Greenlandic heritage week at Pituffik Space base
4 days of traditions, celebrations and appreciation.
Written by: Vibeke Kjærsgaard
On a beautiful March evening after the sunset and the following colours of purple and pink sky, the first dog sleds began to arrive at Pituffik, the course was set for the small cove in front of Poul Nielsen's Pavillion.
On this beautiful and quiet evening, the crack of the whip and the conversation of the hunters across the ice could be heard from a long distance away. Hunters who arrived from the nearby settlements were dressed in polar bear and seal pants, hand-sewn polar bear camiquettes, sitting on the warm musk and reindeer skins, just as they did for many generations before them. Despite the fact that technology has become part of everyday life here too, with both smartphones & windbreakers, it is fantastic to experience that the gifts from nature are still the preferred sources.
Suddenly there was a lot of traffic at the harbor on this quiet evening. It was quickly rumored that "the sled dogs and the hunters had arrived" and the joy of anticipation was sensed throughout the base. Over the next few days photos of puppies were compared, stories where exchanged of where they had seen sleds etc. The joy and anticipation for the coming days was likewise profound among the many hunters, coachmen and their families.
Happy reunion in the middle of the storm
The reunion with other hunters and family members, as well as good friends on the base, created a cozy atmosphere in both the assigned barracks, but also in the Community Center (CC) where they played pool, drank coffee, watched movies, etc. Both children and adults clearly enjoyed being together and "on holiday". Along with the anticipation and joy the storm arrived, that shut down the reunion and activities for a while.
But as suddenly as the storm had come, it disapeared again, in time for the official activities, where, among other things, 750 kilos of dog food were handed out to the hunters. You could see the fire station and visit the many workplaces, there were children's movies in the cinema, and more than 100 gathered in the CC to enjoy the Potluck, which included Chili con carne and ribs. In addition, there were candy, colored pencils and clothes for the children. The atmosphere was cozy and it was obvious that this weekend is a great and joyful experience, and simultaneusly a way to show respect for the area's original inhabitants, with great prizes, a lot of different food and sweets etc. that contributes to the meeting between cultures. It was fantastic to meet in mutual curiosity across languages, cultures and ages.
Great joy and lots of howling
A biting cold, a blue sky and a powerful sun, created shadows from the Mukluk hockey sticks, from shouting and eager dogs and the many people present, Saturday's activities took place on the ice. The atmosphere was strong, the prizes great and the support even greater. The dogs could hardly wait to move their bodies, they barked and howled until they were sent off on the run. It was festive and exciting, with cheers and laughter, i.a. when a couple of dogs that had gotten free from their bucket crossed the finish line themselves. There were lots of treats for the dogs as they crossed the line, as well as admiration and excited cheers for the coachmen.
On tour like in the old days
It was also a weekend with the opportunity to try a trip on a dog sled, snowmobile and ATV. The reduced period of solid sea ice in smaller areas, as well as the modern vehicles, are the biggest threat to the dog sled's continued existence, despite the fact that dog sleds have been driven in the area around Pituffik for over 1000-2000 years. On the many trips, the coachmen proudly told about the sleds, about the dogs and about life in, for example, Savissivik or Qaanaaq.
The tours were very popular and if you needed something to warm up before or after, there was plenty of opportunity in CC where there were hot drinks, a cake competition and the sale of arts and crafts. The beautifully carved Tupilaks’, the polished bear claws, the impressive walrus teeth, the soft polar fox furs and much more were highly in demand, all the while the hunt went on for Easter eggs, which the Polar Easter Bunny had hidden well. The conversation went on and when the closing speeches rounded off another successful Greenlandic heritage week, it was with great words and emotions and the accompanying applause. All in all, a success and an event that many are already looking forward to in 2025.
Before the last sleds had left the base, another storm broke out, while everyone could sit safely in the warmth, the dogs lay on the ice, tightly curled up and acclimized to the weather, their under wool capricious and the harsh cover hairs protecting, just as they were made to.
Fact:
In Greenland, there is only one species of sled dog, namely Canis Lupus familiaris, one of the purest breeds, as it must not be mixed with other breeds. It can cope down to -70 and it is important to remember that snow, ice and winter are its right elements. Greenlandic sled dogs can pull their own weight, which corresponds to about 40-60 kilos. It can cover approx. 60 kilometers in a day, you run with the dogs in a fan shape, in Greenland you don't normally run with a guide dog (although there is a dominant dog that is at the top of the hierarchy, it has nothing to do with the running). "Uniit" means stop, "juv" and "ili" are right and left respectively. There is a big difference in the construction of the sleds, depending on where you are in Greenland, as well as whether you have to run on the sea ice, etc. (Sources: Videnskab.dk Emma Vitale's profile/research project Qimmeq and Greenland travel, Danish kennel club)