Culture of Greenland

The northernmost year-round communities on earth (Siorapaluk, Moriusaq, Savissivik, Qeqertat, and Qaanaaq) are in the Thule region.

Currently, though most families in the Thule region need at least one member in salaried employment in order to pay for electricity and other modern amenities, hunting remains a revered profession.

[4] "But the experience is just as important as the meat," points out Peter Nielsen, Head of Office at the Ministry of Environment and Nature.

The trips in for the caribou hunt in the beautiful autumn weather have a great social and physical meaning for people's wellbeing.

"[4] The long history of mutual dependence between humans and reindeer necessitates continuing efforts to safeguard their relationship and the welfare of both parties.

The "Kuujjuaq Declaration"[12] addressed perceived attacks on their autonomy and rights, and recommended that the Inuit Circumpolar Council "undertake a comprehensive study on how best to address global forces, such as the 'animal rights' and other destructive movements that aim to destroy Inuit sustainable use of living resources, and to report back to the next General Assembly on its findings.

Pressure from environmental and conservation groups has led Greenland's Home Rule Government to set hunting limits for most species.

Having electricity, as well as ammunition, hunting rifles and other store-bought products, means that at least one member of every family must be in salaried employment.

But one consequence of this division of labor is that Thule women are losing their knowledge of traditional skills faster than the men.