The delegation was arranged to ensure there would be a strong Inuit presence in attendance at Friday’s flag raising ceremony for the Consulate General of Canada.
“We are one people,” said Pita Aatami, Makivvik president. “We can work together, but we don’t want to be controlled any more. We’ve been controlled for too long.”
Canada is one of the first countries to open a diplomatic mission in Greenland following Trump’s threats to have the U.S. take over the self-governing Arctic island, which is part of Denmark — a NATO member.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will officially open the new diplomatic post alongside Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General who is Inuk from Nunavik, Carolyn Bennett, Canada’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark and Virginia Mearns, Canada’s new Arctic ambassador.
The Canadian Coast Guard medium duty icebreaker ship named the CCGS Jean Goodwill will also be in Nuuk for the occasion.
“This is a positive thing that we’re trying to do and to show the world Inuit are united and Inuit are very strong and we are a force to be reckoned with,” said Adamie Delisle Alaku, executive vice-president in the department of environment, wildlife and research at Makivvik.