Aka was born and raised in Qaqortoq in southern Greenland. Aka’s grandparents on her mother’s side were hunters, and sheep farmers on her father’s side. Aka followed in her grandparents’ footsteps for some years as a sheep farmer. She has since however, tried many different occupations including being a translator at the hospital in Qaqortoq.
Aka holds a professional degree in tourism management and is a certified Arctic guide from the business school in Qaqortoq. Currently, Aka is undertaking a PhD candidacy in archaeology at the University of Greenland. Aka also teaches tourism education in Qaqortoq where she educates visiting researchers about conducting ethical and co-productive research. Aka is also an associate researcher and archaeologist at the National Museum Archives in Nuuk.
Today, Aka works as a site manager at the Kujataa World Heritage Site in southern Greenland and is active in the site’s preservation and protection. 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 find and photograph the most northern living plant in the world! From May to June 2024, Aka was the only female expedition team member on a pioneering Inuit wind sled expedition that travelled from northern to southern Greenland.
In her spare time, Aka likes to go on hikes and knit!