Pictures of the Year International

Greenlandic hunter Qumangaapik Kvist takes a smoke break on his qamutit, or sled on a long day of unsucessful seal hunting. Traditional subsistence hunting remains common today in the town of Qaanaaq, Greenland, although the hard work and meager financial rewards mean few young people like Quma are interested in continuing this way of life that has endured for millennia. Income from subsistence hunting has drastically declined in the wake of animal rights activism, beginning in the 80s with the ban on seal products to current day, as quotas have been imposed on narwhal hunting, superseding traditional hunting stewardship. Inughuit continue to manage their wildlife traditionally and sustainably. It wasn't always this way. In past centuries, conservation was enacted through the creation of protected areas and forced relocation of Indigenous peoples from their homelands. Today, scientists have shown that through millennia of innovative caretaking, Indigenous lands contain more biodiversity than neighboring protected areas. Indeed, Indigenous peoples are so successful at managing their lands that they are assumed to be 'untouched' environments. 80% of the world's species exist on Indigenous lands. Guardians of Life is a journey through Indigenous stewardship in action- the coral reefs of Palau, the steppes of Mongolia, rainforests of the Amazon, rivers of California, and the sea ice of Greenland. Each community shows us what is possible when Indigenous values, traditional ecological knowledge, and modern strategies combine to protect what is most sacred– land, the foundation of life itself. Additional Metadata in Headline title: Seal Hunt Blues, Qumangaapik Kvist