In Greenland, a recent decision by the Danish government allows thousands of Inuit women to receive compensation for being subjected to a forced birth-control program involving the insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs). This move has sparked optimism among Inuit women in Canada who were also victims of similar treatment, hoping for acknowledgment and redress from their own government.
The Danish government’s bill for compensation follows an apology issued by the country’s prime minister about a year ago for the historical birth-control program. A joint Greenlandic-Danish inquiry in 2025 revealed that between 1966 and 1991, approximately 4,000 Greenlandic women and girls, some as young as 12, underwent forced sterilizations, often without their consent.
Naaja Nathanielsen, a Greenlandic member of parliament in the Danish government, emphasized the enduring impact of this dark chapter in history on women in the country today. She highlighted the lingering trauma and its influence on reproductive choices and community well-being across generations.
The program, aimed at reducing birth rates and family sizes on the island, targeted women who were now deemed eligible for a one-time compensation payment of around $64,000 CAD. However, some Greenlandic politicians expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed compensation, stressing the urgency of addressing the harm caused.
In Canada, Indigenous women have also suffered from forced and coerced sterilization practices over decades, with incidents continuing beyond the 1990s. Reports from various sources have documented cases of imposed sterilization, indicating deliberate efforts to curb births in Indigenous communities through eugenics laws and government policies.
One such victim, Cecilia Papak, an Inuk woman in Rankin Inlet, shared her experience of being pressured into sterilization in the late 1970s, feeling compelled to undergo surgery due to health concerns raised by doctors. She regretted the loss of choice in family planning and believed she would have had more children if not for the coercion.
While the Canadian government has yet to formally apologize for these injustices, the recent actions taken by the Danish government have raised hopes for a similar response in Canada. Calls for acknowledgment and compensation persist, with ongoing legal actions and legislative changes addressing forced sterilization in the country.
Given the shared history of forced sterilization in Greenland and Canada, there is a growing recognition of the need for mutual learning and collaboration in addressing these past wrongs. Highlighting the importance of open communication and shared experiences, there is a call for both countries to navigate a path forward together in addressing this global issue.
