From Prime Minister to Storyteller: Aleqa Hammond’s Arctic Mission

"Understanding our world, views, and hearing from an Inuit is something you can’t Google."
"Let Greenland be a country where we care about our lands and environment."

Few people can speak for Greenland the way Aleqa Hammond can. As the country’s first female Prime Minister and a lifelong advocate for Arctic culture and environmental protection, her voice carries the strength of generations. This summer, Aleqa joins Swan Hellenic’s Iceland to Greenland Roundtrip Cruise as an onboard cultural expert and guest lecturer. We sat down with her ahead of the voyage to talk about ice, identity, and why you have to feel the Arctic – not just see it. From the silence of Ittoqqortoormiit to the spirits dancing in the northern lights, Aleqa’s stories offer something you won’t find in a guidebook: raw truth, cultural pride, and a deep call for responsible travel in the world’s most fragile region.…

What inspired your passion for Arctic culture, politics, and environmental advocacy?

Aleqa: I traveled for seven weeks on the sea ice in 2002, and it changed me. That journey changed how I see everything. It was during that time I decided to make a big change in my life.

What excites you most about joining the Iceland to Greenland Roundtrip Cruise?

Aleqa: It’s something new for me. I’ve traveled to these regions many times, but always with a different purpose. Joining a ship like this gives me a fresh perspective.

What is your favorite part about being at sea?

Aleqa: Being at sea gives me time to go deep with my presentations – about the challenges we face as a culture, as a country, and as a people.

What’s the best part about swapping government meetings for storytelling aboard an expedition cruise?

Aleqa: I get to speak from traditional knowledge and political experience. Authenticity is very important to me.

What do you enjoy most about sharing Greenlandic history and culture?

Aleqa: I enjoy telling the story of how Christianity was introduced, and why it was received with criticism.

You speak six languages – how has that helped in your global advocacy?

Aleqa: Knowing many languages hasn’t been the most important tool for me. The strongest tool I have is my roots and my Inuit background.

How do Greenlandic traditions and modern life coexist in Nuuk versus remote settlements?

Aleqa: We are not Danish, and we’re not Inuit living as before. We are a new combination of both in a great way – the best parts of both worlds.

For guests looking to immerse themselves in Greenlandic culture on this voyage, what do you recommend?

Aleqa: Listen to the knowledgeable staff from the region. Ask questions. And most importantly – see with seeing eyes.

What do you hope guests will take away from their time from your lectures and exploring Greenland?

Aleqa: Understanding our world, views and hearing from an Inuit is something you can’t Google. I hope guests leave with new knowledge, insights on Inuit living, as well as understanding the importance of protecting the Arctic.

If you could’ve taken world leaders on a cruise like this, what would you have wanted them to see?

Aleqa: I would have shown them how fast the glaciers are melting, and spoken about the importance of having ambitious climate adaptation policies.

How does responsible tourism support Greenland while protecting its traditions and environment?

Aleqa: We need better tourism, not more. Let Greenland be a country where we care about our lands and environment. Greenland does not want mass tourism like Iceland has.

What’s the one lesson you hope guests take from this expedition?

Aleqa: Listen to my talks about the new geopolitical landscape in the Arctic – and how the interests of Russia, China, and the U.S. are impacting the region.

What makes Scoresbysund so special?

Aleqa: It’s the world’s largest fjord system. The first people there were forcibly relocated, so it has both a beautiful and sad history. And it’s rich in wildlife – very precious to us Greenlanders.

What do you remember most about visiting Ittoqqortoormiit?

Aleqa: The toughness. The silence. The remoteness. It really struck me.

How does life in Ittoqqortoormiit reflect Greenlandic resilience?

Aleqa: It shows the importance of strong policies for small regions, the environment, and wildlife management.

What do you think surprises visitors most about Greenland?

Aleqa: The greatness – the scale, the vastness and the beauty. The rest of the world doesn’t know what we have here.

What are some common misconceptions about Greenland?

Aleqa: People think we are Danish or think like Europeans. But it’s the opposite. We are one of the world’s smallest peoples – but mighty.

How does Greenland’s remoteness shape its way of life?

Aleqa: We’re deeply connected to nature and the environment, with a strong culture and history shaped by life in one of the world’s harshest regions.

How does traveling by sea enhance the Arctic experience?

Aleqa: You listen to the water, the ice, the birds, and the ice melting. You can’t experience that from the air or any other way. The Arctic must be felt and sensed.

What wildlife should guests watch for in Scoresbysund and Kong Oscar Fjord?

Aleqa: Narwhals are in the region. But they’re going through tough times because of climate change. Don’t disturb their habitat – listen to the locals.

Why is Ivittuut, the abandoned mining town, significant to Greenlandic history?

Aleqa: It’s very important – colonization at its worst. I give presentations on it. I also include when Trump wanted to buy Greenland.

What’s the most breathtaking Arctic landscape you’ve ever seen?

Aleqa: Uummannaq – my hometown. The vastness, the wildness, and the beauty is enormous. Growing up there was a gift from God.

What’s it like to witness the midnight sun or northern lights from the ship’s deck?

Aleqa: It’s mind-blowing – for tourists and for us. We say it’s our ancestors’ souls playing in the sky.

How do Iceland and Greenland compare?

Aleqa: Iceland is a sub-Arctic region. Greenland is the Arctic. If you think Iceland is wild, wait till you see Greenland. Both are beautiful and unique.