In Greenland, sled dogs remain vital partners in culture and survival, new study finds

Greenland’s sled dogs, known as qimmit, remain central to cultural life among Inuit and Kalaallit communities, according to new research published in Arctic Anthropology. The study shows that these dogs are not only working animals or symbols of the past, but active partners in cultural knowledge, identity, and everyday life.

The article, "From Sled Dogs to Cultural Icons: Human-Qimmit Relations in Greenland," explores how relationships between people and sled dogs continue to shape life across northern and western Greenland.

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with hunters, mushers, and cultural knowledge holders, the research highlights how qimmit support hunting practices, travel, and the transmission of cultural knowledge across generations - even as climate change and social change reshape the Arctic.

"Qimmit are not just working animals or heritage symbols - they remain important partners in everyday life and cultural knowledge," said Manumina Lund Jensen, Assistant Professor at Ilisimatusarfik – University of Greenland and lead author of the study.

The research also shows how sled-dog culture is adapting to changing conditions, including warming temperatures, shifting sea-ice conditions, and increasing urbanization across Greenland.

The study emphasizes that sled-dog culture is a living tradition shaped by the people who practice it, and that supporting community knowledge and agency is essential for its future.