The Shifting Ice: How Colonial Policy and Economic Change Reshaped Life in Greenland’s Scoresby Sound
For centuries, the remote fjords of East Greenland’s Scoresby Sound (Imermiit) represented a testament to human resilience, a place where the Ammassalik Inuit thrived through a deep, intimate connection with the Arctic surroundings. But the mid-20th century brought a wave of change – a collision of conventional subsistence living with Danish colonial administration and the allure of a modern, wage-based economy. This transition,while promising progress,ultimately fractured a carefully balanced way of life,leaving lasting social and economic scars. This article delves into the complex history of Ittoqqortoormiit and its surrounding settlements, exploring the delicate interplay between tradition, policy, and the enduring spirit of the Inuit people.
A Flourishing Existence on the Edge of the Arctic
The story begins in 1925 with the establishment of a new settlement in Scoresby Sound. The initial years were harsh. Five lives were lost during the first brutal winter, a stark reminder of the Arctic’s unforgiving nature. Yet, the region’s unique geography proved remarkably generous. The confluence of ocean currents and winds created a polynya - a vital patch of open water within the ice – attracting a rich abundance of life. Narwhals, whales, walruses, seals, and the birds that fed upon them, in turn, drew the apex predator of the Arctic: the polar bear.
This ecological bounty fueled a thriving hunting culture, spreading across six locations, including the central settlement of ittoqqortoormiit, and strategically positioned satellite villages like Cape Tobin and Cape hope. For decades, life revolved around the rhythms of the hunt. Men ventured onto the sea ice, relying on dogsleds in winter and kayaks in open water, providing for their families, communities, and even their dogs. Women were the cornerstone of domestic life, expertly preparing food, raising children, and transforming the harvested resources – particularly the prized seal and polar bear skins – into essential clothing and goods. A unique tradition dictated that the first person to spot a bear claimed the skin, nonetheless of who ultimately made the kill, fostering a spirit of communal observation and shared reward. The periods between suitable hunting conditions weren’t seen as downtime, but as a time for patience, acceptance of uncertainty, and vital rest - a testament to a culture deeply attuned to the natural world.
The Arrival of Modernity and the Seeds of Disruption
The introduction of a formal municipal administration and wage-earning jobs marked a turning point. While seemingly offering progress, the Danish administration prioritized its own personnel, importing administrators from western Greenland and relegating the Ammassalik Inuit to menial labour. This created a stark disparity in possibility, denying the indigenous population access to positions of power and influence within their own community.
Moreover, education became a tool of assimilation. Children were compelled to learn Danish and western Greenlandic languages in school, often facing punishment for speaking their native tongue. This linguistic suppression eroded cultural identity and created a barrier to full participation in the evolving society.
The Danish policy, as documented by demographer Joëlle Robert-Lamblin in a 1971 study, actively sought to concentrate the population around essential services – the hospital, school, and church. This centralization, however, proved disastrous. Increased population density strained local resources, leading to food shortages. Traditional hunting grounds became depleted, forcing reliance on imported European products, often ill-suited to the harsh Arctic climate. The decentralized, self-sufficient world of Scoresby Sound began to collapse, funnelling everything through the administrative center of Ittoqqortoormiit.
The Erosion of Tradition and the Pursuit of “Purchasing Power”
By the 1960s, a troubling trend emerged: younger men were hunting less frequently than their fathers. Robert-Lamblin observed a growing disinterest in traditional practices, noting that “the new game sought by contemporary Greenlandic society is no longer an animal but purchasing power.” This shift wasn’t a simple rejection of tradition, but a complex response to the changing economic landscape.
The allure of a regular paycheck proved difficult to resist, yet the artificial rhythm of salaried work frequently enough clashed with the ingrained patterns of life dictated by the seasons and the hunt.Many found themselves caught in a cycle of taking jobs and then abandoning them to return to hunting, unable to fully adapt to the demands of a modern workforce.This instability highlighted the essential disconnect between the imposed economic system and the deeply rooted cultural values of the Ammassalik Inuit.
A Hunter’s Legacy: The Story of Hjelmer Hammeken
