Agnethe Davidsen was born in Nuuk, Greenland. She grew up by her strict grandparents, who lived by their motto- “First duty, then pleasure.” She loved children, and during school holidays, she worked in a kindergarten, aspiring to become a kindergarten teacher. Though, at the time, there was no training for kindergarten teachers in Greenland. At 16, she met Aqqaluartaaq Davidsen, and two years later, the couple got married. At 22, to further her education, she relocated to Denmark, attending a nine-month course in commerce and office. On her return to Greenland, she found a position in the national court system. In 1979, at the age of 32, Davidsen was appointed a circuit judge in the Nuuk district court. Serving there in 1979-1983 and again 1989-1993. In 1983, she entered Parliament (Landsting) as a representative of the social democrat party Siumut (Forward). In that same year, 36 years old Davidsen was appointed Member of Parliament, becoming the first woman in Greenland to serve as a government minister. In the following year, the government fell, and Davidsen, who was not yet established nationally as a politician, was not re-elected but remained active in her party. She became more involved in municipal politics, and in 1989, was elected to Nuuk’s city council, where she served as the finance committee and Second Deputy Mayor. Two years later, she got promoted to First Deputy Mayor. In 1993, at 46, Davidsen was elected mayor, the second woman to serve as the mayor of the capital city, following Laannguaq Lynge. Until 1997, Davidsen was still involved with the Siumut party; thenm she resigned from her position at the national level to dedicate all her time to Nuuk’s municipal issues. During the 14 years she served as mayor, Davidsen focused on improving the conditions of the city’s residents, especially of children and young people, fought for solving housing problems, and expanded trade relationships with other countries. In 2007, while serving as mayor, she died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage, she was 60 years old. Read more...