods af EU's vigtighed for Grønland spiller EU en relativt afdæmpet rolle i Grønlands nye udenrigspolitiske strategi.

Research | Forskning - peer review

Arctic Indigenous Peoples have, through their own persistence, advanced the development of the Western European legal norms in a system that once facilitated their colonisation. The fiftieth anniversary of the Arctic Peoples’ Conference took place in 2023. The occasion was marked with another Confer… Arctic Indigenous Peoples have, through their own persistence, advanced the development of the Western European legal norms in a system that once facilitated their colonisation. The fiftieth anniversary of the Arctic Peoples’ Conference took place in 2023. The occasion was marked with another Conference, this time in Ilulissat, Greenland. It was a moment to reflect on the achievements of Arctic Indigenous Peoples, to build upon the 1973 resolutions and to address contemporary challenges. The resultant Joint Statement addresses the need for enhanced engagement in the forums of international law, intergenerational justice, intersecting rights to wellbeing, land, water and natural resources, and to address the risks posed by climate change and colonialism. Læs mere

Teaching | Undervisning

Greenlandic art and history are closely intertwined and have influenced each other throughout the ages. Studying the art of a particular period or artist can provide valuable insights into the historical context, cultural values, and social dynamics of that time. Similarly, understanding historical… Greenlandic art and history are closely intertwined and have influenced each other throughout the ages. Studying the art of a particular period or artist can provide valuable insights into the historical context, cultural values, and social dynamics of that time. Similarly, understanding historical events can deepen our appreciation and interpretation of artworks created during those periods. This sample syllabus was taught in 2023, with the aim to explore the interconnectedness of art and history through the works of Kalaaleq (Greenlandic Inuit) artists. Students learned about a range of approaches that link historical research with art. The topics were selected by students using a method called “creating collaborative syllabus” at the beginning of the course (usually during the first week). The syllabus is a first step to use art and creative praxis as part of history teaching at Ilisimatusarfik, but may also be used as a starting point when teaching about Greenlandic art and history at other institutions. Feel free to adapt it as you wish! Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

This article compares the self-government system in Greenland in Denmark and territorial governance in Nunavut, Canada in relation to the management of natural resources through the perspective of historical institutionalism. Both territories have undergone processes of re-empowerment, and possess m… This article compares the self-government system in Greenland in Denmark and territorial governance in Nunavut, Canada in relation to the management of natural resources through the perspective of historical institutionalism. Both territories have undergone processes of re-empowerment, and possess major assets of natural resources, and the struggle for self-determination has triggered their metropolitan states (Denmark and Canada) and regional governments to consider some form of self-government. However, two different solutions have appeared due to gradual development through path dependency as legislation and form of government. Nunavut is a territory within the Canadian federal construction, based on Indigenous claims, while Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Danish unitary state. The land claims in Canada have given Nunavut some influence in the management of its natural resources, while Greenland has taken control of its subterranean resources through extended self-government implemented in 2009. This article will highlight the resource policy similarities and differences of the two territories via three potential explanatory factors: historical background, self-government, and the management of natural resources as a point of departure. The findings show that both regions have similarities in historical background and the management of natural resources, but there are also significant differences in how local authorities have addressed mining projects. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

As a political focal point, the Pituffik Space Base (“Pituffik”) has played a decisive role in deepening relations between Greenland and the United States. To shed light upon these relations, both between the two internally and with regard to Denmark, this article analyses the 2020 negotiations rega… As a political focal point, the Pituffik Space Base (“Pituffik”) has played a decisive role in deepening relations between Greenland and the United States. To shed light upon these relations, both between the two internally and with regard to Denmark, this article analyses the 2020 negotiations regarding Pituffik and the positions of the three parties in both the final agreement and the process of negotiation. The theoretical framework of the analysis is an interlocked two-level game analysis following Putnam (1988); the study is based upon 12 interviews with key figures, media coverage, and on the negotiated agreements themselves. The article argues that Greenland and the United States, although being an odd couple as a small state-like self-governing nation and a global superpower, conducted a new, interlocking two-level game, reaching win-sets and common interests while changing the way the parties negotiate and sign agreements. Thus, the article concludes that the 2020 negotiations about the base inaugurate a change in the overall relationship by positioning Greenland in a new and more direct relationship with the United States. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

In this article, we present the history of social work education in Greenland, from a professional training school in 1985 to a university BA-level education in 2008 and onwards to the present day. Mainly, we discuss how the education of Greenlandic social workers continually reflects on the decolon… In this article, we present the history of social work education in Greenland, from a professional training school in 1985 to a university BA-level education in 2008 and onwards to the present day. Mainly, we discuss how the education of Greenlandic social workers continually reflects on the decolonising elements of the curriculum. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

In order to understanding public attitudes towards people with disabilities in Greenland and analyse how to facilitate further empowerment, a national survey was produced in 2020. The results from the survey showed a clear difference in attitudes towards people with either physical or mental disabil… In order to understanding public attitudes towards people with disabilities in Greenland and analyse how to facilitate further empowerment, a national survey was produced in 2020. The results from the survey showed a clear difference in attitudes towards people with either physical or mental disabilities. The survey ‘Holdninger til Handicap’ (attitudes towards disabilities), which was carried out by Tilioq (the spokesperson institution for people with disabilities) and Ilisimatusarfik Centre for Arctic Welfare, included almost 1,000 responses. Respondents had a more positive view of people with physical disabilities than those with mental disabilities. Furthermore, the survey highlights a prejudice among respondents in relation to dating or having intimate relationships with a person with a disability or mental disability. Despite the respondents’ divided view of having an intimate relationship with people with disabilities, there was more openness to accepting people with a physical disability in a position of power (e.g. politicians or managers). However, the respondents were not willing to accept people with mental disabilities in positions of power. The study in Greenland is the first to explore barriers and attitudes towards people with disabilities in non-intimate and intimate social relationships and power relationships. The study provided knowledge to support decision-makers and NGOs in informing society in general about physical and mental disabilities and the rights of disabled people in Greenland in relation to empowerment and further inclusion. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

In order to understanding public attitudes towards people with disabilities in Greenland and analyse how to facilitate further empowerment, a national survey was produced in 2020. The results from the survey showed a clear difference in attitudes towards people with either physical or mental disabil… In order to understanding public attitudes towards people with disabilities in Greenland and analyse how to facilitate further empowerment, a national survey was produced in 2020. The results from the survey showed a clear difference in attitudes towards people with either physical or mental disabilities. The survey ‘Holdninger til Handicap’ (attitudes towards disabilities), which was carried out by Tilioq (the spokesperson institution for people with disabilities) and Ilisimatusarfik Centre for Arctic Welfare, included almost 1,000 responses. Respondents had a more positive view of people with physical disabilities than those with mental disabilities. Furthermore, the survey highlights a prejudice among respondents in relation to dating or having intimate relationships with a person with a disability or mental disability. Despite the respondents’ divided view of having an intimate relationship with people with disabilities, there was more openness to accepting people with a physical disability in a position of power (e.g. politicians or managers). However, the respondents were not willing to accept people with mental disabilities in positions of power. The study in Greenland is the first to explore barriers and attitudes towards people with disabilities in non-intimate and intimate social relationships and power relationships. The study provided knowledge to support decision-makers and NGOs in informing society in general about physical and mental disabilities and the rights of disabled people in Greenland in relation to empowerment and further inclusion. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

I denne artikel præsenteres udfordringer og visioner for sygeplejerskeuddannelsen i Grønland. På sygeplejerskeuddannelsen ved Ilisimatusarfik, Grønlands Universitet, arbejder vi med et aktionsforskningsprojekt, der skal forbedre sygeplejerskeuddannelsen, så den i højere grad er tilpasset grønlandske… I denne artikel præsenteres udfordringer og visioner for sygeplejerskeuddannelsen i Grønland. På sygeplejerskeuddannelsen ved Ilisimatusarfik, Grønlands Universitet, arbejder vi med et aktionsforskningsprojekt, der skal forbedre sygeplejerskeuddannelsen, så den i højere grad er tilpasset grønlandske forhold. Vi vil her præsentere de foreløbige resultater fra første del af projektet, der omhandler beskrivelse af den eksisterende sygeplejepraksis. Vi kan allerede konkludere, at den fremtidige indsats mod udviklingen af en implementerbar sygeplejerskeuddannelse, der er tilpasset grønlandske forhold, skal fokusere på mere end blot det faglige. Der skal formentligt også udvikles aktiviteter, der fremmer trivsel og forbereder de studerende på de følelsesmæssige udfordringer, der ved at være ansvarlig for sygeplejen i mindre byer og bygder, hvor der måske ikke engang er en læge til stede. Læs mere

Consultancy | Rådgivning

Evaluering af den decentrale læreruddannelse, 2023-24. Inspiration til at anvende fjernuddannelse på Ilisimatusarfik.

Research | Forskning - peer review

On 14 June 2022, an agreement between Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark, together with Greenland, resolved the long-standing dispute over the sovereignty of Hans Island (which is known as Tartupaluk in Greenlandic) by creating a land boundary.

Research | Forskning - peer review

In February 2024, Greenland published a strategy on foreign, security, and defense policy. The strategy had been eagerly awaited for several years. The novel strategy aims to secure a stable foreign policy direction for Greenland for a decade and signal intents to multiple audiences. The Kingdom of… In February 2024, Greenland published a strategy on foreign, security, and defense policy. The strategy had been eagerly awaited for several years. The novel strategy aims to secure a stable foreign policy direction for Greenland for a decade and signal intents to multiple audiences. The Kingdom of Denmark had to delay their common strategy (or, policy) for the entire realm until the Greenlandic strategy was published, while other Arctic states have been curious on the priorities of the strategy. In this briefing note, we outline the historical and (geo)political context of the strategy. We then move on to discuss some of the main items of the strategy by emphasizing the relative of weight of certain areas over others (US and North American Arctic over EU and Denmark), security and defense policy, and climate policy, and, thirdly, sketch out the implications of these priorities for Greenland’s (geo)political aspirations and diplomatic relations. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal of t… Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal of the Greenlandic government’s homelessness strategy is the establishment of street units to build trust and provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness. However, institutional challenges, including bureaucratic processes and limited resources, hinder the effectiveness of such efforts. A lack of outreach work often leads to feelings of dehumanization among marginalized individuals, exacerbating stress, depression, and mistrust toward public systems. The article emphasizes that outreach social work is crucial for re-establishing trust and supporting individuals out of homelessness. Recommendations include implementing the Housing First approach, tailoring shelters to specific groups, and focusing on reintegration and education for youth. Municipalities are urged to prioritize trust-building practices and adopt inclusive, human-centered strategies to combat homelessness. The authors highlight these themes in upcoming training modules on street-level and shelter-based outreach, which Ilisimatusarfik will offer for free in 2025-2026. The training aims to equip practitioners with tools for proactive, trust-based outreach work as part of the Greenlandic government’s broader homelessness strategy. Abstract in Danish Opsøgende arbejde fokuserer på mennesket bag hjemløsheden Af Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfiks Center for Arktisk Velfærd Denne artikel undersøger, hvordan kommunerne kan forbedre opsøgende socialt arbejde med fokus på hjemløshed i Grønland. Et centralt mål i Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi er etablering af gadeenheder for at skabe tillid og støtte til mennesker i hjemløshed. Dog står offentlige institutioner overfor udfordringer som bureaukrati og manglende ressourcer, hvilket begrænser indsatsen. Manglende opsøgende arbejde kan føre til, at udsatte borgere føler sig dehumaniserede, hvilket forstærker stress, depression og mistillid til systemet. Artiklen understreger, at opsøgende socialt arbejde er afgørende for at genskabe tillid og hjælpe borgere ud af hjemløshed. Anbefalingerne inkluderer anvendelse af Housing First-metoden, tilpasning af herberger til specifikke målgrupper og fokus på reintegration og uddannelse af unge. Kommuner opfordres til at prioritere tillidsopbyggende praksisser og implementere inkluderende, menneskecentrerede strategier for at bekæmpe hjemløshed. Forfatterne fremhæver disse temaer i kommende kursusmoduler om gadeplan- og herbergsarbejde, som Ilisimatusarfik tilbyder gratis i 2025-2026. Kurset sigter mod at ruste praktikere til proaktivt og tillidsbaseret opsøgende arbejde som en del af Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Abstract The article "Homelessness in Qaqortoq: Grassroots Help Amidst Municipal Apathy" examines the pressing issue of homelessness in Qaqortoq, Southern Greenland. Drawing from ethnographic research, it highlights the systemic challenges faced by the Kujalleq Municipality, including limited resou… Abstract The article "Homelessness in Qaqortoq: Grassroots Help Amidst Municipal Apathy" examines the pressing issue of homelessness in Qaqortoq, Southern Greenland. Drawing from ethnographic research, it highlights the systemic challenges faced by the Kujalleq Municipality, including limited resources and insufficient housing, alongside the remarkable grassroots efforts of local citizens who fill the gaps in the welfare system. The chronicle sheds light on the broader context of homelessness in Greenland, comparing it to similar issues in remote regions like Nunavut, Canada. It emphasizes the need for sustainable, long-term solutions such as legal reforms, structured support systems, and affordable housing initiatives. The article also critiques the municipality’s limited capacity to address homelessness while acknowledging the recent promise of a day shelter in Qaqortoq as a small but important step forward. Resumé Artiklen "Hjemløshed i Qaqortoq: Hjælp fra Græsrødder midt i Kommunal Apati" undersøger den presserende problematik omkring hjemløshed i Qaqortoq i det sydlige Grønland. Baseret på etnografisk forskning fremhæves Kujalleq Kommunes systemiske udfordringer, herunder begrænsede ressourcer og manglende boliger, samtidig med de bemærkelsesværdige græsrodsindsatser fra lokale borgere, der udfylder hullerne i velfærdssystemet. Kronikken belyser den bredere kontekst for hjemløshed i Grønland og sammenligner med lignende problematikker i fjerntliggende regioner som Nunavut, Canada. Den understreger behovet for bæredygtige, langsigtede løsninger såsom lovgivningsreformer, strukturerede støttesystemer og billige boligløsninger. Artiklen kritiserer kommunens begrænsede kapacitet til at håndtere hjemløshed, men anerkender samtidig det nyligt annoncerede værested i Qaqortoq som et lille, men vigtigt skridt fremad. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal… Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal of the Greenlandic government’s homelessness strategy is the establishment of street units to build trust and provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness. However, institutional challenges, including bureaucratic processes and limited resources, hinder the effectiveness of such efforts. A lack of outreach work often leads to feelings of dehumanization among marginalized individuals, exacerbating stress, depression, and mistrust toward public systems. The article emphasizes that outreach social work is crucial for re-establishing trust and supporting individuals out of homelessness. Recommendations include implementing the Housing First approach, tailoring shelters to specific groups, and focusing on reintegration and education for youth. Municipalities are urged to prioritize trust-building practices and adopt inclusive, human-centered strategies to combat homelessness. The authors highlight these themes in upcoming training modules on street-level and shelter-based outreach, which Ilisimatusarfik will offer for free in 2025-2026. The training aims to equip practitioners with tools for proactive, trust-based outreach work as part of the Greenlandic government’s broader homelessness strategy. Abstract in Danish Opsøgende arbejde fokuserer på mennesket bag hjemløsheden Af Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfiks Center for Arktisk Velfærd Denne artikel undersøger, hvordan kommunerne kan forbedre opsøgende socialt arbejde med fokus på hjemløshed i Grønland. Et centralt mål i Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi er etablering af gadeenheder for at skabe tillid og støtte til mennesker i hjemløshed. Dog står offentlige institutioner overfor udfordringer som bureaukrati og manglende ressourcer, hvilket begrænser indsatsen. Manglende opsøgende arbejde kan føre til, at udsatte borgere føler sig dehumaniserede, hvilket forstærker stress, depression og mistillid til systemet. Artiklen understreger, at opsøgende socialt arbejde er afgørende for at genskabe tillid og hjælpe borgere ud af hjemløshed. Anbefalingerne inkluderer anvendelse af Housing First-metoden, tilpasning af herberger til specifikke målgrupper og fokus på reintegration og uddannelse af unge. Kommuner opfordres til at prioritere tillidsopbyggende praksisser og implementere inkluderende, menneskecentrerede strategier for at bekæmpe hjemløshed. Forfatterne fremhæver disse temaer i kommende kursusmoduler om gadeplan- og herbergsarbejde, som Ilisimatusarfik tilbyder gratis i 2025-2026. Kurset sigter mod at ruste praktikere til proaktivt og tillidsbaseret opsøgende arbejde som en del af Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Evalueringsrapporten fokuserer på implementering af motivationsprogrammet Inussuk for seksualdømte indsatte i Anstalten i Nuuk. De to centrale omdrejningspunkter er: 1. Etablering af motivations- og behandlingspladser i Anstalten i Nuuk 2. Programindsatsen for de dømte Formålet med evalueringen e… Evalueringsrapporten fokuserer på implementering af motivationsprogrammet Inussuk for seksualdømte indsatte i Anstalten i Nuuk. De to centrale omdrejningspunkter er: 1. Etablering af motivations- og behandlingspladser i Anstalten i Nuuk 2. Programindsatsen for de dømte Formålet med evalueringen er at indsamle og systematisere erfaringer fra opstartsfasen i Anstalten i Nuuk med etablering af behandlingspladser, oplæring af instruktører og tilførsel af personaleressourcer til programmet. Endvidere indsamles og sammenfattes erfaringer, som såvel anstaltens medarbejdere som indsatte har gjort sig i den første tid. Læs mere

Research | Forskning

Denne rapport undersøger, med udgangspunkt i 107 facebookgrupper og -sider fra grønlandske medier, politikere og diskussionsfora, hvorvidt og i hvor høj grad, der findes påvirkningskampagner på Facebook i Grønland. Vi ved nemlig meget lidt om omfanget af desinformation i Grønland, og denne rapport e… Denne rapport undersøger, med udgangspunkt i 107 facebookgrupper og -sider fra grønlandske medier, politikere og diskussionsfora, hvorvidt og i hvor høj grad, der findes påvirkningskampagner på Facebook i Grønland. Vi ved nemlig meget lidt om omfanget af desinformation i Grønland, og denne rapport er den første større empiriske dataindsamling, der undersøger dette. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

This article is a Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic) translation summarizing a longer English article originally published in 2023, in the History Education Research Journal published by University College London Press: https://doi.org/10.14324/HERJ.20.1.04 Eqikkaaneq Ilisimatusartut ilinniartitsi… This article is a Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic) translation summarizing a longer English article originally published in 2023, in the History Education Research Journal published by University College London Press: https://doi.org/10.14324/HERJ.20.1.04 Eqikkaaneq Ilisimatusartut ilinniartitsisullu nunaqavissut avataaneersullu ilarpassuisa nunat killiit avataanniittut ilisimasaat oqaluttuarisaanerallu pingaarnertut ilisimatusarfigineqartunut ilinniagarineqartunullu naleqqiullugit sammineqannginnerusarlutillu atorumaneqannginnerusarnerat qangalili isornartorsiortarsimavaat. Oqaluttuarisaaneq pillugu ilinniartitsinerup ajornartorsiummut tamatumunnga qanoq aaqqiissutaaqataasinnaanera misissuiviginiarlugu allaaserisami matumani ilisimatusartut Issittumi naqavissuusut aallaavigineqarput. Qanga pisimasut pillugit qanoq ilisimasaqartoqartigineranut nunasiaataanerup sunniutaanik ilisimatuutut siornatigut misissorneqarsimasunik atorluaanikkut allaaserisami matumani siunnersuutigineqarpoq UNESCO-p Piujuartitsilluni Ineriartortitsineq pillugu Ilinniartitsinermut (ESD) tunngavissiaa nutaaq 2021-mi maajimi saqqummiunneqartoq aallaavigineqassasoq. Allaaserisaq naggaserlugu nunap inuii sammisatut ilisimatusarfiginagit nunap inuiisa ilisimatusarfigisaannit ilinniarfiginninnissap pingaaruteqassusia erseqqissarneqarpoq. Ilisimatusartullu nunaqavissut ilisimasanik assigiinngitsunik aallerfigisinnaasanut naapertuilluartumik naligiissumillu pullaveqarnissatsinnut taakkuninngalu atorluaanissatsinnut iluaqutigisinnaasatsinnik pingaarutilinnik periusissiorsimanerat erseqqissarneqarpoq. Abstract: Many Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and educators have long criticized how non-Western knowledge and histories are actively discriminated against in mainstream research and education. This article foregrounds Indigenous scholarship from the Arctic region to explore how history education can contribute to addressing this issue. By drawing on previous research on the colonial impact on knowledge about the past, the article proposes a shift in perspective in light of the new UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) framework introduced in May 2021. The article concludes by pointing out the value of learning from Indigenous scholarship rather than only studying it as a separate subject. This is because Indigenous scholars have created important approaches that can help us achieve fair and equitable access to, and benefit from, different knowledge resources and systems. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

The mediated Arctic analyses the multiple relations between geography and cultural production that have long shaped - and are currently transforming - the circumpolar world. It explores how twenty-first-century cultural practitioners imagine and poeticise various elements of Arctic geography, and in… The mediated Arctic analyses the multiple relations between geography and cultural production that have long shaped - and are currently transforming - the circumpolar world. It explores how twenty-first-century cultural practitioners imagine and poeticise various elements of Arctic geography, and in doing so negotiate pressing environmental, (geo)political, and social concerns. From the plasmatic force of ice in Disney's Frozen films to the spatial vocabulary of circumpolar Indigenous hip hop, it addresses Arctic geographical imaginaries in a wide range of media, including literature, cinema, comic books, music videos, and cartographic art. The book brings together a plurality of voices from within and outside the circumpolar North, both in terms of the works analysed and in its own collaborative scholarly practice. The book bridges Indigenous and Southern mediations of the Arctic and combines different epistemologies to do justice to these imaginaries in their diversity. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

The mediated Arctic analyses the multiple relations between geography and cultural production that have long shaped - and are currently transforming - the circumpolar world. It explores how twenty-first-century cultural practitioners imagine and poeticise various elements of Arctic geography, and in… The mediated Arctic analyses the multiple relations between geography and cultural production that have long shaped - and are currently transforming - the circumpolar world. It explores how twenty-first-century cultural practitioners imagine and poeticise various elements of Arctic geography, and in doing so negotiate pressing environmental, (geo)political, and social concerns. From the plasmatic force of ice in Disney's Frozen films to the spatial vocabulary of circumpolar Indigenous hip hop, it addresses Arctic geographical imaginaries in a wide range of media, including literature, cinema, comic books, music videos, and cartographic art. The book brings together a plurality of voices from within and outside the circumpolar North, both in terms of the works analysed and in its own collaborative scholarly practice. The book bridges Indigenous and Southern mediations of the Arctic and combines different epistemologies to do justice to these imaginaries in their diversity. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

This article explores the legal arguments and historic claims regarding the return of archives to the Peoples in the Arctic about whom they pertain. It calls for international lawyers to work with archival theorists and practitioners to explore the law of decolonisation and its potential application… This article explores the legal arguments and historic claims regarding the return of archives to the Peoples in the Arctic about whom they pertain. It calls for international lawyers to work with archival theorists and practitioners to explore the law of decolonisation and its potential application to cases of displaced archives in the Arctic. Peoples in the Arctic who have experienced colonisation have outstanding claims – some formalised, others latent – to return of records compiled by colonial authorities about them. Their claims differ in important ways from historic precedents from other parts of the world, in particular, those of newly independent States. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

This is the second and final report in the research project “Sustainable value chains in Nordic coastal communities (NorValue)”. The project was carried out in the period 2020-2023 as a collaborative organization between six Nordic universities and research institutions: University of Greenland, Uni… This is the second and final report in the research project “Sustainable value chains in Nordic coastal communities (NorValue)”. The project was carried out in the period 2020-2023 as a collaborative organization between six Nordic universities and research institutions: University of Greenland, University of Akureyri, Icelandic Regional Development Institute, University of Faroe Islands, Nordland Research Institute, and Roskilde University. From these six institutions, both reports were written by the same team of researchers. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

The consumption of prey intestines and their content, known as gastrophagy, is well-documented among Arctic Indigenous peoples, particularly Inuit. In Greenland, Inuit consume intestines from various animals, including the ptarmigan, a small herbivorous grouse bird. While gastrophagy provides the po… The consumption of prey intestines and their content, known as gastrophagy, is well-documented among Arctic Indigenous peoples, particularly Inuit. In Greenland, Inuit consume intestines from various animals, including the ptarmigan, a small herbivorous grouse bird. While gastrophagy provides the potential to transfer a large number of intestinal microorganisms from prey to predator, including to the human gut, its microbial implications remain to be investigated. This study addresses this gap by investigating the microbial composition of the Greenlandic rock ptarmigan’s gastrointestinal tract by analyzing the crop, stomach, and intestines while also comparing it with the microbiota found in garum, a fermented sauce made from ptarmigan meat and intestines. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assessed whether garum made from ptarmigan intestines provides access to microbial diversity otherwise only accessible through gastrophagy. Our findings reveal that garum made from ptarmigan intestines displayed distinct flavors and microbial composition similar to that found in the ptarmigan gut and intestines, highlighting the potential role of fermented products in mediating food microbial diversity associated with Indigenous food practices. Furthermore, our study underscores the broader importance of understanding microbial diversity in different food systems, particularly in the context of shifting dietary patterns and concerns about diminishing food microbial diversity. By elucidating the microbial richness gained through gastrophagy this research contributes to a deeper understanding of traditional and Indigenous foodways and their implications for human gut health. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Contaminants, such as heavy metals (HMs), accumulate in the Arctic environment and the food web. The diet of the Indigenous Peoples of North Greenland includes locally sourced foods that are central to their nutritional, cultural, and societal health but these foods also contain high concentrations… Contaminants, such as heavy metals (HMs), accumulate in the Arctic environment and the food web. The diet of the Indigenous Peoples of North Greenland includes locally sourced foods that are central to their nutritional, cultural, and societal health but these foods also contain high concentrations of heavy metals. While bacteria play an essential role in the metabolism of xenobiotics, there are limited studies on the impact of heavy metals on the human gut microbiome, and it is so far unknown if and how Arctic environmental contaminants impact the gut microbes of humans living in and off the Arctic environment. Using a multiomics approach including amplicon, metagenome, and metatranscriptome sequencing, we identified and assembled a near-complete (NC) genome of a mercury-resistant bacterial strain from the human gut microbiome, which expressed genes known to reduce mercury toxicity. At the overall ecological level studied through α- and β-diversity, there was no significant effect of heavy metals on the gut microbiota. Through the assembly of a high number of NC metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of human gut microbes, we observed an almost complete overlap between heavy metal-resistant strains and antibiotic-resistant strains in which resistance genes were all located on the same genetic elements. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), a self-governing country within the Danish Realm with a majority Indigenous population, has one of the most far-reaching self-determination arrangements of all Indigenous peoples worldwide. A close look at the food system in Kalaallit Nunaat, however, reveals a situatio… Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), a self-governing country within the Danish Realm with a majority Indigenous population, has one of the most far-reaching self-determination arrangements of all Indigenous peoples worldwide. A close look at the food system in Kalaallit Nunaat, however, reveals a situation in which Indigenous foods are marginalized and imported foods are promoted even when incompatible with the local context. Here, I ask why Danish foods are so prevalent in Kalaallit Nunaat and argue that an unacknowledged factor in dietary transitions, well-known to be the cause of major public health issues, is a biased view of foodways that favors imported foods and questions Indigenous foods. The conclusion is that there is a lack of Indigenous food sovereignty in Kalaallit Nunaat such that Indigenous views of food and health are not prioritized in the public food system. The significance of this conclusion is that without Indigenous food sovereignty, Indigenous health, wellbeing and thriving cannot be achieved. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Greenland is a self-governing part of the Danish realm with an institutional system in transition from colonisation to further independence. Greenlandic governance institutions currently represent a mix of Greenlandic and Danish governance systems rooted in the Danish constitution and a Scandinavian… Greenland is a self-governing part of the Danish realm with an institutional system in transition from colonisation to further independence. Greenlandic governance institutions currently represent a mix of Greenlandic and Danish governance systems rooted in the Danish constitution and a Scandinavian universal welfare model. Denmark and other Nordic countries with similar governance systems and welfare models have high levels of generalised trust strongly correlated with institutional trust. No research has however been carried out in Greenland regarding generalised or institutional trust and their correlates – a research gap which this article seeks to remedy. The study is based on data from the Greenland Perspectives survey of 2018 and finds that generalised trust in Greenland is significantly different from the Danish average and the levels of other Nordic countries. Institutional trust positively and significantly correlates with generalised trust in line with theories of institutional trust as a driver of generalised trust. Greenlandic identity is negatively correlated with generalised trust contrary to theories of identity and majority/minority dynamics. The correlations between generalised trust, institutional trust, and identity are surprisingly not confounded by education or income, contrary to success and well-being theories of generalised trust. The study concludes that institutions and identity clearly matter, but in a different way than theories predict. The results raise an important question for further research of how institutions and identity come to matter in Greenland – especially how institutional quality is created under the complex bureaucratic and social conditions of the post-colonial microstate. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Forskningsprojektet WAGE om ulighed i Arktis er et cirkumpolart partnerskab, der fokuserer på økonomiske og sociale uligheder i Arktis og i forskellige lande og regioner i Arktis – herunder Grønland. WAGE Partnerskabet er et partnerskab mellem de arktiske oprindelige folk – forskere såvel som medlem… Forskningsprojektet WAGE om ulighed i Arktis er et cirkumpolart partnerskab, der fokuserer på økonomiske og sociale uligheder i Arktis og i forskellige lande og regioner i Arktis – herunder Grønland. WAGE Partnerskabet er et partnerskab mellem de arktiske oprindelige folk – forskere såvel som medlemmer af oprindelige folks organisationer – andre forskere fra universiteter i og uden for Arktis samt repræsentanter for statslige organisationer. Samarbejdet udspringer af opfordringer fra Arktisk Råd og andre organisationer til stater om at tackle de uligheder, der især påvirker oprindelige folk, og iværksætte en grundlæggende forandring i fordelingen af den rigdom, der produceres i Arktis. WAGE er finansieret af SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada) og er koordineret af Université Laval under ledelse af Professor Gerard Duhaime. WAGE er cirkumpolart, har det samme mål for og stiller de samme overordnede forskningsspørgsmål til hele den arktiske del af verden – men det er samtidig forskningsspørgsmål, der f.eks. kan stilles i forhold til forskellige sektorer i de arktiske samfund og til lokalsamfund og regioner såvel som lande i Arktis – f.eks. Grønland. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Kronikken (Del 2) belyser nogle konsekvenser af Forslag til fiskeriloven og påpeger, at konsekvenserne af forslaget rækker langt ud over regulering af fiskeriet og kan reducere mulighederne for indtjening og dermed livsgrundlaget i mange mindre byer og bygder. Forslaget har som afsæt at sikre et bær… Kronikken (Del 2) belyser nogle konsekvenser af Forslag til fiskeriloven og påpeger, at konsekvenserne af forslaget rækker langt ud over regulering af fiskeriet og kan reducere mulighederne for indtjening og dermed livsgrundlaget i mange mindre byer og bygder. Forslaget har som afsæt at sikre et bæredygtigt fiskeri i Grønland, men der er stor risiko for, at den ønskede effektivisering af det kystnære fiskeri betyder, at fortjenesten ved Grønlands fiskeressourcer ender på få hænder og formodentligt ikke i de berørte bosteder. Forslaget handler ikke kun om en effektiv regulering af fiskeriet, men vil påvirke hele samfundet og afgøre, hvor og hvordan man kan leve i fremtidens Grønland. (Del 1 - se Sermitsiaq 2023, 52) Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Mortuary archaeology and bioarchaeology increasingly recognize that the mortuary record indexes not only past societies’ understandings of death but also a wider set of experiences and practices bearing on an extended life course and ontology more broadly. The process of “being-toward-death,” the ex… Mortuary archaeology and bioarchaeology increasingly recognize that the mortuary record indexes not only past societies’ understandings of death but also a wider set of experiences and practices bearing on an extended life course and ontology more broadly. The process of “being-toward-death,” the experience of dying, a community’s participation in this process and subsequent handling of the corpse, the ongoing relations of the living with the material remains, the memory traces of the deceased in a burial cairn, and the local biologies illuminated by bioarchaeology, all constitute elements of a “necrontology” that was a core component of the culturally figured life course. Here the mortuary records from two parts of the Inuit world—northern Labrador and Southwest Greenland—are characterized in terms of their implications for such a necrontology of Inuit groups. While there appear to have been pan-regional patterns, idiosyncratic mortuary treatments also occur, warranting that archaeologists revisit, in appropriately community-sensitive ways, a record increasingly threatened by climate change. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling - peer review

This personal narrative highlights the journey of an Inuk archaeologist from Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), driven by a sense of responsibility and a desire for change within the discipline of Archaeology. The narrative traces the history of impact of Danish colonization and the challenges faced by I… This personal narrative highlights the journey of an Inuk archaeologist from Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), driven by a sense of responsibility and a desire for change within the discipline of Archaeology. The narrative traces the history of impact of Danish colonization and the challenges faced by Inuit, particularly in the education system. The author emphasizes the need for inclusivity and adjustment in the education system to support Inuit students. She reflects on the role and history of archaeology in Kalaallit Nunaat from the 19th century, shedding light on its colonial roots and the marginalization of Inuit perspectives and contributions, and emphasizes the need for a shift in the discipline to center Inuit voices and perspectives. Throughout the narrative, the author provides a personal and reflective account and discusses her journey to becoming an Inuk archaeologist, and the challenges she faced. In overall, the author presents the importance of community involvement in archaeological research and the responsibility of researchers to respect community needs and knowledge, and her commitment to promoting Inuit perspectives and self-determination in the fields of Education and Archaeology. Læs mere