Local Organisation and Cultural Identity in Greenland in a National Perspective

• Main Author: Dybbroe, Susanne
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: kultur; identitet; lokalitet; nation; culture; identity; locality; Greenland; inuit
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/local-organisation-and-cultural-identity-in-greenland-in-a-national-perspective(209df530-2a2d-11dc-bee9-02004c4f4f50).html

Important contributions have been made to understand the function of locality in the construction of cultural identity. Focus has variously been directed at the role of place and the role of aspects of social organisation in creating a symbolic bond between members of local communities. The article discusses contextual meanings of locality in Greenland and sketches possible implications for the symbolic integration of locality and nation. Proceeding by way of an outline of the importance of 'place' underlying the social organisation of communities in the traditional-contact Inuit society, it is concluded that the symbolic importance of local communities is a function of their integration into the wider social structure.