Fishermen and hunters’ knowledge to protect nature from the mining industry
May 28, 2025|Written by Christine Hyldal
Biologist Parnuna Egede Dahl’s research has taken her from community meetings in Greenland to the final of Denmark’s prestigious PhD Cup. Her work explores how mining companies and the people living atop valuable raw materials can collaborate to protect nature.
It’s a long journey from Greenland’s deep fjords to the bright lights, smoke machines, and television cameras of a stage in central Copenhagen. But in April, Parnuna Egede Dahl stood under those very spotlights as one of five finalists in Denmark’s 2025 PhD Cup. The challenge: to explain years of research in just three minutes, live, in a show called Forskerfesten. Among the judging panel was astronaut Andreas Mogensen, and the event was broadcast on national TV.
“It was incredibly nerve-wracking,” says Parnuna Egede Dahl, who faced every speaker’s worst nightmare on stage:
“In the middle of the dress rehearsal, my mind went completely blank. But I managed to pull myself together and keep going. I got a lot of support and advice on what to do if it happened again during the actual show. Having already been through that emotional rollercoaster helped me stay composed—even though I almost stumbled again during the live performance,” she reflects.
A road through the reindeer calving grounds
Although she didn’t win, Parnuna Egede Dahl’s research has made an impact -reaching not only a broad audience but also the Environmental Protection Agency for the Mineral Resources Area in Nuuk. More on that later.
Her PhD explores the meeting point between extractive industries and local communities, and how environmental harm can be avoided if companies listen to the traditional knowledge passed down through generations.
Echo from aataa
Parnuna’s passion for incorporating local knowledge stems from her family. Her grandfather was a part-time hunter and fisherman and once chaired a local association. He wasn’t afraid to challenge fishing restrictions that made no sense to him.
“Biologists had once estimated there were far fewer reindeer than there actually were. Hunters said otherwise. Strict quotas were imposed, but a few years later, reindeer populations had surged, and now they were told to catch as many as possible. My grandfather was vocal about what he thought of that,” says Parnuna Egede Dahl, herself a trained biologist.
Photo: Rasmus Egede Dahl
One illustrative example of local-expert conflict is an old iron mine project north of Nuuk. A proposed access road would have cut through a reindeer calving area. Hunters feared the animals would avoid the area permanently due to the disturbance. They proposed an alternative route at a public meeting, but it was dismissed. Although the mine was never built, the episode illustrates how local priorities are often sidelined in favor of economic interests.
“People expect to influence a project when they attend community meetings with company reps. But often, by that stage, the project is too far along for meaningful changes,” says Parnuna Egede Dahl.
Translators working overtime
“Even though hearings are now introduced earlier in the process, it’s still not working optimally,” says Parnuna Egede Dahl, based on her experiences attending numerous public meetings.
“Mining representatives are often foreigners, so translators are used – but they rarely capture all the nuances. The language is also very technical and academic.”
She recalls one community meeting where an Australian presenter tried to help the translator by breaking his sentences into two parts. However, because Greenlandic has almost inverted word order, this caused significant confusion.
“It just didn’t make sense in Greenlandic,” she explains.
There’s also a cultural mismatch.
“Many Greenlanders are uncomfortable speaking in front of a crowd, so they often leave these meetings feeling unheard,” says Parnuna Egede Dahl.
Parnuna Egede Dahl was nearly selected for Paasisavut. Instead, she applied for Denmark’s equivalent and became a finalist on the TV show Forskerfesten in April. Here she is with astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who served as a judge at Forskerfesten.
Photo: Rasmus Egede Dahl
Drink tea and pee
With the government seeking mining investments to advance self-governance, how can it also ensure that locals feel heard?
Parnuna Egede Dahl proposes rethinking the format entirely. For instance, sharing circles, where everyone sits together and takes turns speaking, may better align with Greenlandic traditions.
Another idea is the “Drink-tea-and-pee” visit: company representatives visit residents in their homes near potential mining areas, have tea, talk about the project, and use the restroom before heading to the next house.
“It’s informal and culturally appropriate. People open up more, and it fosters genuine dialogue,” she explains.
From left: TV host Ulla Essendrop; finalists Christina Baun, Jonathan Wenstrup, Nanna Møller Jensen (winner), Parnuna Egede Dahl, and Rasmus Skov Olesen; and judges Andreas Mogensen, astrophysicist Anja C. Andersen, and Research Minister Christina Egelund.
Photo: Rasmus Egede Dahl
Discrimination as compensation?
Parnuna Egede Dahl defended her PhD on 29 October last year. On the same day, she was invited to a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency for Mineral Resources.
“We had a vibrant discussion about Indigenous rights. Greenland’s self-rule system doesn’t distinguish between ethnic groups. But in other Inuit regions, they practice positive discrimination to compensate for generations of systemic racism,” she explains.
“In Greenland, we’ve chosen a democratic form of governance, but Indigenous communities still deserve thorough, locally grounded consultation processes that promote genuine self-determination.”
How did officials respond?
“They said the process is already administratively burdensome, and they’re hesitant to differentiate between groups for fear of being accused of racism – unless the focus is on specific roles, like fishermen, hunters, elders, or women.”
That doesn’t mean the door is closed for Parnuna Egede Dahl – on the contrary, she’s been invited to give a presentation to the entire Ministry of Mineral Resources the next time she’s in Nuuk.
What do your grandparents actually think about the work you’re doing today?
“My aanaa is super proud. My aataa has passed, but I believe he would be proud too. I hope my work contributes to more meaningful and respectful engagement,” says Parnuna Egede Dahl.
Bio
Parnuna Egede Dahl was born and raised in Nuuk. She has a Greenlandic mother, a Swedish father, and a Danish stepfather.
She holds a degree in biology and has previously worked for the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC).
Her PhD was carried out in collaboration between Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland), the ICC, and Aalborg University.
She currently works as a senior adviser at Ocean North Kalaallit Nunaat.
Parnuna lives in Køge with her Danish husband and their two children.