Court rules against relocated Inughuit

The Danish Supreme Court has refused to increase an award of 1.7 million kroner ($300,000) to Inughuit as compensation for being relocated from their community 50 years ago.

And the court didn’t support their claim for traditional hunting grounds around the current site of Thule Air Base at Uummannaq.

The compensation award was set by a lower court four years ago. Greenlandic Prime Minister Hans Enoksen said he was disappointed by the Supreme Court ruling.

“We had assumed that because the relocation was forced, Hingitaq 53 [an organization representing those affected by the relocation] would get a ruling in their favour. Considering how Denmark, as a democratic country, has always defended human rights, it’s a big disappointment that this case ended as it did,” Enoksen told Greenland’s Radioavis.