Trust, Hope and Decolonising Practice in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)
Sara Abelsen (Professional Teacher in Social Work, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland)
Steven Arnfjord (Professor in Social Work, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland)
Lisa Bach (Assistant Professor in Social Work, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland)
Bonnie Jensen (Associate Professor in Social Work, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland)
Charlothe Petersen Mørkhøj (Head of Department, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland)
Kevin Perry (Associate Professor in Social Work, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland)
Dan Allen (Associate Professor, Liverpool Hope University, UK)
International Social Work Day 2026 calls on us all to promote global solidarity, social justice, and human rights, with a focus on building community hope and unity. Here, at the top of the world, in Kalaallit Nunaat, we believe that these ambitions must be grounded in a decolonised framework, one that centres Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and lived experience.
At the World Social Work Day event hosted by Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland), social workers and students reflected on how this commitment must be shaped by the realities and perspectives of the Kalaallit people. Trust emerged as a central theme. Relationship-based practice underpins all social work, but in Kalaallit Nunaat, geography plays a decisive role in how trust is built and sustained.
In Nuuk, access to resources and services is greater, while in smaller towns and settlements, sometimes served by a single practitioner, capacity is more limited. Despite these challenges, communities often hold strong collective identities, requiring social workers to remain deeply attuned to and connected with people, nature and environment, drawing on community strengths to support individuals, families, and the wider society.
Hope was another defining theme. Greenland’s Children’s Spokesperson, Stina Sværd, referred to Desmond Tutu, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” In Kalaallit Nunaat, hope is not abstract, it is a practical and necessary lifeline, grounded in the belief that change is possible even in the face of adversity.
Achieving hope and unity requires critical reflection on how social work knowledge is produced and applied. As Linda Tuhiwai Smith reminds us, decolonisation is not about rejecting Western theory, but about reorienting it, centering Indigenous worldviews and using knowledge for locally defined purposes. This perspective guided discussions on advancing epistemic justice, recognising the lived experiences of Kalaallit people as essential knowledge for understanding systemic challenges and shaping meaningful and effective social work responses.
The need for effective social work responses is especially important in a context marked by colonisation and rapid social change. In Kalaallit Nunaat, social workers hold significant power, and practice must prioritise respect, historical awareness, family inclusion, and shared decision-making. Humility is essential, social work must be done with people, not to them, through listening, transparency, and trust-building and good leadership is central to making this possible.
All over Kalaallit Nunaat, effective leadership must support practitioners, strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration, and ensure that policies reflect the lives of all people. This calls for more intentional leadership across both public and private sectors working alongside communities to achieve transformative change.
In Kalaallit Nunaat, social work leadership requires a holistic perspective, one that sees the whole person, the individual, the family and society as interconnected. Leaders must balance policy demands with human needs, foster collaboration, and think systemically. Where there are geo-political tensions, transformative leadership demands resilience and ethical judgment to navigate the chains of inequality while advocating for meaningful, people-centered change.
On International Social Work Day, the message from Kalaallit Nunaat to the world is clear. Building hope and unity must be rooted in decolonised practice. By centering Indigenous knowledge and advancing epistemic justice, social workers can be led to achieve solidarity, dignity, and lasting change.