Danish Prime Minister spent election day with Greenlanders living in Denmark
Danish Prime Minister spent election day with Greenlanders living in Denmark
“When I became Prime Minister, I knew that I would also be working with the Danish Realm. But I had no idea just how special a place Greenland – and all of you with roots in Greenland – would come to hold in my heart. Nor had I ever imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would be involved in defending you against anyone from outside.”
This is what the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said when she visited the city of Aalborg, Denmark, together with Uagut – the National Organisation for Greenlanders in Denmark – to meet with Greenlandic citizens for a discussion on Greenlanders’ rights, representation, and legal protection.
“For all of us who have been involved in this, whether as Greenlanders who have felt threatened, or as Danes who have felt a strong sense of solidarity – or, in my own case, as the one who had to stand at the forefront – we will never forget the time we have been through together. Greenland has been under completely unreasonable and unacceptable pressure. But you stood firm, and you did so with a grace, determination, and strength that the rest of the world greatly admires. And that is a tremendous tribute to you all,” she said.
“Because when things became turbulent, Greenland stood completely firm and said: ‘No. Greenland cannot be taken, it cannot be bought, and it cannot be claimed. Our country, our future, is ours.’”
At the event, there were also discussions about the wellbeing, identity, and cultural belonging among Greenlandic children and young people.
“In recent times, there has been significant geopolitical attention on Greenland. However, when the cameras are turned off, everyday life for Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark continues largely unchanged. Previous solutions within the healthcare system, social services, education system, and justice system have been fragmented and short-term. This is something we need to change,” said Julie Rademacher, Chair of Uagut, the National Organisation for Greenlanders in Denmark.
A quarter of all Greenlanders, approximately 17,000 people, live in Denmark.
At the event, the Greenlandic song Silarsuaq takuiuk was also sung, which is about the rising sun – as depicted on the Greenlandic flag.
Some of those in attendance had made jewellery for Mette Frederiksen and thanked her for her strong support. For example, she received a piece representing Greenland; and another representing a polar bear, with the explanation that she has been like a mother polar bear protecting her cubs.
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