Witness History
Denmark’s Inuit children experiment
Feb 26, 2025
Helene Thiesen, one of the 22 Inuit children sent from Greenland to Denmark in 1951, shares her poignant journey of cultural dislocation. The conversation reveals the emotional struggles the children faced, including feelings of loss and the pressure to assimilate. Helene recounts her heartbreaking return to Greenland and the impact of colonialism on their identity. The discussion highlights the resilience of these young Inuit as they navigated a confusing and often painful experience, ultimately reflecting on the darker legacy of this social experiment.
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Quick takeaways
- The 1951 social experiment involving 22 Inuit children in Denmark aimed to modernize Greenland but resulted in profound emotional trauma and identity issues.
- Many children experienced feelings of abandonment and resentment towards their parents and the Danish authorities, complicating their cultural reintegration.
Deep dives
The Impact of a Social Experiment
In 1951, the Danish government initiated a controversial social experiment by sending 22 Inuit children from Greenland to Denmark under the guise of education and assimilation. The children, aged between five and eight, were selected for their perceived intelligence, with the hope that they would become fluent in Danish and aid in modernizing Greenland. However, this relocation caused immense emotional trauma, as many children felt lost and disconnected from their families, with one participant recalling how she couldn't understand her mother upon return. This experiment ultimately left the children marginalized within their own society, with several struggling with identity issues and addiction as a result of their dislocation.
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