A place to be heard

On 15 September, The Greenlandic House in Copenhagen will host Naapitta - Racism, Power and Structures, an event focusing on racism and discrimination against Greenlanders in Denmark.

The event is part of Naapitta, Greenlandic for "Let us meet". The initiative creates a space where participants can share their experiences and help decide which issues should be discussed.

"It is not us who decide what people should hear about or which direction we should take. The people who participate tell us what they need," said Aviaja Larsen, project manager of Naapitta, in the Greenlandic House, Copenhagen.

According to Aviaja Larsen, participants have asked to learn more about racism, Greenlandic identity and community, and how Greenland is presented in Danish education.

Aviaja Larsen said Greenlanders experience discrimination in different forms, ranging from racist jokes and stereotypes to discrimination at work, in the healthcare system and in some cases, physical violence.

Aviaja Larsen also has personal experience of racism. Growing up in Denmark with a Greenlandic mother and a Danish father, she remembers hearing racist jokes from the age of 12 or 13. Later, people told her that she was doing well "for a Greenlander" or that she was attractive "for a Greenlander".

Through her work, Aviaja Larsen has discovered that the problem is more serious than she had previously believed. However, Naapitta is also intended to create pride and a sense of community.

"I hope that many people feel stronger and prouder of who they are," Aviaja Larsen said, and continue:

"Their voices are important, because this is about them," Aviaja Larsen said.

Although most participant have so far been Greenlanders, the initiative is open to everyone. Aviaja Larsen stressed that Danish participation is also necessary.

"It is difficult to have truth and reconciliation alone. We must work together with Danes and understand each other, and the more we delve into this, the more we discover just how many areas and sectors are affected by racism, and it turns out to be worse than I had anticipated," concluded Aviaja Larsen.

The Meetings combine serious discussions with traditions Greenlandic drum singing, shared meals and informal conversation. Aviaja Larsen said eating together helps people from different ages and social background meet as equals. For some participants, the events have become a rare place where they feel heard and taken seriously.