Researchers unveil first projects on Denmark-Greenland history

Researchers have announced the first four projects in a review of the historical relationship between Denmark and Greenland, more than four years after the two governments agreed to the work, DR reports.

The projects will examine adoptions, people legally classified as fatherless, schooling and language, and settlement and working conditions. Research lead Tenna Jensen said the projects would explore specific decisions and their consequences, according to a press release reported by Greenlandic broadcaster KNR.

The Danish government and Naalakkersuisut, Greenland’s government, agreed to the review in June 2022, following DR’s reporting on the IUD case, in which thousands of women had intrauterine devices inserted without their knowledge or consent. The terms of reference were adopted the following year and listed possible topics including the closure of Greenlandic settlements, adoptions and Greenlandic children sent to Denmark.

The review is intended to examine significant decisions and events since the Second World War and their effects on Greenland’s population, with the aim of creating a basis for reconciliation with the past. Research leads were appointed in 2024 and hired in 2025. The University of Greenland, Ilisimatusarfik, said in September 2025 that work had begun, after criticism that the review had not yet started.

KNR reported that the research team submitted a project plan in February 2026, but it was not presented to the review’s advisory group before Denmark’s general election. The team was later asked to revise the plan in light of, among other things, new budget information and the Danish government’s policy platform.

The review is based at Ilisimatusarfik, and members of the public are to be involved. Denmark initially allocated 45 million kroner. The terms of reference say the work should, as far as possible, be completed within five years of the agreement between the university and the research lead.