Traditionally the greenlanders belonged to hunting communities, travelling to different locations allways in search of good hunting and fishing grounds.
Today hunters normally live in modern houses in towns or settlements and uses modern technology as rifles and motor-boats, but essentially they still carry out the ancient methods of tracing and hunting the life-essential animals.
In the 1920'ies large amounts of cod were discovered in the waters around Greenland, which set off a fundamental change in the lives of many greenlanders. New fishing equipment was purchased and later harbourfacilities was modernized and fishing factories established. This was the beginning of the modern Greenland, and caused many former hunters to settle in larger all-year settlements, thus forming the present towns of Greenland.
Today climatic changes has decreased the numbers of cod, but prawns, halibut, capelin and other species still ensure the livelyhood of the numerous fishermen and their families.
The first modern agriculture was established in 1782 in Igaliko by the founder of Qaqortoq, Anders Olsen. He showed that it was possible to live as cattle, goat and sheep-farmer. His farm was build at the site of the old viking episcopal residence.
 
But sheep-farming was only for the few untill a greenlander, Otto Frederiksen, settled in Qassiarsuk (Erik the Reds old residence) in 1924, and proved that sheep alone could ensure the livelyhood for many.
Today sheep-farming is an integrated part of occupation in the Narsaq Area, and besides the two major sheep-farming settlements Qassiarsuk and Igaliko, many farms are seen throughout the area.