The Heilmann family demonstrated for Greenland's future: - Now we can see how strong we are

Inaluk Olsen Heilmann sits with his two children, Siiva and Karla, at the dining table in their home in Nuuk.

On the table are rolls, Nutella, cheese, jam and butter.

Over the last few weeks, while the stories about Trump and Greenland have been going around, the Heilmann family has invited many journalists in. Both Danish, English – and even some from Italy.

- From there being no interest in our country before, there is now a journalist on every corner, says Inaluk Olsen Heilmann and takes a bite of a roll with butter and bacon.

The door opens outside in the entrance hall. Into the living room enters Qulu Heilmann, Inaluk Olsen Heilmann's husband, who has been out buying a new flag for today's occasion.

Soon the family will be heading out to a demonstration in Nuuk.

A demonstration that had been organized on Saturday to show resistance to Donald Trump's ambitions to make Greenland part of the United States.

- Because we don't want to be ruled by a crazy man, says Siiva.

He is in 1st grade.

Qulu Heilmann attaches Erfalasorput to the end of a long stick – an old nissik, once used to pull seals out of the water after they had been shot.

- It doesn't get any better than that, he comments, looking at his work.

Karla, who is in 6th grade, looks at her father and takes a bite of a peanut butter roll.

Donald Trump's desire to buy Greenland is something that both teachers and students talk about a lot at school, she says.

- Me and my friends are afraid that there will suddenly be a war here. It won't happen, but we are still afraid, says Karla.

"If Trump took me, I would scream really loud and kick him," Siiva says decisively.

He is pulling on a pair of jeans. It has started to rain a little outside.

"You have to wear overpants when we go out," Qulu Heilmann says to her son.

- It gives strength

Outside, Inaluk Olsen Heilmann and his family are met by even more family and neighbors who are also going to join today's demonstration.

- I hope many people will come today, says Inaluk Olsen Heilmann, tying a flag to the back of his rain jacket.

- I know that it probably won't help much in the big picture. But it's important that we do something – that we show that we stand behind all those who make the decisions, so that they don't feel that they are alone, she says.

Do you think Trump is paying attention to the demonstration today?

- No, replies Qulu Heilmann,

- It's not because of him that we do it. At least not me, says InalukOlsen Heilmann and adds:

- It's to show our unity and support.

When Qulu Heilmann was out to buy a new flag, he considered buying a small Dannebrog that he could hang on the pole together with Erfalasorput.

- To show that Greenland is part of the kingdom and the commonwealth, he explains.

In addition to the demonstration in Nuuk on Saturday, demonstrations were also planned elsewhere in the country – including in Denmark, where there were demonstrations in Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen.

- It's wild. It gives strength, says Qulu Heilmann.

- You get a little moved by it.

Yankee, go home!

As the Heilmann family turns the corner at the Inartsiartut building, they are greeted by the sight of a large crowd of people and a sea of Greenlandic flags.

People are streaming in from every corner. Families with children and strollers. Groups of friends with huge banners.

“Hands off,” reads one of them. Another reads “Yankee – Go Home.”

Inaluk Olsen Heilmann, Qulu Heilmann, Karla and Siiva stand so they can see beyond the square by the Amisut sculpture.

Music is played from a loudspeaker, qilaat is beaten and people start cheering.

- It's Jens-Frederik, Inaluk Olsen Heilmann exclaims.

The President of the Greenlandic Republic walks through the crowd with Erfalasorput balanced over his shoulder, followed by several cameramen and journalists.

Together with Mute B. Egede (IA) and other politicians, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D) climbs a huge snowdrift and looks out over the protesters present.

The organizers of the demonstration begin to address the crowd. After a poetry reading and a minute of silence, people begin to sing.

They sing the song 'Sorsunnata'.

Qulu Heilmann stands with the old nissik and the flag, wiping a tear from his cheek as he looks out at the crowd singing in chorus.

The song is about peace. Something that hasn't been around much lately.

Inaluk Olsen Heilmann can vaguely remember the first time Donald Trump publicly proclaimed that he would like to buy Greenland.

- I remember it as a crazy and crazy idea. Where I thought, 'What the hell is he thinking?', says Inaluk Olsen Heilmann.

- But then it just got worse and worse. Now we have all sorts of military and spent a whole lot of resources and money because of what he says.

Although she is grateful that several NATO countries are showing their support and sending soldiers to Greenland, she also feels strange seeing helicopters and warships in Nuuk.

"Hercules planes and everything. We haven't seen all that before in our time," she says.

She has – like her husband and children – been worried about whether Trump might take his threats seriously.

- There was a time when I caught myself thinking: Is he so crazy that he could think of flying by and firing a missile at the house?, says Inaluk Olsen Heilmann.

- And then the art is to stop your thoughts there and say: No. Of course he couldn't.

- Despite everything, we stick together.

At 1:13 p.m. people start walking. The Heilmann family slowly makes their way up through the city – past Tusass and on to Aqqusinersuaq.

- K alaallit Nunaat. Kalaallit pigaat – not for sale, shouts people in chorus.

A drone flies around somewhere high up. There are people as far as the eye can see.

Qulu Heilmann has got chills, she says.

The procession stops at the American consulate. Inaluk Olsen Heilmann and his family stop a short distance away, close to the KNAPK building, so they have an overview.

Down in front of the consulate, there is a cordon – and about five to seven officers are standing in front, keeping an eye on the protesters.

One of the protesters standing near the consulate is Tupaarnaq Ella Elsner.

- There are many, many more people here today than there were at the demonstration last year, she says.

- It's lovely, it's touching. I'm touched.

She hopes that the message from the demonstration will reach the United States.

Do you think Trump is listening?

- Honestly, no, she says and laughs a little.

- But the Americans do.

Gitte and Lars Drachmann stand somewhere else nearby. They are also overwhelmed by the number of people.

- I didn't know there were so many of us. Just take a look! says Lars Drachmann, pointing around.

The couple has been brought to the demonstration to be part of the unity.

- It is important that we stick together during this time, says Gitte Drachmann.

- Sometimes I think there is quite a bit of division in society. But in these times, when there has been a bit more pressure, you can feel that we are still together.

They hope that all Americans hear the message.

- The whole world, for that matter, says Lars Drachman and adds:

- That's crazy. The man in the US should take a break. We're not for sale – what's going on is very mysterious.

Faith in the future and independence

The time is approaching 2:15 p.m., and Inaluk Olsen Heilmann and Qulu Heilmann are starting to head home again.

They smile and constantly stop to greet friends, colleagues and family.

Karla and Siiva are running around somewhere further down the road among the other protesters.

- I am quite surprised that so many people turned up. Now we can see that when we stick together, how strong we can be, says Qulu Heilmann.

He hopes that today's demonstration has shown that the population wants to send a clear signal to all those who believe that Greenlanders want to be Americans.

- I hope that the protest will be received in the way that there are so many of us who support the idea of a commonwealth and that we will not be taken over by the USA, says Inaluk Olsen Heilmann.

Erfalasorput still hangs like a cloak from her shoulders.

- When all of this is over, I hope that we as a society can use it to our advantage to develop our country, she says.

Although independence is a long-term process, she says, it is the path she wants for Greenland.

- I don't have the solution, but if we all lift together, we'll probably succeed.