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2500 BC: Independence I Culture. The first people come from Canada and settle in North and Northeast Greenland 2100 BC: The Saqqaq Culture comes from the west and settles on the west coast of Greenland 1100 BC: The Independence II Culture settles again in North and Northeast Greenland 400 BC: The Dorset Culture emigrates from Canada and settles in southern Greenland on both the east and west coasts. 900: The last Eskimo migration from the west, the Thule Culture arrives. They are the direct ancestors of present Greenlanders. 982: The banished Erik the Red from Iceland comes to Greenland for the first time 985: Erik the Red comes back with friends from Iceland and settles in South and West Greenland along the fertile fjords. Eastern Settlement and Western Settlement are a reality for approx. the next 500 years and the settlers are referred to today as Norsemen 1000: Christianity is introduced among the Icelandic Norsemen 1000: Leif Eriksson travels from Greenland to Vineland on the North American continent 1126: A cathedral is built in Igaliku/Gardar and Greenland gets its own bishop 1408: A wedding is held in Hvalsey Church in Qaqortoq 1410: Last account of the Norsemen 1721: The Danish/Norwegian missionary Hans Egede comes to Greenland to re-convert to
Christianity the Norsemen who haven’t been heard from for several centuries 1728: Hans Egede founds present Nuuk/Godthåb. The Norsemen have disappeared, but Greenlanders can be converted to Christianity instead 1774: The Royal Greenland Trading Company, KGH, is established and undertakes shipping and supply routes to Greenland 1845: Greenland’s Teaching College, Ilinniarfissuaq, opens in Nuuk 1847: The Cryolite Company is established 1854: Mining of cryolite starts in Ivittuut 1856: Local Greenlandic councils are established as administrative bodies 1884: Gustav Holm arrives in Ammassalik with women’s boats and kayaks from Qaqortoq. 400 people live here, without contact to the west coast of Greenland 1888: Fridtjof Nansen is the first to cross Greenland over the inland ice from east to west 1910: Knud Rasmussen establishes a trading station at Thule/Dundas 1914: The first novel in Greenlandic – »Singnagtuaq/A Greenlander’s Dream« is published by Mathias Storch, a science fiction novel, very critical of society 1921: The Danish cleric Rûttel converts the last non-believers in Ammassalik to Christianity 1933: The International Court in the Haag grants sovereignty of Northeast Greenland – the case was brought by Norway 1940: As a consequence of the occupation, Greenland’s sovereignty and supply routes are taken over by the USA. Chewing gum is introduced 1940-1945: During Denmark’s occupation, Greenland is independently funded by cryolite and export of salted fish. Chief constable Eske Brun is the highest authority 1941: Germany attempts to establish weather stations in East Greenland 1941: »The Greenland dogsled patrol« is founded to operate in North and Northeast Greenland, it is later known as the »Sirius Patrol« 1941: The airport at Søndre Strømfjord/Kangerlussuaq is established as an American air base 1948: SAS uses Kangerlussuaq/Søndre Strømfjord for stopovers on the polar route to Los Angeles. It is now possible to fly to Greenland 1951: The American air force builds Thule Air Base near Dundas. Later the population is moved to the newly-established town Qaannaaq, 100 km to the north 1953: A change in the constitution alters Greenland’s status from a colony to being a county in the Danish Realm 1959: M/S Hans Hedtoft sinks on its maiden voyage and all 95 people on board are lost. 1960: The airline »Greenlandsfly« – Air Greenland is founded 1972: Greenland, together with Denmark, becomes a member of the EU despite a large majority in Greenland who vote against the referendum 1977: The political party Sujumut (today spelled Siumut) is founded by Jonathan Motzfeldt, Moses Olsen and Lars Emil Johansen amongst others. There is a desire for Home Rule 1978: The Atassut party is founded by Lars Chemnitz, among others 1979: Referendum on the introduction of Home Rule 1979: Airport in Nuuk 1979: The introduction of Home Rule in accordance with joint Greenlandic – Danish wishes. Greenland can pass laws about everything except foreign policy, the justice system and monetary matters 1979: Jonathan Motzfeldt becomes the first president of Greenland’s Landsting a parliament with 31 representatives elected by the people 1980: Inuit Circumpolar Conference, ICC, an organ for all Arctic peoples has its headquarters in Nuuk 1982: Referendum in Greenland concerning membership of the EU, resulting in a resounding »no thanks« 1982: It is now possible to see Greenlandic TV broadcast by KNR in most towns 1984: Airport in Ilulissat 1985: Greenland is the first member ever to leave the EU 1985: Greenland gets its own flag, designed by artist Thue Christiansen. The flag is presented on Greenland’s National Day, June 21st – the longest day, Ullortuneq 1986: The Royal Greenland Trading Company is taken over by the Home Rule government and is called »Kalaallit Niuerfiat – KNI« 1989: Greenland’s first roundabout/traffic circle is
established in Nuuk 1992: Greenland has its own representation in Brussels 1992: The airport at Kangerlussuaq/Søndre Strømfjord is taken over from the USA by Greenland’s Home Rule for the sum of DKK 1 1995: World Championship in ice golf is held in Uummannaq 1998: Greenlandsfly (Air Greenland) starts flying between Greenland and Denmark in competition with SAS. After a couple of years, Greenlandsfly, now officially Air Greenland, flies the route alone 1999: A Danish-Greenlandic commission is established to work on a proposal for the framework of coming self-governance in Greenland 2000: The 1000th anniversary for Leif Eriksson’s journey to Vineland is celebrated in Qassiarsuk, Igaliku and Narsarsuaq 2003: A unanimous Landsting votes that self-governance should replace the existing Home Rule 2008: About 75% of votes given say »Yes« to the introduction of self-governance in Greenland 2009: At an election on June 2nd, the political party IA gets 14 seats and for the first time in 30 years, Siumut is not the biggest political party 2009: June 21st – self-governance is introduced in Greenland
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