Dissertation Defense of Talor Stone
"We Will Be Here": Modeling Hunting Community Narratives in Avanersuaq, Greenland
June 15, 2026
11:00 a.m.
https://odu.zoom.us/j/4036321801?omn=92343023759
Abstract:
This dissertation challenges dominant Western crisis narratives about Arctic indigenous communities by employing a novel methodology to examine the impact of global forces on the subsistence hunting communities of Northwest Greenland. While Northwest Greenland is not unique in experiencing contemporary challenges, its extreme climate and remote location amplify the challenges communities face, making the image of the lone hunter on the ‘frontlines of climate change’ ever more ubiquitous in the global imagination. This research critiques Western crisis narratives that often overlook the complexity of the local experience and perpetuate a neocolonial viewpoint that strips communities of agency in shaping their own future.
If researchers and policymakers truly wish to understand how changes and challenges are experienced within indigenous communities, a new approach is required. To this end, this dissertation introduces the Thematic Relationships of Local Narratives (TRLN) Model, a new method for identifying and visualizing local perspectives. Through primary fieldwork and the innovative use of mixed methods, the TRLN Model deconstructs Western assumptions by identifying, elevating, and empowering local narratives.
The disconnect revealed between local and Western narratives underscores the importance of community-centered approaches for identifying friction points and understanding how challenges are experienced locally. In the case of Northwest Greenland, a complex local narrative is revealed that upends Western beliefs about contemporary challenges to the iconic Arctic subsistence lifestyle. Rather than revealing a community in crisis, this research paints a surprising portrait of indigenous resilience and active engagement with an increasingly globalized world. The results contribute to a broader understanding of the ways indigenous communities navigate global change and highlight the need to incorporate local perspectives into research and policy.
Committee:
Dr. Regina Karp, Chairperson
Dr. Peter Schulman
Dr. Ingo Heidbrink