FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS Hans Island is a barren the Greenlander Hans Hen- sign saying, ‘Welcome to a flag plant in July 2005, dominium — an arrange- Hans Island themselves. As islet, just one kilometre drik of Fiskenæsset, after Canada.’” accompanied by a visit ment in which Canada neither Canada nor Den- in diameter, located half- whom the island is named. In Canada, the dispute from Defence Minister Bill and Denmark would share mark realized the existence way between Ellesmere Denmark’s claim also relies only began attracting public Graham — occurred as Paul sovereignty over the island. of their dispute until 1973, Island and northwest on the historic use of the attention in 2002, after an Martin’s minority Liberal A number of such arrange- and have since contested Greenland. It was not island by Greenlandic Inuit article entitled “The Return government was staggering ments exist elsewhere, in- each other’s position, it is until 1973, when Danish as a vantage point when of the Vikings” was published towards defeat. cluding Pheasant Island in possible that neither state and Canadian diplomats hunting. in the Globe and Mail. The The role of domestic the Bidasoa River between has perfected its title. were drawing a 2,685 km- Canada’s claim is based previous summer, the Danish politics becomes more ap- France and Spain. Those In other words, Hans long maritime boundary, on the transfer of North frigate Vædderen had landed parent when one considers two countries share sover- Island might never have that they became aware America’s High Arctic sailors on Hans Island. The that the dispute has no im- eignty, with administrative been colonized. And if so, of a difference of opinion islands from Britain in island was devoid of other plications for the location responsibility alternating the Inuit arguably retain concerning title over the 1880. The claim also relies visitors at the time, and the of the maritime bound- every six months between any pre-existing, pre-col- island. Instead of delaying on the international legal Canadian government re- ary between Canada and the French municipality of onial rights. their negotiations with requirement that title to sponded with the standard Greenland, or for Canadian Hendaye and the Spanish Perhaps this awareness this development, the territory be maintained diplomatic protest. But in the or Danish rights elsewhere. municipality of Irún. will add a dose of sobriety negotiators simply drew by regular activity, which article, the Danes were de- Solving the Hans Island But whatever the solu- to the Canadian and Dan- the boundary line up to Canada has done, to some scribed as “invading hordes” dispute should be as easy tion, Inuit in Canada and ish positions. Hans Island the low-water mark on degree. For example, Hans — a curious choice of words as drawing a straight line Greenland should be in- is a disagreement between one side of the island, and Island was briefly home to for close NATO allies. from the end of the mari- volved in the process. The friends that could prompt continued it from the low- a Canadian scientific base The sensationalized re- time boundary on one governments of Greenland us to think of sovereignty water mark on the other. during the Second World port played directly into side of the island to the and Nunavut might wish to in creative and inclusive The diplomats might War. Later, in 1953, Eric Fry the hands of politicians, continuation of that line manage the new border or ways. Let’s forge a beacon have envisaged a quick of the Topographical Survey who were happy to take on the other. Under this condominium. They might, for the world to follow, resolution, given that Hans of Canada surveyed Hans advantage of a risk-free Arc- approach, each country additionally, wish to create rather than another excuse Island is smaller than some Island and built a cairn, in tic sovereignty dispute for would secure title over an international park along for political posturing. n of the icebergs that drift which he left a note claim- domestic electoral purposes. roughly half the island, the lines of Waterton-Glacier past it. But four decades ing the island for Canada. Indeed, the Vædderen had and Canada and Denmark International Peace Park, This article is a condensed later, Hans Island is the Since the dispute sailed to Hans Island just a would share a short and which straddles the Can- and edited excerpt from Mi- only disputed land in the emerged, Denmark and couple of months before the very remote land border. adian province of Alberta chael Byers, International entire circumpolar Arctic. Canada have engaged in Danish general election of Another, more interest- and the US state of Montana. Law and the Arctic (Cam- All the other Arctic sover- some expensive forms of November 2001. Canada’s ing solution would be to The Inuit might even bridge University Press, eignty disputes concern posturing, including the most dramatic response — declare Hans Island a con- wish to claim title over 2013). the maritime domain: a deployment of military WIKIPEDIA | GOOGLE MAPS boundary in the Beaufort aircraft and ships. In 1984, Sea; the extent of Canada the Danish minister for and Russia’s jurisdictions Greenland flew to Hans Is- Creative over the Northwest Pas- land and planted a Danish sage and the Northern Sea flag. The Canadian govern- thinking on Route, respectively; and the ment issued a diplomatic sovereignty possibility of overlapping protest. Additional Danish continental shelves in the flag plants — and Can- Central Arctic Ocean. By adian protests — followed The Council of Canadian Academies is… MICHAEL BYERS comparison, Hans Island in 1988, 1995, 2002, 2003 is small potatoes indeed, and 2004. faded, wind-torn Dan- which offers some inter- Both sides have main- a vital Inspiring Discussions, A ish flag is mounted esting opportunities – to tained a sense of humour part of the on the wall in the Danish divide the island in half, throughout. As a Danish Informing Decisions. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. share sovereignty over it, diplomat wryly observed, discussion Raised on Hans Island by or even accept a potential “When Danish military go Danish troops, the flag Inuit claim. there, they leave a bottle of was later taken down by Denmark’s claim to schnapps. And when [Can- Canadian soldiers — and Hans Island is based on its adian] military forces come focused on mailed back to Copen- discovery in 1853 by an there, they leave a bottle the evidence hagen. expedition that included of Canadian Club and a a trusted voice 6 OPTIONS POLITIQUES MARS-AVRIL 2014 www.scienceadvice.ca @scienceadvice.