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Kids Edition
2014
Greenland
Kalaallit Nunaat
Around 85 percent of Greenland is covered with ice.
The official name for Greenland is Kalaallit Nunaat, meaning Land of the Greenlanders. The original Inuit
inhabitants of Greenland came from the west. Vikings arrived thousands of years later and are said to have
named it Greenland in order to get people to come and settle there.
Around 12 million seals live in Greenland’s waters.
Greenland is the largest island in the world that is not its own continent.
Boiled seal meat soup is a popular everyday dish in Greenland. It is called suaasat and is usually served with rice
and onions.
There are no roads connecting cities or towns in Greenland. People must travel by plane or boat to go long
distances.
Denmark granted Greenland self-government in 2009.
The aurora borealis, or Northern Lights (a natural display of lights that occurs in the northern hemisphere), can be
seen on clear nights, especially during fall and winter.
Reindeer can be found in the west and on the northwest coast of Greenland.
During Greenland’s Arctic summer, the sun never sets north of the Arctic Circle.
Family members in Greenland have complicated Greenlandic nicknames. The nicknames indicate a number of
things, from whether the person is a boy or girl and how old they are to their place among their siblings. For
example, the nickname Aqqalu means you are a little brother to an older sister.
Greenland is home to the largest national park in the world. The Northeast Greenland National Park covers
375,000 square miles (972,000 sq km) and stretches across the entire northeastern portion of the island.
Flag
The flag of Greenland is called Erfalasorput in Greenlandic, meaning “our flag.” It was
adopted 21 June 1985. The design represents the rising sun reflected in the ice. The
colors are the same as those of the flag of Denmark, symbolizing the link between the
two.
National Image
The coat of arms of Greenland features a polar bear on a blue shield. The polar bear
symbol dates back to the coat of arms of Denmark and the Danish royal family. Inuit
tradition holds that polar bears are left-handed, so the bear is shown raising his left
paw.
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Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 836,331
Area (sq. km.): 2,166,086
Located between the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, just northeast of Canada,
Greenland is the largest island in the world. Covering 836,330 square miles (2,166,086
sq km), Greenland is about the same size as Saudi Arabia, or more than three times
the size of the state of Texas. Though it is a territory of Denmark, Greenland is part of
the North American continent. The vast majority of Greenland is covered by ice caps,
some of them more than a mile thick! A narrow, mountainous rocky coast is the only
area not covered by ice, and most of the population lives in small settlements along the
coast. Many fjords (deep, sea-filled canyons), coves, and bays stretch along this
coastal area. The mainland is surrounded by hundreds of smaller islands.
Qeqertarsuaq is the largest of these.
Greenland’s climate is arctic, meaning it experiences cool summers and very cold
winters. Because of its location close to the North Pole, Greenland has both periods of
long summer days, called “midnight sun,” as well as stretches of winter when the sun
never rises. During these periods, you can see the aurora borealis (a natural display of
lights that occurs in the northern hemisphere). Inuit folktales say that the aurora
borealis are the spirits of their ancestors dancing in the heavens. The temperature
depends on where you are. The average temperature in the south ranges from 21°F
(-6°C) in the winter to 45°F (7°C) in the summer. It is much colder in the north, where
it rarely rains or snows. All of Greenland is above the timberline (the farthest north trees
can grow), so no true trees grow there, but there is a short growing season when
flowers, berries, and plants bloom, including Greenland’s national flower, the dwarf
fireweed. As climates change around the world, scientists worry that Greenland’s ice
cap will melt, causing sea levels to rise and changing ocean currents.
Population
Population: 57,714
More than 57,000 people make Greenland their home. Close to 90 percent of
Greenlanders are Inuit, while the remaining people are mostly Danish. A quarter of the
population lives in the capital city of Nuuk. The rest make their homes in smaller towns
and settlements along the west coast. Most Greenlanders either make their living as
fishermen or whale and seal hunters or they work for the government as teachers,
construction workers, or healthcare workers. Some move to Denmark to find jobs or go
to college.
Language
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Greenlandic, or Kalaallisut, is the official language of Greenland. It replaced Danish as
part of the Self-Government Act of 2009. Greenlandic is an Inuit dialect (way of
pronouncing or speaking). Danish was the primary language taught in schools for many
years, so today almost all Greenlanders speak both Greenlandic and Danish. Signs are
usually printed in both languages, and some include English as well. In Greenlandic,
vowels are very soft and consonants are spoken deep in the throat. Greenlanders also
use unspoken signals to speak to each other. Raising your eyebrows means yes, while
squinting your eyes means no.
Can You Say It in Greenlandic?
Hello
Aluu
(al-LUU)
Good-bye
Takuss
(dah-GUSS)
Please
Ikinngutinnersumik
(ICK-in-goo-tin-ner-SOO-mick)
Thank you
Qujanaq
(koh-yah-NAK)
Yes
Aap
(ah-AP)
No
Naamik
(nah-MICK)
Religion
Most Greenlanders belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. They celebrate Christian holidays such as Christmas
and Easter, and important events like baptisms, weddings, and funerals are religious events. An interest in spirituality is
common among Greenlanders. The original Inuit inhabitants worshipped nature and believed that every living thing had
an inue, or soul. They used to wear small carved figures known as amulets around their necks, believing that they
brought good luck and kept away harm. Today, amulets are still popular as decorative jewelry.
Time Line
2500 BC
2500 BC
The Saqqaq people live in what is now southern Greenland
AD 982
AD 982
Erik the Red is banished from Iceland and voyages to what is now
Greenland and names it that in order to encourage settlers to move
there
986
Erik the Red returns with settlers
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1000
Erik the Red’s son Leif Eriksson leaves Greenland on a journey to
North America, landing in what is now Newfoundland and Labrador;
Christianity is established in Greenland
1261
Norway claims Greenland
Late 1400s
The last Norse settlers mysteriously disappear
1600
Viking settlements in Greenland vanish; Inuit are the only inhabitants
1605
Denmark sends expeditions to Greenland and claims the area
1721
Missionary Hans Egede establishes a new Danish settlement near
present-day Nuuk
1774
Denmark founds the Royal Greenland Trading Department, which
begins to manage the government of Greenland
1800
1800s
Greenland is explored and mapped
1861
The first Inuit newspaper begins
1897
Arctic explorer Robert Peary arrives in Greenland
1900
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1940
Germany occupies Denmark during World War II; the United States
takes protective custody of Greenland for the rest of the war,
establishing air bases on the island
1945
Greenland is returned to Denmark; the United States and its North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies continue to use the island
for military purposes
1953
Greenland gains county status in Denmark and representation in the
Danish parliament; Greenlanders become full Danish citizens; Inuit
hunters are forced to leave their land in northern Greenland so the
United States can expand its airbase at Thule
1968
An American B-52 bomber with four nuclear weapons on board
crashes near Thule, scattering radioactive material
1972
Greenland and Denmark join the European Community
1979
Greenland achieves home rule, meaning parliament decides on
internal matters but Denmark keeps control of constitutional, foreign
relations, and defense issues
1982
Greenlanders vote to leave the European Community
1989
Gold is discovered in Greenland, but natural conditions make it
extremely difficult to mine
2000
2000
Greenland celebrates the one-thousand-year anniversary of Leif
Eriksson’s voyage to North America
2004
A gold mine opens at Nalunaq
2008
Greenlanders vote for self-government, including more control over
their energy resources and property rights
2009
Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) replaces Danish as the official language
2010
Greenland’s ice sheet continues shrinking, contributing to rising sea
levels worldwide
2013
Aleqa Hammond becomes the first female prime minister of Greenland
PRESENT
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Inuit Travelers
Greenland’s earliest inhabitants were Inuit groups who traveled to the island from
different parts of what is now Canada thousands of years ago. They came by boat or
canoe, traveling from island to island before settling down on the coast of present-day
Greenland. They came in waves, with hundreds of years separating groups. These
groups hunted and fished to survive in the harsh environment. Archaeologists have
found remains of their way of life, including bone needles, stone arrowheads, umiaks
(sealskin boats), and figures carved from caribou antlers and ivory. These early peoples
used dogsleds to get around and whale blubber to light and heat their settlements. As
the climate cooled, they moved farther south along the coast, while some may have
returned to what is now Canada or Alaska. For thousands of years, these ancestors of
modern Inuit were the only people who lived in present-day Greenland.
Viking Visitors
Around AD 930, a Viking explorer named Gunnbjörn Ulfsson accidentally landed on
present-day Greenland, becoming the first known European to see it. But it wasn’t until
Erik the Red arrived 50 years later, after being forced out of his homeland of Iceland,
that Europeans began settling there. Erik the Red named the land Greenland in order to
encourage people to move there. His followers established two settlements along the
west coast. There they farmed, hunted, and raised cattle, sheep, and other livestock.
Before long, several thousand people lived in the colony. Christianity came to the island
at this time, and many were converted to the new religion. In 1261, Norway took over
Greenland and sent trade ships to carry supplies back and forth between the two lands.
In the late 13th century, the Norse settlements began to fall apart. No one is sure
exactly what caused them to fail, but by the end of the century the Norse disappeared
completely from Greenland.
A Colony of Denmark
In the 16th century, much of Europe was on the hunt for a Northwest Passage—a sea
route through or north of North America. Such a passage would make it much faster to
reach Asia and transport goods such as the valuable Asian spices the Europeans
loved. An English explorer by the name of Martin Frobisher spent years searching the
waters around Greenland for a way through. Frobisher was unsuccessful, but other
explorers followed him, mapping the area and interacting with the Inuit people.
European whaling ships visited the area often, trading iron and knives for ivory.
Denmark claimed all of Greenland in 1605 and began colonizing the area. Trading
companies were established to support the colonial efforts. Danish missionaries built
churches, and the missionaries set about converting the population to Christianity. The
Inuit were no longer allowed to practice their traditional religion, and the Danish
authorities encouraged them to change most aspects of their native way of life to fit in
with a more European lifestyle. Denmark also created the Royal Greenland Trading
Department to control trade in the region and run the government of Greenland. The
department’s control lasted until after World War II.
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World War II
World War II broke out in 1939, not long after Hitler’s forces occupied Denmark. The United States set up several air
bases in Greenland, including one at Thule. These bases allowed the United States to ship supplies to its European
allies. Many Greenlanders helped in the war effort, watching for German attacks and even fighting in a series of small
battles when German forces attempted to set up weather stations on the island.
After the war, Denmark regained control of Greenland. It became a Danish county in 1953, and all Greenlanders
became Danish citizens. Inuit populations were forced to move out of their small villages to apartment buildings in the
larger towns. Many were put to work in manufacturing plants. But the natives were unhappy with their new way of life,
and unemployment and dissatisfaction grew.
Home Rule and Self-Government
In 1978, the desire of Greenlanders for more control over their homeland reached an
all-time high. Greenland and Denmark voted on independence, and it was approved.
Greenland became mostly independent with a Home Rule Government. Denmark kept
control of international affairs and defense. The first Home Rule elections were held the
following year. In 2008, Greenlanders voted to transfer more power to the local
government and to replace Danish with Greenlandic as the official language of
Greenland. The majority of Greenlanders would like to achieve full independence from
Denmark, but not everyone is sure Greenland would be able to support itself and its
people without the remaining financial help it still receives from Denmark. But as
Greenland brings in more money from natural resources, full independence may
become a reality.
Games and Sports
Cross-country skiing is popular in Greenland, and many skiers train by racing down
glaciers. Running is also a favorite sport. Greenland hosts six marathons every year, as
well as adventure, trail, and orienteering races in many towns throughout the warmer
half of the year. Many Greenlanders run in the winter as well. Hiking, climbing, fishing,
and hunting are also popular activities, while snowmobiling and dogsledding are
common in the northern regions. Many Greenlanders kayak along the fjords (deep,
sea-filled canyons), and most towns have a kayak club. Every two years, teenage Inuit
from Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Russia compete in the Arctic Winter Games. The
games include Winter Olympics events as well as traditional Inuit sports such as
dogsledding, snow-stake throwing, and fingerpull (in which contestants hook middle
fingers and try to pull each other forward).
Holidays
Christmas in Greenland occurs during the dead of winter, when the sun never rises in
the northernmost part of the land. To brighten the long nights, Greenlanders light
strings of Christmas lights and place candles in the windows of their homes and
workplaces for the entire month of December and through the first week of January.
Families decorate their homes with red-orange Christmas stars and decorated
Christmas trees. On Christmas Eve, families dance around the Christmas tree and
children go caroling to their friends’ and neighbors’ homes. They receive cookies in
exchange for singing, and many children get to open their presents on Christmas Eve.
Greenlanders celebrate New Year’s twice. They shoot off fireworks and eat a meal at 8
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p.m. on New Year’s Eve, when it is midnight in Denmark. Then they repeat these
celebrations four hours later, at midnight Greenland time.
On 21 June, the longest day of the year, when the sun never sets, Greenlanders
celebrate National Day, or Ullortuneq, meaning “the longest day.” Towns and villages
gather to sing songs, including the national anthem, and raise the flag. Picnics and
parties follow these ceremonies.
Food
Greenlanders eat lots of fish and meat. Chicken, beef, and pork are common, but so
are seal, whale, and reindeer. Some of the most popular fish are arctic char, cod, and
salmon. Greenlanders eat ullaakkorsiutit (breakfast), ullup qeqqa (lunch), and unnukkut
(dinner) every day. They usually have cereal, bread, and tea or coffee for ullaakkorsiutit
. People use salt and pepper to season their food, as well as local plants such as
Scotch moss and thyme. Young people enjoy homemade sushi made with fresh fish
caught locally. Greenlanders are also fond of foreign dishes, especially spicy ones. Kids
eat dried meat or fish or crowberries as snacks. People pick blueberries and
crowberries in the fall. Berry crisps and cobblers are favorite desserts. Greenlander
families like to share their food and eat outside in the summertime.
Schools
Children start school at age six and continue through age sixteen. Lessons are taught
in Greenlandic. Whether you live in one of Greenland’s larger towns, a small
settlement, or perhaps on a remote sheep farm in the south, the school day runs
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to anywhere between 12 and 3 p.m. The majority of
Greenland’s small settlements have schools with sometimes as few as five to ten
students. Town schools may have up to four or five hundred students. Children from the
smallest settlements or remote sheep farms may have to travel to the nearest school or
live in a school home away from their families. When they get to high school, students
can study specific courses related to the kind of jobs they would like to have, such as
social workers, nurses, or journalists. There are also specialized high schools that
students can choose to attend to study specific subjects, such as natural sciences or
business. Greenland has one university, in Nuuk, but many high school graduates
decide to go to college in Denmark.
Life as a Kid
Most children in Greenland spend a lot of time outdoors, especially during their school holidays in the summer, when
days are long and bright. Whether you are a town or settlement kid, unspoiled nature is never far away, and this
unlimited space is often the preferred playground. Family summer activities include berry picking, fishing (particularly
char fishing in the ocean and rivers), and reindeer hunting in the late summer. These activities are part of the cultural
heritage passed on between generations for centuries. Winter sports are popular, but soccer is played year-round
regardless of the season. All towns and some settlements have indoor sport facilities. The many sports clubs practice
handball, soccer, badminton, table tennis, tae kwon do, and folk dancing. In addition to playing outdoors, most kids
enjoy watching movies, listening to and playing music, using social media, and playing electronic games on their
smartphones, tablets, and PlayStations. Social media networks offer a great opportunity to stay in touch with family and
friends, even though they might live in faraway towns.
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Government
Capital: Nuuk
Head of State: Queen Margrethe II (Denmark)
Head of Government: PM Aleqa Hammond
Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has self-rule, meaning it has its own government (Naalakkersuisut) in
charge of all island matters. The government of Denmark still takes care of the finances, defense, and foreign affairs
for Greenland. The prime minister of Greenland runs the government. The Inatsisartut (parliament) is made up of 31
members, who are elected every four years. Greenlanders also elect two members of the Folketing (Denmark’s
parliament). The voting age is 18.
Money and Economy
Currency: Danish krone
Greenland’s economy is based on fish and shrimp, which it sells to other nations.
Denmark is its main trading partner, sending food, medical supplies, and transportation
equipment to Greenland. The Danish government also provides financial aid. The
government is exploring many natural resources, such as oil, gas, gold, aluminum, and
other minerals. The majority of the people in Greenland work for the government.
Tourism is also a growing industry, with many cruise ships arriving in the island during
the summer season. The currency is the Danish krone (DKK).
Getting Around
In larger towns, where there are roads, most Greenlanders own cars. In Nuuk, there are
taxis and a public bus system, with routes running throughout the town every day of the
week. Traffic jams are common in the mornings. Outside of the larger towns, however,
few people own cars and public transportation is rare. Most people walk to and from
places within their own village or town, or sometimes they use snowmobiles and
dogsleds to get around. There are almost no paved roads between towns, so
Greenlanders travel long distances by boat or by plane. Boats also travel up and down
the coast on a regular basis.
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The First Day of School
At the age of six, a Greenlandic child begins school. On the first day of school, most
children are dressed in their national costumes, and the school is decorated with flags.
Often, each child’s relatives do a ritual called paggaa, in which coins, candy, and little
gifts are thrown up in the air. When they hit the ground, the children can run and grab
them. Once the first, short school day is over, most families celebrate by inviting people
over for kaffillerneq, an open house with a buffet of cakes and sometimes other
kalaalimineq (Greenlandic dishes). Guests drop by with gifts to congratulate the child
and family. After enjoying the delicacies and cakes, guests often move on to yet
another kaffillerneq since it is the first day of school for every six-year-old in town!
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of Denmark, 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 234-4300; web
site usa.um.dk. Or visit the official government of Greenland web site uk.nanoq.gl.
© 2014 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to
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