The History of Greenland’s Colonization and the Potential Impact of U.S. Governance

Image via Foreign Policy

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In President Donald Trump’s first week in office, he made many statements expressing his ambitions for the United States to buy Greenland. As of now, this is only speculation, and we do not know how serious this venture is. However, it is essential to understand the colonial history of Greenland and the effects the United States would have on the indigenous people if the island were to become a US territory. 

The indigenous people of Greenland are Greenlandic Inuit and call themselves the Kalaallit. These people have inhabited Greenland since around 2500 BCE and had little interaction with Nordic or European countries until the 13th century. Scandinavian settlers were among the first to encounter the Kalaallit; however, because of cooling temperatures in Greenland at the time, this contact was brief. Most of them left the island by the 15th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries, whalers from England and The Netherlands kicked off the start of European contact with the indigenous people of Greenland, and in 1721, the Danish established the first trading company and Lutheran church. Danish colonization was successful and Denmark obtained complete control over all trade and governance in Greenland. During this time of occupation, Native Greenlanders faced economic exploitation by the Danish government, causing mass protests across the country demanding more autonomy as a nation. Denmark conceded to their demands and abolished the Royal Greenland Trading Company in 1951. After the abolishment, Denmark worked to improve Greenland’s economy and social infrastructure in ways that benefited Greenlanders more, ultimately leading to the government granting Home Rule to Greenland in 1979. 

During the Cold War, the United States began seeing the strategic benefits of controlling Greenland. Geographically, Greenland is between the United States and Europe which makes it an ideal location to house military bases and weapons in times of global conflict. In the 1950s, the U.S. built Thule Air Base which forced many Inuit people in the area to relocate. Additionally, despite a Danish ban of nuclear weapons, the United States kept nuclear bombs in Greenland without the knowledge or consent of Greenland. With increased worry around the influence the United States had on Greenland, 75% of Greenlanders in 2008 voted for a nonbinding referendum, demanding more autonomy over foreign affairs. Currently, Greenland has its own government that fully controls its economy, foreign affairs, and laws even as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

With only 56,000 people in Greenland, the Inuit make up almost 90% of the population. Because of this, the official language of Greenland is Kalaallisut—the language spoken by the Inuit people—and is spoken more than the colonial language, Danish. Inuit culture and tradition have uniquely been able to thrive, unlike most indigenous cultures that have been colonized by European countries. This is, in part, due to the extreme isolation of the island’s geography, economically and politically. Although Denmark imparted tyrannical European policies in the early stages of its colonization, the Inuit undoubtedly comprised the majority of the population, meaning their demands held more weight in regard to the governance and actions of the country. The Danish have used compromise to keep Greenland a successful colony while being relatively tolerant of the existing culture and practices of the Inuit people. This is not to say that the Inuit people of Greenland have not faced any cultural genocide throughout their colonial history, but rather that Denmark has been uncharacteristically sympathetic towards the indigenous populations compared to other colonial powers such as Great Britain, France, and Portugal. Inuit people are still facing many types of discrimination, and there is a large ongoing push for complete independence in the country. 

Fishing accounts for 90% of Greenlandic exports, and the industry employs the majority of the country’s population. Most local fishermen use traditional fishing knowledge and practices deeply rooted in the indigenous culture of the Inuit. This means fishing is not only the most important part of Greenland’s economy, but also a vital part of the Inuit identity. President Trump’s plans to ‘buy’ Greenland stems from the potential economic benefits the island poses because of its richness in uranium, iron, and natural gas. Due to global warming, these natural resources are becoming increasingly easier to reach, causing discussion about the implications of mining these materials. Most Greenlanders are extremely worried that the popularity of uranium mining will have irreversible consequences on the environment and the indigenous population. Natural resource extraction on as large of a scale as could be expected by the United States would severely impact the fishing industry in Greenland, which would leave most of the country without a job and a crucial part of their identity, as well as displace communities close to uranium mines because of potential health risks. 

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This article was edited by Katherine Brennan and Siya Patel.