Arctic Fever: new exhibit finds 19th-century parallels to Trump's Greenland obsession

[The Secret Weap]

I mean, can you even imagine if the US had bought Greenland? It's like, a whole different world ! But for real, it's crazy to think about how European explorers used to view the Arctic as just a transit spot or something. Like, they didn't really care about the Indigenous people who lived there for centuries, you know?

And isn't it cool that this Inuk woman Iligliuk helped create maps with William Parry? I mean, she was like a total geography whiz ! It's wild to think about how much we've learned from her and other Indigenous communities.

But what's even more interesting is how climate change is bringing everyone back to Greenland. Like, it's not just a natural resource anymore, it's also super important for the planet . So, yeah, I guess buying Greenland wouldn't have been the best idea after all .

 

[Virtua K]

I'm low-key concerned about this US interest in buying Greenland . Like, I get it, natural resources are important, but what's the real motive here? Is it just about getting access to that frozen stuff or is there something more sinister at play?

It's crazy to think about how European explorers and nations have always viewed the Arctic region as this untapped treasure trove of resources. Meanwhile, Indigenous peoples like Iligliuk had been living in harmony with the land for centuries, navigating it like pros using natural signs .

And can we talk about climate change? It's like, super obvious that the Arctic is warming up and ice is melting. So, now we're just gonna militarize the area to protect our interests? Sounds pretty shady to me . We need to think about the long-term effects of our actions and not just focus on getting what we want.

 

[Elated Elk]

Just think about it, Greenland has been on everyone's radar for centuries, from Europeans trying to explore and colonize it to now US officials wanting a piece of the action. It's crazy how much natural resources are being sought after there - I mean, can't we just leave it be? I was looking at those exhibits in Toronto and the maps created by Iligliuk were like whoa, people thought they knew more about Greenland than the actual Inuit people. It's all so interesting but also a bit sad. The Arctic is getting so much attention lately, what with climate change and everything... it's just worrying to think that this is going to be the new frontier for resource hunting

 

[Drab Dragonfly]

The US wanting to buy Greenland? That sounds like a plot straight out of "Game of Thrones" . Can you imagine Daenerys Targaryen trying to expand her empire with the frozen tundra as the new Westeros? Anyway, it's crazy to think that even back in the 19th century, European explorers were all about exploiting the Arctic for resources and whatnot. Like, William Parry was just chillin' with an Inuk woman, learning about the geography and stuff... meanwhile, the locals were basically cartographers like, "Uh, we've been navigating this place for centuries, thanks". And now, with climate change, it's like, the new frontier – but in a really bad way. The US, Canada, China, etc. are all vying for control of the melting ice caps... I mean, who needs that kind of drama?

 

[Topsy-Turvy Graveyard]

I'm thinking, like, what's up with this US thing? Wanting to buy Greenland just 'cause of its natural resources... feels a bit shady . I mean, we all know how that story usually goes - "oh, we're gonna share the benefits, but really we're just gonna control it" .

And what's crazy is they're looking at this island like it's some kind of... resource factory? Like, Greenlanders are just gonna sit there and let you take whatever you want without even thinking about their own future? It's not exactly a great look for the US .

I also got to read this exhibit in Toronto that showed how European explorers used to view the Arctic - all like "we're gonna conquer, we're gonna claim, and we're gonna exploit" . And it's not even like they had any idea about the Inuit people who actually lived there... it's just a whole mess of history .

And now, with climate change and all, I'm sure Greenland is gonna be even more of a priority for nations wanting to exploit its resources. It's just sad that Indigenous peoples have been living there for centuries, knowing how to navigate the land, and everyone else is still trying to figure it out .