Greenland, the world’s largest island, has become the focus of international attention due to its strategic location and vast natural resources. In recent years, U.S. leaders, most notably former President Donald Trump, floated the idea of buying the island to secure military advantages and access to rare minerals. Denmark, which exercises legal sovereignty over Greenland, has consistently rejected the notion, emphasizing its jurisdiction over the territory.
The debate has sparked global discussion about sovereignty, indigenous rights, and the competing interests of superpowers in the Arctic. For the Inuit people, who have inhabited Greenland for around 1,000 years, the idea of “owning” the land is foreign. Their traditions emphasize shared stewardship rather than individual possession. While residents may hold rights to houses or plots for personal use, the land itself is viewed collectively, a principle enshrined in local law and cultural practice.
This communal understanding has survived centuries of Danish colonization and modernization, persisting in remote settlements where residents still rely on hunting, fishing, and subsistence activities to sustain their communities. The tension between indigenous stewardship and international political ambitions highlights the complexities of Arctic governance and raises questions about whose voices shape the future of the region.
Collective ownership tradition
For the Inuit, the concept of owning land individually is foreign. Houses may be privately held, but the land itself is communally shared. “We can’t even buy our own land ourselves, but Trump wants to buy it – that’s so strange to us,” said Kaaleeraq Ringsted, 74, a longtime resident of the small settlement of Kapisillit.
He explained that since childhood, he has been taught that the land is collectively held. “We have always been used to the idea that we collectively own our land,” Ringsted said.
Life in Kapisillit
Kapisillit, perched along a fjord east of Nuuk, offers a glimpse of life in remote Greenland: a small school, grocery store, service house, emergency room, and a pier connecting the village to weekly supply boats. Residents live close to nature, hunting and fishing for sustenance. “We’ve always had a free life here in nature,” said village leader Heidi Lennert Nolso.
Despite harsh winter conditions, residents maintain traditional livelihoods, traveling by boat and snowmobile to hunt seals, halibut, cod, and reindeer.
Guardians, not owners
Legal experts note that Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, does not allow private freehold ownership of land. “In Greenland, you can’t own the land. It’s been like that ever since our ancestors came here,” said Ulrik Blidorf, a Nuuk-based lawyer.
Many Inuit view themselves as guardians of the land rather than its owners. “The question should be who is responsible for the land. The land existed before us, and it will exist after us,” said Rakel Kristiansen, from a family of shamanic practitioners.
Challenges of survival and depopulation
Kapisillit has seen its population decline from nearly 500 at its peak to just 37 residents. Younger generations are leaving for education, jobs, and urban life in Nuuk. The school serves only three students this winter, raising concerns the settlement may vanish entirely.
Traditional livelihoods like sealskin processing remain physically demanding but continue to anchor older residents to the land. “I’m staying here. I belong here,” said Kristiane Josefsen, a lifelong resident. “This is my land. Greenland is my land.”
Analysis
The Inuit perspective highlights a fundamental contrast with international approaches to sovereignty and strategic assets. While global powers debate ownership and military access, Greenland’s residents see the land as a shared, living resource, emphasizing stewardship and continuity over transactional claims. As climate change, globalization, and economic pressures affect Greenland, the tension between local traditions and international interest in the island’s resources is likely to grow, underlining the importance of including indigenous voices in policy decisions.
With information from Reuters.
