Greenland is a self-governing territory belonging to Denmark. According to the Self-Government Act from 2009, Greenlanders are stated as a people in relation to international law with the right to self-determination in the preamble. Furthermore, the Self-Government Act states that Greenlanders decide if Greenland is heading for independence. This issue would be decided through a referendum and if there is a majority behind such an event. Denmark as the core state recognizes Inuit as indigenous peoples and therefore Greenland is seen as an indigenous nation according to the Danish perspective. The ratification of the ILO 169 from 1996 is in place from a Danish perspective. However, what will happen if Greenland is going for independence, which is a topical issue today? Are Greenlanders considering themselves as indigenous or merely as a people? What are the divisions between the central state approach and the regional/local approach in relation to the concept of being indigenous or not? Is Greenland losing its indigenous rights if it is heading towards independence?
