When Keira's daughter was born last November, she was given two hours with her before the baby was taken into care.
Right when she came out, I started counting the minutes... I kept looking at the clock to see how long we had, recalls Keira, who sobbed uncontrollably when her baby was taken.
Keira is one of many Greenlandic families in Denmark fighting for the return of their children after being subjected to what they believe are biased parental competency tests.
These assessments, known as FKUs, were used to evaluate parenting abilities and led to the removal of children. Recently, the Danish government banned these tests for Greenlandic families following widespread criticism, yet they remain intact for other families.
The complexity of these assessments, which can often take months and involve various psychological evaluations, raises questions about cultural bias and accuracy. Critics argue that the tests do not meaningfully predict parenting capability, especially when conducted in a language that may not be familiar to the parents.
Keira's assessment ultimately deemed her unfit to care for her newborn, citing her inability to answer questions, some of which seemed irrelevant to her parenting capacities, leading to severe emotional distress.
Additionally, instances like Keira's are not isolated. Statistics reveal Greenlandic parents in Denmark face significantly higher risks of having their children removed compared to their Danish counterparts. These heart-wrenching stories of separation underscore the pressing need for a review of the policies in place and compassionate understanding of cultural differences.
Pilinguaq, another Greenlandic mother recently reunited with her child after years apart, voices her own fears of losing her daughter again due to the system's arbitrary decisions. Her experiences mirror those of many others striving for justice.
The review process by the Danish government aims to address approximately 300 cases involving Greenlandic children removed under these controversial assessments, but the journey for families like Keira's is fraught with uncertainty and ongoing emotional turmoil.
In the meantime, mothers like Keira remain hopeful, crafting toys for birthdays they may not be able to celebrate together, fighting to ensure their children's future is connected to their cultural heritage.
