Study of Greenlandic mining legislation (1932-2021): independence through mining, land uses and social conflicts

• Published in: Nuevo mundo mundos nuevos
• Main Author: Bailleul, Pia
• Other Authors: Centre d'Etudes Himalayennes (CEH), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (MQBJC)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: land; laws; indigenous people; independence; Greenland; terres; lois; autochtone; indépendance; Groenland; [SHS.ANTHRO-SE]Humanities and Social Sciences/Social Anthropology and ethnology; greenlandic
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03875588; https://hal.science/hal-03875588/document; https://hal.science/hal-03875588/file/nuevomundo-85433.pdf; https://doi.org/10.4000/nuevomundo.85433

International audience In 2009, Greenland's autonomy is reinforced by pro-independence legislation. This law states the handing over of all political power to the island and in particular authority over land, until then under the Danish government. It sets the conditions for the autonomy of the national, until then partially funded by Denmark. Danish grants were to be replaced by revenues from the mining industry, thus bringing Greenland to full independence. Since 2009, the mining sector has been strengthened by laws aiming towards developing its industrial side and nationalizing the land. These developments gave rise to a national mobilization leading to “indigenous” and “citizenship” claims in an unprecedented way. I consider these political categories as symptoms of a disturbance of national cohesion by the new territorial and industrial measures taken in favor of developing the mining sector. This article explores the characteristics and implications of associating a national independence project with a legislation that fosters the development of industrial mining, and analyzes political disturbance as revealing of a transformation in land management and uses. En 2009, l'autonomie politique du Groenland est renforcée par une législation indépendantiste. Cette loi établit le transfert de toutes les compétences politiques à l'île, et notamment celles sur les sols, jusque-là sous autorité danoise. Elle fixe les conditions de l'autonomisation du budget, toujours partiellement financé par le Danemark. Sa part serait remplacée par les recettes de l'industrie minière, apportant au Groenland l'indépendance. Depuis 2009, ce secteur est ainsi l'objet de lois qui visent à le renforcer et à nationaliser les terres. Ces développements donnent lieu à une contestation nationale, qui fait émerger des revendications « autochtones » et « citoyennes » de façon inédite. Ces catégories politiques deviennent alors les symptômes d'une cohésion nationale troublée par ces nouvelles mesures. Cet article étudie les ...