Sealskin debate continues

In the wake of last January’s controversial ban on Canadian sealskins imposed by Greenland, Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak asked Olayuk Akesuk, the environment minister, if Nunavut officials have persuaded Greenland to lift its restrictions.

Akesuk said Greenland and Nunavut had “started meeting on strategizing” and agreed “to work together as to how we can provide support to each other,” referring, apparently, to a Greenland-Nunavut “working group” created after a team of Nunavut officials flew to Greenland in late January.

But Akesuk apparently didn’t know that the controversy in Greenland over Canadian sealskins is far from over.

Last week, the chief executive officer of Great Greenland, Michael Køllgaard Nielsen, was fired after “reliable information” alleging the fraudulent use of public funds. In a recent interview with Greenland’s KNR radio, Ellen Kristoffersen, the chairman of the Greenlandic parliament’s finance committee, said she had received reliable information about fraud within Great Greenland.

According to Kristoffersen, an informant said Greenlandic sealskins were exchanged for Canadian sealskins. The Greenlandic government now wants a full investigation into the transactions at Great Greenland.

Akesuk made a safe promise to Arreak when he said that the GN would continue trying to sell sealskins to countries willing to buy them.