Wikipedia Dispute On The Greenland Ruby: Colonial and Corporate Interests attempt to Deny and Diminish the Inuit Voice
An editorial perspective by Marc Choyt, Publisher, fairjewelry.org.
Interests in support of True North Gems and Greenlandic Bureau of Mining and Petroleum (BMP) are attempting to control public discourse by distorting the truth on the Greenland ruby on Wikipedia.
Their claims belittle the efforts of the Greenlandic Inuit to uphold the rights of small scale mining, under Article 32 of the Mineral Resources Act.
In fact, Greenlanders were allowed to mine and sell their rubies until valuable rubies were documented. Greenlanders were even sent to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Once valuable rubies were documented, the Inuit’s traditional mining and selling of rubies was blocked by the government.
The truth of the matter is that Niels Madsen’s actions of behalf of Inuit rights were technically entirely legal under Greenlandic law because no company has a claim on any land. Until a claim is made, the land still belongs to Greenlanders.
Inuits have utilized ruby in sacred rites for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The action of BMP are in clear violation of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights, as stated in my previous post.
In Wikipedia, my version of the story, including my initial post has been removed several times.
Greg Valerio, ethical jeweler, activist, an internationally recognized authority on small scale artisan mining and fair trade jewelry issues, has attempted to keep the record straight on Wikipedia on behalf of the Inuits, But his posts are continually overridden.
Therefore, we call upon those involved in Wikipedia to set up a forum where all voices can be heard. No anonymous posts should be allowed.
