The echoes of past colonial ambitions are being stirred anew as geopolitical powers eye Greenland, sending ripples of concern through Indigenous communities across the Arctic.
Imagine a biting Arctic wind, sharp enough to steal your breath, yet about 70 individuals in Nunavut, Canada, braved it all. They marched, signs held high, proclaiming, "We stand with Greenland" and "Greenland is a partner, not a purchase." This wasn't just a protest; it was a powerful statement from Indigenous peoples across the Arctic, seeing the struggle for Greenland as a broader fight for their hard-won rights against the backdrop of global power plays.
Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada's national Inuit organization, drew a stark parallel between Donald Trump's interest in Greenland and "centuries of imperialism by different nation states but also colonisation by different actors." He voiced a sentiment shared by many: "Inuit have had to figure out how to maintain our society, our culture and our self-determination in the midst of other people wanting different things from us or from our lands and territories."
This feels like a disturbing step backward. Obed expressed deep worry, stating, "The overtures from the United States – and it isn’t just one individual but a chorus of individuals all saying very similar things – makes us incredibly worried that we are on the precipice of another age of disrespect for our collective rights."
What's particularly unsettling, Obed explained, is the focus on Greenland's potential for mineral extraction or defense installations. "That’s the scariest part of the rhetoric that has been circulating," he admitted. "I did believe we were beyond this central premise that if Indigenous peoples do not improve our land based on the criteria of imperialist actors, that somehow we do not have self-determination. The decisions that are made about our land and what we want for it are ours alone."
While Trump has since stated he wouldn't take Greenland by force, the White House has indicated a persistent desire to influence the world's largest island. U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, even penned an opinion piece calling Greenland "one of the world’s most strategically consequential regions." This piece, notably, made no mention of the Indigenous peoples who have called Greenland home for millennia, instead emphasizing that "American dominance in the Arctic is non-negotiable."
But here's where it gets controversial: For residents of Greenland, statements about "buying" or "taking over" the territory evoke a painful past where Indigenous lands were viewed as mere commodities, with Inuit voices largely excluded from decisions shaping their lives.
Sara Olsvig, chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, voiced this concern: "In the increased tension between great powers, our concern is that the Arctic is portrayed as an asset or as an empty ice desert." She passionately countered, "To us it is our homeland, its riches are what sustain our people, our culture, our children, youth, and elders. Inuit have lived and thrived in our Arctic region for time immemorial, long before the concept of states."
This global power struggle has highlighted a fundamental misunderstanding: Greenland is not a territory to be traded. After centuries under Danish rule, it is now a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. As Olsvig clarified, "Thus, Greenland is not ‘owned’ by Denmark, nor can Denmark ’sell’ Greenland."
She described the recent rhetoric as carrying "connotations to earlier times of colonisation," compelling her and others to reassert that Inuit and the people of Greenland are equals. Her powerful statement, "There is no such thing as a better coloniser," cuts through any pretense of benevolent acquisition.
In Alaska, the news hit close to home. Marie Greene, president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council – Alaska, shared the emotional toll: "At first it was unbelievable, then it became heartbreaking as we heard about our people, especially kids and elders, worrying about being invaded."
These threats strike at the heart of Inuit efforts to maintain peace in the Arctic, a region increasingly caught between global powers. Vivian Korthuis, also from Inuit Circumpolar Council – Alaska, emphasized, "For Inuit, peace in the Arctic is not an abstract principle; it is about protecting our homelands, our families, and the future of our children." She added, "Lasting peace comes from listening to Inuit, respecting our rights, and engaging with us as partners whose knowledge and responsibility are rooted in the Arctic itself."
And this is the part most people miss: Gunn-Britt Retter of the Saami Council, representing Sámi peoples across Scandinavia and Russia, pointed out how Indigenous peoples often become invisible during geopolitical crises. "When geopolitics gets heated, you get into this mode where state leaders start talking and the first thing that is forgotten is Indigenous peoples," she stated. "There’s always something more important. It’s like: ‘Yeah we value Indigenous peoples or we respect the rights of Indigenous peoples, but right now this is more important.’"
This suggests a concerning pattern: Indigenous rights are acknowledged in times of stability but are sidelined when strategic interests, like economic or military advantages, come into play. Retter noted, "Indigenous issues become something to talk about when there are budget surpluses."
For many in the Arctic, the situation in Greenland is a chilling preview of what's to come. Obed of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami observed, "We understand that we are increasingly in the centre of a geopolitical fight that is not necessarily around our culture or our society, but is in our homeland, in our back yards."
He cited the significant investments by Russia and China in Arctic ports and the quiet race to claim the Northwest Passage as climate change reshapes the region. "We know these fights are coming," Obed concluded. "So this is the moment to build alliances and strategies and plans to ensure that when those times come, we’re ready for that."
What are your thoughts on this resurgence of colonial-era rhetoric in international relations? Do you believe Indigenous rights are truly being prioritized, or are they secondary to geopolitical ambitions? Share your perspective in the comments below!
