For nearly two decades, Qarsoq Høegh-Dam has been subjected to the same refrain whenever discussions arise about Greenland assuming greater responsibility from Denmark. He recalls the litany of excuses: “Things are not ready yet,” “Denmark has neglected us,” and “We don’t have enough police officers.”
“At 18, I heard these justifications; at 36, I’m still hearing them,” he says with palpable frustration. “I’m tired of it.” With a renewed sense of purpose, Høegh-Dam is determined to change the narrative in the coming four years.
His ambition is clear: to elevate the more than 30 areas still under Danish governance to the standards mandated by the Self-Government Act. “This way, there can be no more excuses within Greenland for not taking charge,” he asserts.
Just 11 days prior to the general election that took place a little over a month ago, Høegh-Dam, armed with a smile and a cup of coffee emblazoned with “The People’s Parliament,” announced his candidacy via social media. He secured over 4,000 personal votes for the Naleraq party.
In his new office in Copenhagen—an office he has taken over from his sister and fellow party member, Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam—a prominent Erfalasorput adorns one wall while a walrus skull rests on the table. Høegh-Dam has one principal goal in the Folketing. “My most crucial task in pursuing statehood is to eliminate any excuses for not moving in that direction if we truly desire it,” he says.
### The Legacy of Colonialism
While consensus exists at home regarding a long-term goal of independence, the predominant questions linger: when, and how? Høegh-Dam advocates for the proactive activation of section 21 of the Self-Government Act, which outlines the route to independence. “I firmly believe we are ready to take that step,” he declares.
Yet he recognizes this process will not unfold overnight. It necessitates negotiations to delineate the desired governance structure. A recurring theme in Høegh-Dam’s political philosophy is the yearning for self-determination.
“Whenever you critically examine history, you’re often accused of adopting a victim mentality. But we were a colony not so long ago,” he reflects. Høegh-Dam notes that colonial remnants persist today—his father was born during Greenland’s colonial period, and as a child, Høegh-Dam had to attend a Danish nursery due to a lack of space in a Greenlandic one across the hall.
In the ‘90s, Høegh-Dam found himself in a dual-language school system that still bore the traces of past “Danification.” “We still contend with many legacies of colonial rule, which cannot be dismissed as simply a bygone chapter,” he insists.
### An Existential Crisis
Currently, he describes Greenland as facing an “existential crisis,” as the right to self-determination comes under increasing pressure. “This threat is not solely from external forces; it also stems from international players who meddle in our affairs.”
He recalls the geopolitical stirrings incited by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks suggesting that Greenland should be part of the United States. The situation reached a peak in January when high-ranking officials from Greenland, Denmark, and the U.S. convened to establish a working group aimed at resolving these tensions.
Even now, Høegh-Dam finds it challenging to secure respect for Greenland’s self-determination rights from some quarters in Denmark. “Though we are recognized as a people under international law, there are many, including factions within the Danish establishment, who question this. Some in Denmark, like the Danish People’s Party, want to retain Greenland despite our right to self-determination. It’s a disheartening trend,” he laments.
In light of this reality, Høegh-Dam is committed to ensuring Greenland’s voice is heard in all related matters. He argues for equal access to foreign policy information for Inatsiartut members, similar to what Danish Parliamentarians receive on the Foreign Affairs Council. Furthermore, he aims to expedite the resolution of issues, like the ongoing ‘spiral case,’ while safeguarding Greenland’s responsibilities.
“It’s imperative to acknowledge that we are in a new era where the Greenlandic people assert themselves—not only in terms of self-determination but with the dignity and confidence necessary to engage in these discussions,” he concludes.