Abstract
A close, inseparable, and historical relationship with the land and its resources has become one of the central features of the cultures of indigenous peoples throughout the world, including the Inuit. The intimate attachment and sense of belonging to the landscape emphasize local bonds to place, as well as the extensive time span in which people have experienced it. This concern with locality is, among other things, framing the political use of local knowledge. Senses of locality and attachment to place have become important ingredients in the sustainability discourse in the Arctic as well as around the world. The article examines conflicts over caribou hunting and dog sledge versus snowmobile use in a discussion of the possibilities and limitations of such an emphasis on locality.
