Aka Simonsen

Aka was born and raised in Qaqortoq in Southern Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). She only uses Aka Simonsen, but because of Inuit naming tradition, she has many names.

Her maternal grandparents were hunters, while her paternal grandparents were sheep farmers. Aka followed in their footsteps for several years, working as a sheep farmer herself. She later studied tourism and hospitality management, as well as Arctic guiding, at the business school in Qaqortoq. She went on to study social and cultural history at the University of Greenland, specializing in archaeology.

In the tourism industry, Aka has worked as both a city guide and a nature tour guide for international and local tourism companies. She has also worked on cruise ships as an expedition team member, historian, and archaeologist. Additionally, Aka is an associate researcher and archaeologist at the National Museum Archives in Nuuk and spent three years as a site manager for UNESCO World Heritage site Kujataa.

Now Aka has her own consulting company, teaches guide students, and continues to work on cruise ships and Arctic expeditions. She is also engaged in educating researchers on conducting ethical and co-productive research. Most importantly, Aka is active in campaigning for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

An active expedition member, Aka recently participated in the National Geographic expedition to Peary Land, in the northernmost part of Greenland, to search for the world’s northernmost living plant and cultural remains! From May to June 2024, Aka was the only female expedition team member on a pioneering Inuit wind sled expedition that travelled from Southern to Northern Greenland.

In her spare time, Aka likes to go on hikes and knit!