Contemporary development of qassaaneq in Iserdor, East Kalaallit Nunaat

This article examines the contemporary development of qassaaneq, which is the manual removal of fat from sealskin using an ulu (crescent-shaped knife) in Iserdor (Isortoq), East Kalaallit Nunaat, exploring the theme of fluidity and adaptability of Kalaallit (Greenlandic-Inuit) gendered roles in sealskin production. This study contributes to management and organization studies by centering Kalaallit perspectives on work and organizing. Mainstream knowledge production in the field is constructed by coloniality which marginalizes non-Western and Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and understanding work and organization. Drawing on fieldwork, this study explores how the Iserdor community organizes qassaaneq for sealskin trade, examining the tensions and efforts to sustaining qassaaneq and their visions for future. The findings reveal how the community navigates tensions between colonial structures and their Indigenous worldview, offering insights into alternative ways shaped by their values and practices.