Inughuit in Avanersuaq says that they are grateful for the increased openness from Pituffik Space Base. They are grateful to have been given the opportunity for the elderly to visit Pituffik Space Base and the parents are grateful that the children receive Christmas presents through the so-called “Operation Santa”, which is organized by the staff of Pituffik Space Base.
The inhabitants have different opinions about whether the Pituffik Space Base is a possible attack target.
Inussuk A/S, which has the service contract at Pituffik Space Base, wants to attract people from North Greenland who want to try their hand at this profession.
KNI A/S states that Pituffik Space Base makes it possible for Qaanaaq and its settlements to have vegetables all year round.
This is what the report from people in North Greenland who live next to the American Pituffik Space Base reads.
There are about 130 kilometers between Qaanaaq and Pituffik Space Base, the distance corresponds to approximately 108 kilometers along the coastline. By helicopter, the trip can be completed in around 40 minutes.
Prisoners feel safe at the base
Olennguaq Kristensen tells Sermitsiaq that he feels safe that Pituffik is at Savissivik and that it is not an obstacle to catching.
– I am also satisfied with our friendship and contact with the people in Pituffik, and we have got used to having Pituffik as a neighbour. I am grateful that they always welcome us when we come, says Olennguaq Kristensen.
They just call the contact in Pituffik and let them know, says Olennguaq Kristensen.
– We announce how many of us are coming, and when we arrive, we are picked up and driven to the place we need to be, says Olennguaq Kristensen.
Olennguaq Kristensen also says that this year the people of Pituffik have given the Inughuit the opportunity to hunt musk oxen that have come too close to the airport area.
Due to Pituffik’s location (between Russia and the USA, ed.), the likelihood of an attack is not something that the hunter Olennguaq Kristensen is personally concerned about, and even if more soldiers were to arrive in Pituffik, it would not be an obstacle to the catch either, believes Olennguaq Kristensen.
– We have visited the big radar station in Pituffik, so I am not worried because I have seen with my own eyes how well they monitor the northern half of the world. That’s why I feel safe, says Olennguaq Kristensen.
Wish for more cooperation
Municipal board member of Avannaata Kommunia, Mikivsuk Thomassen (IA), says that she has noticed the good relationship between Inughuit and Pituffik.
– The municipal board in Avannaata Kommunia does not collaborate directly with Pituffik Space Base, Mikivsuk Thomassen clarifies.
Still, Mikivsuk Thomassen says that she hopes that Avannaata Kommunia and Pituffik Space Base will start working closely together in the future.
– I hope that Pituffik will be a direct economic benefit for Avannaata Kommunia, especially for Avanersuaq, for example by Pituffik employees contributing to the municipality’s tax revenue, says Mikivsuk Thomassen.
She also mentions that Pituffik is also of financial benefit to Avanersuarmiut’s foundation (Thulefonden, ed.).
Mikivsuk Thomassen also believes that Pituffik can be used constructively to contribute to the development of the infrastructure in Qaanaaq and the settlements.
– I have always resented hearing that when Qaanaaq was established, the people of Pituffik offered to help with the sewerage in Qaanaaq, but that Inughuit refused. Therefore, I hope that the people of Pituffik can help with the establishment of sewerage and road improvements in the future, says Mikivsuk Thomassen.
Mikivsuk Thomassen says that she is against an increase in the number of soldiers.
– I want that there is no rearmament in the Arctic and that the number of soldiers is not increased, says Mikivsuk Thomassen.
Mikivsuk Thomassen wants an even better connection to be developed in the future between Qaanaaq and Pituffik – in everyday life and directly financially for the municipality.
Gratitude to Santa Claus
It’s always exciting when niihimaaq (Santa, ed.) comes with packages at Christmas time as part of the “Operation Santa”, says parent Rosa Kristiansen.
– It is also exciting for us to see my son rejoice and be excited that Santa Claus is coming and that he will receive packages, says Rosa Kristiansen.
Rosa Kristiansen praises the employees of Pituffik for their wonderful tradition, which they have voluntarily and for many years stood for.
– We are very grateful that they hand out packages to the children to make them happy, and I hope that they will continue this old tradition for many years to come, says Rosa Kristiansen gratefully.
Grateful seniors
In June last spring, several elderly people were invited to visit Pituffik by the employees. Aviaq Petersen and Regine Larsen say that they were happy about the visit.
– As we rarely get away from our town, we were very happy to be invited to visit Pituffik. We were touched and grateful that we were treated so well and had lovely food, says Aviaq Petersen, who lives at the old people’s home in Qaanaaq.
The elderly also look positively on the fact that they have been promised to visit again from Qaanaaq to Pituffik, say Aviaq Petersen and Regine Larsen.
– Since they have said and promised that we will visit again, we hope that they will make their promise a reality, say Aviaq Petersen and Regine Larsen.
Regine Larsen said that she was also moved by the fact that they were driven to the cemetery in Uummannatoqaq.
– I visited my little brother Maaggannuaq Qujaukitsoq and my grandmother Maren Jerimiassen at the cemetery, and it made me very happy. It felt good and gave peace to see the graves, says Regine Larsen.
Aviaq Petersen says she gets worried at the thought of Qaanaaq being close to Pituffik if the military base were to be attacked.
– I often get worried because Pituffik is too close to us, and I think about what will happen if Pituffik Space Base is attacked, it’s scary. I am satisfied if nothing serious happens, says Aviaq Petersen.
Inussuk A/S wants more interns from Avanersuaq
Inussuk A/S prioritizes receiving interns from Qaanaaq and the settlements, says Margrethe Poulsen, who has been an internship supervisor in Pituffik for 18 years.
– We would like more people from Qaanaaq and the settlements to do internships at Inussuk A/S, but unfortunately only a few from Avanersuaq apply, says Margrethe Poulsen.
Among the internship opportunities available at Inussuk A/S in Pituffik are: cook, warehouse worker, driver, office training, interpreter and painter, Margrethe Poulsen informs Sermitsiaq in writing.
There is always green for sale in the world’s northernmost inhabited areas
It can also be felt that Pituffik is an advantage for Qaanaaq and the settlements in another way. According to information from KNI A/S, Pilersuisoq’s stores in Qaanaaq and the settlements are supplied with greens in the winter via Pituffik.
– I can inform you that Qaanaaq, Siorapaluk and Savissivik get greens from Pituffik in the winter. It is a good opportunity for which we are happy and grateful, says Juliane Henningsen Heilmann, head of communications at KNI.
