Qilakitsormiut – The research and perception of historical human remains in Greenland studied through the lens of the research and dissemination of the mummified people of Qilakitsoq
PhD student: Sara Næss Elleskov, Ilisimatusarfik – University of Greenland, Institute of Culture, Language & History
Granted amount: DKK 2.225.103
Project description:
This project delves into the Greenlandic perspective on the research of historical human remains in Greenland by exploring the research and dissemination of the eight mummified individuals from the Qilakitsoq settlement near Uummannaq. These individuals provide unique insight into the life, death, and cultural practices of the pre-colonial Inuit population. But how does this research affect contemporary Inuit? And how do modern Greenlandic societies view these ancestors, who have been brought closer through science? Historically, Western researchers have set the agenda for studying Inuit remains from Greenland – but how do Greenlanders view these investigations of their ancestors?
The project will use qualitative approaches to investigate and discuss the research and dissemination of the mummified individuals from Qilakitsoq, including modern Greenlandic perspectives through Indigenous knowledge. This knowledge will be gathered through qualitative research interviews aimed at capturing nuanced descriptions of the interviewees’ worldviews. The goal is to engage and include the local community so that the voices of those with direct connections to the mummified individuals in Qilakitsoq are heard. This will involve several research stays in the town closest to the settlement, Uummannaq, focusing on interviews and organizing events for the local community at the Uummannaq Local Museum and other local institutions.
Inspired by past decolonial critiques, this project employs a de-colonial approach that examines how Inuit histories and cultures have been studied through the human remains of Greenlandic Inuit in biological anthropology and archaeology. The project emphasizes Indigenous voices and ensures that the local community has agency within the research. This will be achieved through continuous reflection on my own biases and power dynamics in working with the community, aiming to create a fair and inclusive research practice.
To gain a thorough understanding of past and current research on the mummified individuals from Qilakitsoq, the project will study archival materials such as reports, publications, media, and exhibitions. Additionally, I will organize a workshop at the Greenland National Museum with local researchers who use knowledge from the mummified individuals in their research and traditional practices, stimulating discussions on historical human remains of Inuit in Greenland within the Greenlandic research environments.
By examining the interplay between research practices and contemporary Inuit perspectives, the project aims to clarify how this affects the cultural and historical understanding of Inuit in Greenland and the power dynamics involved. The ultimate goal is to initiate a necessary debate about the role and impact of research in Greenland, based on a deep understanding of the local contemporary Greenlandic worldview and culture, which has deep historical roots.
