Greenland's Stolen Indigenous Children: A Personal Testimony

The book tells the story of Helene Thiesen, who was taken from her family in Greenland as a young Inuk child and sent to Denmark and an orphanage for 're-education'. This practice of forcible assimilation was common in colonial societies and has a painful legacy that remains under-acknowledged. Helene's account provides a powerful testimony of a devastating colonial experiment and is a valuable case study for researchers and students in various fields.

Format: Hardback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In this captivating book, author Helene Thiesen shares her deeply personal journey of being forcibly removed from her family in Greenland as a young Inuk child, to be 're-educated' in Denmark and an orphanage in Greenland. The practice of forcibly assimilating Indigenous children into colonial societies through education has resonant echoes in North America and Australasia, and the painful legacy of these practices remains largely under-acknowledged. Helene's poignant account unfolds in intricate detail, revealing the process of being taken from her family in 1951, at the age of seven, along with twenty-one other children, as part of a social experiment orchestrated by the Danish government and Save the Children Denmark. Upon their return to Greenland a year and a half later, the children were sent to reside in a Danish Red Cross orphanage, where they were prohibited from speaking their native languages and were coerced into adopting Danish language, culture, and customs.

Dr. Stephen James Minton, a renowned expert in the field, provides a comprehensive introductory analysis, along with the translation, to enhance the reader's understanding of Helene's experiences. The book is richly illustrated with forty photographs, which serve as powerful visual aids in situating the reader within the historical context.

As a compelling and powerful testimony of a devastating colonial experiment, Helene's account offers valuable insights for researchers and students in the fields of Indigenous Studies, Critical Pedagogy and Education, Psychology, European History, and Cultural Studies. It sheds light on the complex dynamics of cultural displacement, assimilation, and the enduring impact of colonial policies on Indigenous communities.

This book is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, as Helene courageously shares her story and advocates for the recognition and healing of the wounds inflicted by historical injustices. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of colonialism and its enduring effects on societies.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032149363