Staff Mobility Report - Sisimiut / Nunavut workshop in Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland

In June 2025, I traveled to Sisimiut in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), to participate in a joint workshop bringing together researchers and knowledge holders from both Kalaallit Nunaat and Nunavut. The workshop was an activity under the TN Project: “Strengthening circumpolar network in Arctic health research through mentorship, education, and research activities” from 2023-25 funded by UArctic through The Kingdom of Denmark.

The workshop aimed to bridge geographical and intergenerational distances by fostering a dynamic exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences between students, young people, and elders from both Nunavut and Kalaallit Nunaat. The exchange focused on integrating Indigenous knowledge in health research and learning through seal skin crafting about what keeps animals, people and the environment healthy. 

We were hosted by Kalaallisuuliornermik Ilinniarfik (The official school of the Kalaallit Nunaat National 
Costume).

Activities included:

1. Knowledge Exchange: Sharing research on well-being, knowledge and expertise on seal skin 
   techniques between Nunavut and Kalaallit Nunaat.
2. Culture: Promoting and strengthening cultural practices from Inuit traditions, particularly the art 
   of creating clothing and materials from seal skin.
3. Skills Development: Conducting workshops and seminars to enhance abilities in documenting and 
   disseminating traditional knowledge.
4. Community Engagement: The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Municipality of 
   Qeqqata and in collaboration with the local Elders’s association.
5. Sharing circles with Elders focused on Inuit knowledge and values.
6. Practical skills working with seal skin through individual and collective practice.

Personal Reflections

Participating in the workshop was very meaningful and has deepened my understanding of the advanced science, knowledge and skills embedded in Inuit culture across both Kalaallit Nunaat and Nunavut. Working to strengthen our networks across the Arctic in health research also means deepening our understanding of the knowledge systems that are in place – both Indigenous ways of knowing and doing and the Western health sciences. 

Through sharing circles and practical work with the seal skin I gained knowledge about the natural processes of the environment and how people and animals are connected. The life cycle of the seal determines what is possible and you must understand and respect both opportunities and limits defined by this cycle. Learning about the life cycle of the seal provided me with a new understanding of how research should respect the life cycle of communities, the land and animals when these are the subjects of research. And the importance of partnership across research and communities to combine the scientific perspectives of both Academia and Indigenous knowledge. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and excited to bring new perspectives with me in my future work.