Being Indigenous by Neyooxet Greymorning

Author:Neyooxet Greymorning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2017-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

G-60

The year 1960 saw the establishment of another committee (later known as G-60), comprising Greenlandic and Danish politicians, civil servants and trade representatives. It delivered its report in 1964.17 Concerning the differences in salaries, the Committee did not find grounds for altering this policy. People were to be paid based on place of birth. Where previously a Greenlander could obtain the same salary as a worker from Denmark by staying in Denmark for 10 years, this was no longer to be the case.18 Greenlanders wanted equality, which also meant equal salaries (Højlund, 1972, p.103). Another issue addressed by the Committee concerned where the population should live. It made economic sense for Greenlanders to live in as few places as possible. Four towns in open water areas where the sea ice did not disturb traffic were identified as places where fishing should be the primary occupation, using a modern fishing fleet and adjoining fish processing plants. Although the provincial council could understand the economic rationale, it nonetheless opposed the establishment of a policy determining where people should live.19

In the town of Qullissat on Disko Island was a coalmine, which had been in operation since 1924. The town had a rich and vibrant working-class culture; indeed, workers’ organizations and even a communist party had been established. Qullissat was one of the biggest towns in Greenland; however, the mine was increasingly producing a deficit. In 1968, the Danish authorities decided to close both the mine and the town, a decision supported by most members of the provincial council. The closure in 1972 was a traumatic event, especially for the population of the town20 who felt that they had been denied a say in the matter. This event contributed to the political mobilization of Greenlanders and led to demands for greater political influence.

This demand from the Greenlandic politicians for greater political influence had in 1967 meant an alteration in the Provincial Council. Instead of the governor being chairman of the council, now the members elected their own chairman (Olsen, 1967).

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