Samuel KNUDSEN - 80 years - Old hunter, fisherman and teacher during 30 years Kangersuatsiaq - Latitude 72 22 NR - Longitude 055 32 W

200 inhabitants

Interviewed in June 2009

One of the major changes is first of all the sun. As you can see here, the air is cold, but the sun is burning. As I am sitting just now, my cheek which is facing the sun is very hot, while the other cheek which is in the shadow is freezing. When I was a child, in the 1930’s and 40’s, the weather at the same period (beginning of June) was mild and not cold like now, and the ice pack was still here. It used to form in December or January. Since the end of the 90’s, it arrives much later, and disappears at the end of April.

Today, there is no longer a balance between the traditional and the modern way of life. In the past, our activities were 100% directed towards hunting and fishing. This is no longer the case today. In the 40’s, there were many kayaks, and each man – each hunter -  had his own kayak. Now, they have completely disappeared. The rare examples which remain are only used for demonstrations. People used to have lots of dogs. There are still some, but they are no longer indispensable. In 10 or 15 years, there won’t be a single dog left here. Before the year 2000, we could still see the inhabitants of Sondre Upernavik, the most southerly village, come to visit us, and even travel as far as Upernavik, on their dogsleds. This is no longer possible, as the ice is too thin. It would be much too dangerous. It is very unusual to see someone travelling with a dogsled.

I don’t have any particular fears for the future, except the fear of seeing a lot of villages disappear, to the benefit of the large towns. With the current way of life, people can’t live only from hunting seals. There isn’t enough work here for everybody. In the past, catching some seals allowed us to live for several days. Today, the price of a seal no longer permits that. The seal used to be precious and essential – we used it to feed ourselves and also to keep warm. Nowadays, it’s simply one source of food among many. People are no longer looking for seals – they’re looking for work. Previously, houses were more basic, but we were independent, because we built them ourselves with what was available. Nowadays, if you want a house, you need a lot of money, you need to order the materials, join a waiting list, and wait for one or two years before receiving the materials to finally be able to build. Life is easier today, but we have become dependent on the system. In the past, our houses were more basic, but we were independent.

We can not do anything about the climatic changes, and just as in all the countries in the world, if something changes, man will have to adapt.