QIMMEQ – The Greenland Sled Dog
The Greenland Sled Dog is unique in every respect. The dog is the oldest known domesticated animal, and dog sledding is the oldest working dog culture in the world. The dog was the faithful companion of the first people to migrate to Greenland 4,500 years ago and has been an important factor in survival in adverse conditions ever since. The Greenland Sled Dog is not just an animal of the past, but a very important part of a living cultural heritage that is widely practised today. The dog is primary used for hunting and fishing, for leisure activities and in the increasingly popular sled races. The sled dog has become an integral and defining part of Greenland's identity. But it is becoming an endangered species in Greenland, where the number of dogs has more than halved over the past two or three decades.
I'm deeply fascinated by Greenland's sled dogs. I've been photographing sled dogs all over Greenland for the past 15 years and I'm always impressed by their toughness, endurance and willingness to work with people. The QIMMEQ research and communication project has given me an insight into the amazing Greenland Sled Dog and the traditional sled dog culture in Greenland. One of the results of the project is the book QIMMEQ - you can find it here: https://www.carstenegevang.com/qimmeqbook
Selecting images for this sled dog portfolio was not an easy task. For me, my images represent adventure, great outdoor experiences, not least the relationship with dedicated local mushers. I'm personally attached to my images, which makes it difficult to shortlist 50 out of thousands of images.
