Emerging Issues in Contemporary Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)

In this special issue on Emerging Issues in Contemporary Greenland, we seek to address the growing interest in the Arctic as an empirical field, narrative, and representation, and in this particular part of the Arctic, in current social science and humanities research. In the case of Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), a plethora of post-colonial, demographic, geopolitical and socio-environmental changes are contributing not only to increasing regional and global attention but also invigorating and diversifying knowledge production, for example through attempts at decentering and retelling well-rehearsed narratives of the Arctic and its peoples. This volume introduces some of the dynamic and vibrant social science and humanities research unfolding in and about the world’s largest island and its population. Our hope is to contribute to a richer and more profound understanding of the ways in which everyday life, culture, and identity unfold in contemporary Greenland to critically inform the debates, decisions, and developments taking place there and elsewhere in the Arctic. The contributions in this issue reflect how, in recent years, there has been a notable expansion in the breadth and depth of research focused on Greenland, driven by—among other things—recent dramatic political, environmental, and socio-cultural changes. This expanding field of Arctic research contributes to more nuanced perceptions of Inuit and other peoples within and outside the Arctic; perceptions that are essential in countering the historical legacy of Arctic exploration and the ensuing long 20th century of what Fienup-Riordan (1995) aptly termed “Eskimo orientalism,” which in non-Arctic communities perpetuated stereotypes about Inuit. Today, we still encounter the remnants of these stereotypes in, for example, commercial portrayals of the Arctic. From ice cream and cooling products to health items, these depictions often lean on the simplistic, exotic imagery of “fur-clad Inuit living in igloos”. Another example is food producers, who deploy stereotypical Arctic references when seeking to capture qualities such as coldness and freshness, references that are far removed from the realities of Inuit culture and society. Stereotypes of Inuit not only shape public perceptions in such commercial contexts but also generally play a role in the historical and contemporary narratives surrounding Indigenous peoples in the Arctic, where colonization processes have subjected them to various forms of violence. Consequently, many continue to struggle with cultural identity trauma, as well as economic and social issues. This is also true for Inuit in various parts of the Arctic. Yet, Inuit societies in Alaska, in Inuit Nunangat (Canada), and in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) exhibit remarkable cultural resilience, political activism, and a determination to drive positive development from within. While Inuit history includes colonization and challenges, it also increasingly involves self-determination, progressive development, and opportunities. However, a common misconception persists, even among researchers, that “the Inuit experience” is largely the same across Inuit Nunaat. This notion disregards the different circumstances and realities that Inuit communities have experienced and continue to develop within—including the significant differences in self-perception within Inuit communities. Contradicting this idea is the fact that for generations, Inuit have lived in different circumstances, developing different realities. For example, Yupiit in the Soviet Union/Russia, the political culture and the economic and legal systems of Iñupiat in Alaska, and Nunatsiavummiut in Canada have all shaped unique modern Inuit ways of life and expectations for the future. Similarly, the experience of living within a Nordic unitary state and welfare system for close to a century has distinctively shaped the reality and identity of modern Kalaallit (Greenlanders) compared to, for example, the experience of Inuvialuit living within a federal system in a constitutionally bilingual and multicultural state such as Canada. The realities and identities of third-generation Inuit urban dwellers …