Kalaalliit

Kalaalliit is a Greenlandic term used to refer to the Greenlandic people, the inhabitants of Greenland, particularly the indigenous Kalaallit. It functions as an ethnolinguistic designation rather than a political organization, and it is used in Greenlandic-language media, education, and cultural discourse to emphasize shared identity, language, and heritage.

In usage, the term often appears in discussions of culture, language preservation, and indigenous rights, and it is commonly encountered in conversations about Greenlandic society and the territory of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). It helps frame discussions of collective belonging and cultural continuity within Greenland.

Geography and language: The Kalaalliit are primarily resident in Greenland, with communities across coastal towns and settlements. The majority language is Kalaallisut (Greenlandic), one of the official languages of Greenland alongside Danish; English is spoken in some contexts, particularly in education and tourism.

Political and historical context: Greenland has been an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark since 1979, with expanded self-government granted in 2009. The Kalaalliit identity intersects with ongoing discussions about language policy, culture, and governance in Greenland, and is central to debates about national identity, cultural revival, and the preservation of indigenous traditions.

See also: Kalaallit Nunaat, Kalaallit, Kalaallisut.