Views from the colorful village Greenland village Manitsoq, formerly Sukkertoppen
The largest island in the world inhabits approximately 56,800 Inuit and Europeans (mainly Danes), and enough ice to cover west Europe from the top of Norway to Italy. It is an island that is trying to find its place in the world as it moves closer to complete independence, and countries and corporations show more interest in the giant icy land’s natural resources.
Simultaneously, Greenland is finding its way as a self-governing nation, seeking independence after three centuries as a Danish colony. Three hundred years of intermarriages, free Danish education, shared monarchy and financial support has covered at least half of Greenland’s expenses. This financial grant has turned the Inuit people into a modernized people with a free public health care system and free school for a minimum of seven years.
Greenland could develop as an independent, modern, democratic and responsible society and its natural resources could be its way out to stand independently and still hold the high living standards that the inhabitants have grown accustomed to. These were the major themes that were covered in the parliamentary election on Tuesday.
Greenland is, like many other former colonies, subject to a big cultural change, as behavior, culture and lifestyle have been dictated for so long that the individual has forgotten where and what they came from. This struggle has created a strong anger toward the Danish among a small group of Inuit, as the Danish have not left Greenland, but are represented in all the citizens who are of mixed races or have Danish manners.
The political scene is no different. The two large middle parties – Inuit Ateqatigiit (IA) and Siumut (S) – both want independence eventually and are interested in the financial outcomes of exploring the natural resources.
Their support parties are pushing as hard as they can to influence the major parties’ agendas. Demokratiit, the most financially conservative party and the support party for IA (currently in power), seeks a slow transition where the cards are played safe, but is has the reputation as the Dane-friendly party with politicians who do not care to learn Greenlandic.
Meanwhile the Partii Inuit, the new party that serves as a big joker in the election, is seeking a much faster separation from Denmark somewhat ignoring the cultural history that the two countries share.
It is difficult to tell if a fast transition will compromise democracy and how it will affect the social issues that are currently being put on the back burner by the all-consuming resource discussion.
