SPECIAL ISSUE 17(3) – APRIL 2022

What have we achieved since the first gathering in Rovaniemi in 2013? Where do we stand today? And looking ahead: what are the critical steps to be taken in the next years?  To answer these questions, and to critically assess the current state and develop future actions, Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, IPOs, and practitioners involved in the Protection of Sacred Natural Sites initiatives between 2013 and 2015, have reconvened as of May 2021. Other scholars, whose research is connected with this topic, joined the consortium as well. Despite progress was made regarding the protection and management of sacred sites (Liljeblad & Verschuuren, 2019), legal recognition and some levels of adequate protection are still missing in many areas, and raising awareness about the threats of sacred sites in many parts of the North is still needed, while important ethical questions remain ambiguous and unanswered. Hence, we joined forces in order to create a further research project on the protection and recognition of sacred sites. A first step will be the organization of an two-day international workshop at the Conference of the Finnish Anthropological Society, in Rovaniemi, March 21-23, 2023. The twelve extended abstracts presented here have been submitted by the participants of the upcoming workshop. They provide insights into the wide range of concerns, initiatives and works carried out by Indigenous and non-indigenous rights holder and researchers across the circumpolar North and further afield.

SPECIAL ISSUE 17(2) – MARCH 2022

How do Greenlanders experience colonialism today? How can Greenland decolonise? Do Inughuit (Greenlanders from Avanersuaq, or the far northwest of Greenland) experience colonialism differently? How did the Reconciliation Commission contribute to decolonisation in Greenland? How do Greenlanders’ opinions influence decisions about resource activities? These are some of the questions asked by Martin Binachon, Rachael Lorna Johnstone and Jonathan Wood during their fieldwork in Greenland in October and November 2021. The three University of Akureyri researchers interviewed 18 Greenlanders and held around 20 informal discussions. They also attended the Nuuk Nordisk Festival & Reflecting Nuuk Nordic side-event.

Ullutsinni nunasiaateqartarneq Kalaallinit qanoq misigineqartarpa? Kalaallit Nunaat qanoq isiornikkut nunasiaataajunnaarsinnaava? Inughuit sineriammeersunit tamanna allatut atungarivaat? Saammaasseqatigiinnissamut Isumalioqatigiissitaq Kalaallit unaata nunasiaataajunnaarnissaanut qanoq sunniuteqarpa? Isumalluutinut suliaqarnermi aaliagiinissamut Kalaallit isumaat tusaaneqartarpat? Apeqqutit tamakku Martin Binachon, Rachael lorna Johnstone aamma Jonathan Wood oktoberarimi novembarimilu 2021 Kalaallit Nunaannut tikiullutik suliaqarnerminni apeqqutigisaata ilagivaat. Akureyri Universitet-ianiit paasisassarsiortut pingasut Kalaallit 18 apersorpaat 20-llu missaat oqaloqatigalunikkit. Nuuk Nordisk Festival & Reflecting Nuuk Nordic side-event aamma peqataaffigivaat.