Visions for the Future of West Greenlandic Regalia and Knowledge of Seal Skins

Since the earliest colonial encounters in Greenland, place-based Inuit knowledge of seal skin processing has been applied and regenerated within a web of regional, national, and global relations. These relations have not only affected methods, materials and designs, but also shaped the societal role of women practicing these skills. This article examines contemporary kalaallisuut (West Greenlandic regalia) making by studying the experiences of its makers and identifying the everyday challenges affecting current practice. Nine semi-structured interviews and a review workshop revealed three main challenges: a lack of appropriate space in which to process seal skins; insufficient compensation; and knowledge-sharing issues. These challenges are examined by scrutinising their root causes, which are frequently connected to colonialism and coloniality; gender, racial, and class inequities; and economic challenges to nation-building. Ultimately, participants envisioned a communal space as a potential response to all three challenges.