Thinking Outside the Map: Uniting Greenland and Nunavut

 

By Henry Srebrnik, Saint John Telegraph-Journal

When it comes to U.S. President Donald Trump’s territorial ambitions in the Western hemisphere, we have heard quite a lot over the past few months of his desire to acquire Greenland from Danish rule. Canada, not surprisingly, has made its concern felt. In fact, to drive the point home, a new Canadian Consulate in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk officially opened Jan. 6 in front of an Inuit delegation from Canada, who brought a stern message for Trump: “Back off.” Canada and Denmark  have now signed a defence co-operation agreement.

It was a glimpse of how, for the Inuit peoples across the Arctic, the battle over Greenland has become a wider reckoning, seemingly pitting the long-fought battle to assert their rights against a global push for power.

Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national body representing Inuit in Canada, stressed that the consulate symbolizes a show of support for Indigenous self-determination. Obed also announced on Feb. 11 that Arviat, a small Nunavut community, will be the home of the first Inuit-led university in the Arctic.

“Inuit underpin Canada’s sovereignty,” he remarked. “Inuit have had to figure out how to maintain our society, our culture and our self-determination in the midst of other people wanting different things from us or from our lands and territories.”

As for Greenland, in a 1979 referendum, a substantial majority of voters on Kalaallit Nunaat (the Inuit name for Greenland) opted for “home rule” within the Danish Kingdom. In 2009, home rule was replaced by a policy of self-government, which outlines a clear path to independence from Denmark.

On Feb. 18, Denmark’s King Frederick X arrived in the capital Nuuk for a three-day visit in a show of support for the Greenlandic people. But in fact Greenland is still at the moment a colony – never mind the fancy verbiage -- of a European nation, Denmark, a relic of the age of imperialism when the entire so-called “New World” was conquered and its indigenous peoples dispossessed. Apart from Greenland, all the lands in the far north came under British and Russian control. Russia later sold Alaska to the United States, while Canada inherited the remainder of the Arctic north, including its major islands in the Arctic Archipelago adjacent to and west of Greenland.

“In the increased tension between great powers, our concern is that the Arctic is portrayed as an asset or as an empty ice desert,” contends Sara Olsvig, chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council and a former leader of Inuit Ataqatigiit, a pro-independence political party in Greenland. “To us it is our homeland, its riches are what sustain our people, our culture, our children, youth, and elders.”

But why stop with independence for Greenland? Inuit Nunangat is the Inuit homeland in Canada, encompassing the land claims regions of Nunavut, which became a Canadian self-governing territory separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999; Nunavik in Northern Quebec; Nunatsiavut in Northern Labrador; and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories.  All together, this is an area encompassing 40 per cent of Canada’s land and 72 per cent of its coastline. The 2021 census reported 70,545 Inuit in Canada, mostly in their ancestral territories in the three territories, Labrador and northern Quebec.

Were these areas in Canada’s north to form a sovereign nation together with Kalaallit Nunaat, it would become one of the world’s largest nations, astride a gigantic arc over thousands of square kilometres, and rich in minerals and other resources. Both regions are predominantly Inuit, with strong family ties spanning the border. Greenland has a population of approximately 57,000, while Nunavut has around 40,000. A homogenous state, it would encompass most of the Inuit people.

As an aside, it would also put an end to the comic-opera dispute between Canada and Denmark over a tiny island which sits equidistant between Greenland and Nunavut’s Ellesmere Island. For nearly 50 years, Canada and Denmark engaged in one of the world’s friendliest territorial disputes over Hans Island.

The “conflict” involved both nations alternately planting flags and leaving bottles of liquor on the island. It wasn’t until 2022 that both countries finally signed a peaceful agreement, splitting the island and officially ending the quirky standoff.

Although uninhabited, Tartupaluk, the island’s indigenous name, has historically been significant both to the people of Kalaallit Nunaat and Nunavut and ensures freedom of movement throughout the island As such, the 2022 Agreement constitutes a historic milestone for the future of Inuit rights in the region.

Inuit also have worked together across colonial borders to advocate for their rights and the preservation of their cultures through the Inuit Circumpolar Council, which includes representatives from Canada, Greenland, Alaska and Siberia. And Nunavut has demonstrated support for Greenland against the recent external pressures coming from Trump. Members of Nunavut’s legislative assembly raised Greenland’s flag Jan. 20 in solidarity with the island.

So why not a joint Inuit sovereign state in North America? I know this may be a bold proposal, but most of the world might see it as the decolonisation of much of the Arctic. Since Canada considers the Inuit a First Nation, why not make it real? A new nation comprised of the traditional territories of the Inuit would be a remarkable expression of Indigenous self-determination.

 

A Bold Proposal Regarding Greenland, Far North

 

By Henry Srebrnik, Charlottetown Guardian

When it comes to U.S. President Donald Trump’s territorial ambitions in the Western hemisphere, we have heard quite a lot over the past few months of his desire to acquire Greenland away from Danish rule. Canada, not surprisingly, has made its concern felt. In fact, to drive the point home, a new Canadian Consulate in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk officially opened Jan. 6 in front of an Inuit delegation from Canada, who brought a stern message for Trump: “Back off.”

Those were the words of Susie-Ann Kudluk, vice-president of the Qarjuit Youth Council representing Inuit between the ages of 15 to 35 in Nunavik, the Inuit region in northern Quebec. “We want to come together in solidarity with Greenland to show our support and to say: That land is not for sale,” she stated.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand officially opened the new diplomatic post alongside Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, who is an Inuk from Nunavik. Also present were Carolyn Bennett, Canada’s ambassador to Denmark, and Virginia Mearns, Canada’s new Arctic ambassador. As Anand prepared to raise the Canadian flag over the building, she made one thing very clear: Canada stands with Greenland. 

Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national body representing Inuit in Canada, stressed that the consulate symbolizes a show of support for Indigenous self-determination. “I mostly am concerned about what this says for all of the allies globally that believe in diplomacy, that believe in Indigenous peoples’ human rights, and also believe in Indigenous peoples’ self-determination,” he stated.  He hoped the move will lead to greater collaboration between Canada and other circumpolar countries, as well as a more inclusive approach with Inuit on defence spending, including dual-use infrastructure.

As for Greenland itself, in a 1979 island-wide referendum, a substantial majority of voters on Kalaallit Nunaat (the Inuit name for Greenland) opted for what was called “home rule” within the Danish Kingdom. That meant a parliament of elected Kalaallit representatives handled internal affairs, such as education and social welfare, while Denmark retained control of foreign affairs and mineral rights.

However, the push for full independence from Denmark continued: In 2009, home rule was replaced by a policy of self-government, which outlines a clear path to independence from Denmark, based on negotiations following a potential future referendum vote. Self-government also allows Greenland to assert and benefit from control over its mineral resources, but not to manage foreign affairs. So while Greenland has self-rule, its Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has warned that Trump still wants to control the island and urged people to not become complacent.

But in fact Greenland is still at the moment a colony – never mind the fancy verbiage -- of a European nation, Denmark, a relic of the age of imperialism when the entire so-called “New World” was conquered and its indigenous peoples dispossessed. Apart from Greenland, all the lands in the far north came under British and Russian control. Russia later sold Alaska to the United States, while Canada inherited the remainder of the Arctic north, including its major islands in the Arctic Archipelago adjacent to and west of Greenland.

For 5,000 years, the people and culture known throughout the world as “Inuit” have occupied the vast territory stretching from the shores of the Chukotka Peninsula of Russia, east across Alaska and Canada, to Greenland. Inuit Nunangat is the Inuit homeland in Canada, encompassing the land claims regions of Nunavut, which became a Canadian self-governing territory separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999; Nunavik in Northern Quebec; Nunatsiavut in Northern Labrador; and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories.  All together, this is an area encompassing 40 per cent of Canada’s land and 72 per cent of its coastline.

Look at a globe: Were these areas in Canada’s north to form a sovereign nation together with Kalaallit Nunaat, it would become one of the world’s largest nations, astride a gigantic arc over thousands of square kilometres, and rich in minerals and other resources. A homogenous state, it would encompass the vast majority of the Inuit people, and would retain close relations with Canada and the United States. This may be a bold proposal, but most of the world might see it as the final decolonisation of the Arctic. Canada considers the Inuit a First Nation. Why not make it real?