Greenland is not for sale, say Iqaluit demonstrators
Solidarity rallies held in capitals of Nunavut, Greenland and Denmark in face of U.S. threat to annex island territory
Aaju Peter leads a march in solidarity with Greenland in the face of what’s being called U.S. imperialism, in Iqaluit on Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump says his country needs to take over Greenland for national security reasons “one way or the other.” (Photo by Daron Letts)
Residents of Nunavut’s capital stood in solidarity with people in Greenland and Denmark on Saturday as the circumpolar communities took to their respective streets in opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s talk of annexing Greenland.
Trump has said in recent weeks the U.S. needs to acquire Greenland — an autonomous territory of Denmark with a mostly Inuit population of approximately 56,000 people — “one way or the other.”
Kooyoo Nowdluk demonstrates her support for Greenland in Iqaluit, on Saturday morning. (Photo by Daron Letts)
He has repeatedly suggested his country will purchase Greenland from Denmark. Told it’s not for sale, he has also not ruled out military force.
“You can’t reason with a mad man,” Iqaluit marcher Bernadette Dean said in an interview during a rally to show solidarity with Greenland, Nunavut’s island neighbour.
About 75 people held up hand-drawn signs and banners saying, “We support Greenland,” “Greenland is a partner not a purchase,” and “Greenland is not for sale.”
The crowd gathered at the Igluvut Building at 10 a.m. Some waved the red and white flags of Kalaallit Nunaat, the Inuit name for Greenland.
Iqaluit march organizer Aaju Peter, an Iqaluit-based lawyer and activist originally from Greenland, has two brothers living in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
Trump’s recent rhetoric is serious, she said.
“Greenlanders are under stress,” she said. “I want Greenlanders to know that we truly support them.”
At the same time — and 820 kilometres to the east — several thousand people gathered in Nuuk, across from its Katuaq Cultural Centre, to oppose what some experts are calling U.S. imperialism.
“Our histories, cultures, and strengths are deeply connected,” said Iqaluit demonstrator Mylena Idlout-Mullin. “As an Inuk, I stand in solidarity with Kalaallit Nunaat. I support our relatives in protecting their land, identity, and future.”
Solidarity rallies also took place in Copenhagen, the Danish capital, and several other cities across Denmark, earlier Saturday.
Laakkuluk Williamson, left, and Navarana Beveridge, Denmark’s honorary consul in Iqaluit, unfurl a Greenland banner in front of the Igluvut Building in Iqaluit, on Saturday morning. (Photo by Daron Letts)
The all-ages Iqaluit crowd cascaded down Queen Elizabeth Way from the Four Corners intersection and marched a half-kilometre to Iqaluit Square in front of the Elders Qammaq.
The numbers swelled to 100 people as onlookers joined the procession a couple of blocks later at the downtown post office and NorthMart store.
They chanted “Kalaallit Nunaat Kalaallit pigaat,” which means “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders”.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers visited Denmark on Friday, in a move to reassure Denmark and Greenland that they supported Denmark’s control of Greenland despite Trump’s vow to take it over.
At Denmark’s request, NATO allies, including Germany, France, Norway, Finland and Sweden, have sent armed forces to conduct military exercises in Greenland.
“It’s not right for Donald Trump to do this,” said Kooyoo Nowdluk, who carried an Inuktitut sign in Iqaluit, on Saturday. “He’s got his own land. He’s got enough.”
Is the Stanley Cup up for sale?
U.S. has dibs at the moment.
Yep their heritage and land will be bought.
Just a matter of time…
Remember most of America National Anthem from Stanley Cup finals….
“🎵”Oh say can you see…”🎵
“… to oppose what some experts are calling U.S. imperialism.”
Who are these experts? Are they as expert as the experts who are not calling U.S. imperialism? Will NN do unbiased journalism and quote some of the other experts?
True, using experts as an adjective is a bit silly when any idiot can see the only name for this is US Imperialism.
What would you have called it?
Thanks, BSM; I like that 9 people understand and agree with what I’m saying, essentially that it is important to know more than just what we are told to know. I’m pretty sure you’re from the camp that insists on knowing only what it’s told to know. It’s an important difference and the basis of what makes democracy exist. Disesensus, not consensus; curiosity, not apathy.
I’m a little surprised at this milquetoast response, should I be?
I mean, sure it’s true we should think before passing judgement. But that’s not really saying anything interesting or profound, though you appear to think it is.
Evasiveness in avoiding the real topic in favour of banal musing suggests you don’t really know what you think and are instead caught in the grip of an ‘illusion of explanatory depth.’
Does that ring true to you?
Darn.
I’d been memorizing “Star Spangled Banner”… Oh say can you see….
Stanley Cup finals
Make Alaska a province and also New York State all the way to where our power grid powers lots of citie east coast usa leave Greenland alone as every country in this world does …
You do know, Canadas 3 Territories are next after Greenland, which will mark the North of 60 America!! Alaska-(Yukon-NWT-Nunavut-Greenland/New American lands)
What if Russia takes back Alaska ?
What if Mexico takes back from California east to Texas, with Chinese help ?
What if Europe takes back original colonies in U..S.A . ?
I have always respected America as strong nation.
But it is not the only strong nation in the world today, many have strong armies, navies
and Air Force with nuclear arsenals.
I prefer they stand for Greenland of Gaza lol
Gaza is the testing ground for how far they can push the rest of the world to accept war crimes, illegality, and immorality. If you don’t stand with Gaza, you’re ok with them doing this to you, your own people, and in your own land dummy.
Who would wanna listen to any non inuit non beneficiaries of what theyre saying. First theyre first where their parents came from. And not what you expect of their stupid ideas and bringing it to different culture. No use of what they expect of others
It’s amazing how Nunatsiaq lets ‘certain’ racist idiots express their stupidity so openly. But only some, my guess is it depends on how little they expect from your group.
We in 2026 , not 1906, walked up my friend, cheer.
I am part Inuk, part Celtic.
Go and live your old ways , no one is stopping you.
Donald trump speaks better than mark carney. And for the people of Inuit, there voices are not being heard by politicians and legal aid workers. Hope we become American. Canadians are worthless on there work. Nothing is being done yet. It’s been two years now that there is missing person and RCMP still didn’t do anything. They got to be investigated too because the police they used in two years ago is not using anymore, I think they are hiding evidence. And they don’t answer the phone at that time.
According to various AI reports:
“Inuit are the descendants of a technologically advanced maritime culture known as the Thule (pronounced Too-lee) people, who originated around the Bering Strait and western Alaska. They rapidly expanded eastward across the Arctic, arriving in Canada and Greenland between 1000 and 1300 CE, replacing earlier cultures like the Dorset.”
“arriving in Canada” “replacing other cultures” – Looks like the Inuit are visitors to Canada like the rest of us. Many leading anthropologists suggest origins are from Mongolia
TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP!