Articles by Olivia Davis

Rare earth elements (REE) are a silent but integral piece of everyday, modern technologies. The world’s dominant supplier of these important elements is China, but the United States has increasingly focused on leveling the playing field. President Donald Trump’s recent interest in acquiring mineral-rich Greenland could create a new market for these precious elements. Dr. […]

As the United States’ interest in Greenland looms, critical mineral strategic advisory firm GreenMet is preparing to unleash new industries and opportunities for both the Arctic island and at home, Sabrina Katz said. Their focus is making the U.S. a competitor with China in critical mineral supply and building what would become the world’s largest […]

Greenland has a long and complex history. Just looking at the world map, the giant ice sheet seems remote and isolated from the outside world, but people have been migrating and traversing through the island for thousands of years. Long ago, civilizations hunted with harpoons, lived in tents and snow homes and developed a deep […]

Greenland ranks eighth globally for rare earth element (REE) deposits, but the arctic island remains untapped. These elements are essential for modern technologies like cars and phones due to their ability to produce powerful batteries, but China has a stronghold on the supply of these minerals. Dr. Ian Lange believes the conversation around Greenland and […]

It’s easy to find the Greenlandic perspective on a trip to Nuuk, but it can be harder to find people of different nationalities and therefore different perspectives. Troels is a Danish tourist, visiting Nuuk to see his husband. His voice falls into a hush as he begins to share his experience in Greenland for the […]

President Donald Trump’s recent interest in Greenland has stirred fear, stress and betrayal in the Arctic island, according to Dr. Frank Sejersen. Denmark is an important ally to the United States, and Trump’s desire for Greenland has created a frenzy of diplomatic discussions and strained global relationships. Greenland’s strategic location and mineral rich land make […]

What many people see as a giant ice sheet in North America actually encompasses a deep spiritual and cultural history. Greenland is home to the world’s largest ethnic population, the Greenlandic Inuit. Of Greenland’s approximately 58,000 inhabitants, about 88% of them are Inuit. Archaeological records show that the Inuit made Greenland their home about four […]

This story is part of a semester-long investigative reporting project into Greenland’s people, history, and culture. It was created by an immersion journalism class in the Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies program at UW-Milwaukee. Other stories from the project are available on Edge of the Arctic: Greenland, the Land of the People. This work was made […]

Greenland hasn’t existed much in the public imagination, especially in the United States. It is a vast, icy, white island on the map over 1,800 miles away from New York City. It’s hard to imagine an entire cultural community inhabiting the harsh Arctic climate, but the island has been a destination for resilient populations for […]

Have you ever thought about the tiny pieces that make up your smartphone? The batteries used in electric vehicles? How about where the photos on your smartphone live (because yes, the “cloud” is a real place)? Where your personal data goes when you accept the terms and conditions on social media? These things have all […]

For many Americans, Greenland has probably existed in the public imagination in one of two ways: that giant island on the world map or the huge ice sheet that was oxymoronically named as a marketing ploy by a Norse Viking. As Greenland has percolated in American politics and discourse since President Donald Trump claimed the […]

Perhaps the best way to learn about a place is to listen, to observe. When immersed in a new city or a new country, the most valuable thing a traveler can do is sit back and watch. That’s a journalist’s job, so it was nothing new in Nuuk, but it’s a piece of advice anyone […]