Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.06.1967, Page 12

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LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 1. JÚNl 1967
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The Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada, delivering the acceplance speach.
Seated are Dr. P. H. T. Thorlakson and Mrs. Pearson. — Courtesy of United Press International.
Cartier sailed from France
and explored the mighty St.
Lawrence River as far as the
Indian village of Hochelaga
where the City of Montreal
now stands. Cartier was the
first person to apply the name
Canada to this country.
Mr. Prime Minister, Ladies
and Gentlemen — to become
involved in a Centennial pro-
ject of this kind has many
compensations, one of which
is that it adds to one’s know-
ledge of the time and events
described in the early Ice-
landic documents.
The ancient Icelandic Sagas
are receiving increasing at-
tention by modern scholars
because of their great literary
value and by historians be-
cause of the important in-
formation they shed on
events that occurred in the
early history of northern Eu-
rope.
Lord Tweedsmuir, a former
Governor-General of Canada,
said that: “ ... for myself, I
put the Icelandic Sagas among
the chief works of the human
genius ...”
In 1966, extensive use was
made of the Sagas as the most
authentic and complete source
of information regarding the
Battle of Hastings in 1066.
These ancient records also
have preserved a great deal
of early Scandinavian history
which would otherwise have
been lost.
In 1965, the Yale University
Press published a Pre-Colum-
bian Vinland Map which pro-
vided further evidence to con-
firm the discovery of Vin-
land. This map was made
about the year 1440 by a Swiss
monk. At the top left hand
corner of the map is inscribed
the information that Vinland
was discovered by Bjarni
Herjolfsson and Leifr Eiriks-
son who found it a land of
great fertility and many vines.
The two inlets leading to the
Hudson’s Bay and the Gulf of
St. Lawrence are clearly dis-
cernible on this map.
The recent archaeological
discovery made at L’Anse-
aux-Meadows, on the north-
ern tip of Newfoundland, by
Dr. Helgi Ingstad and his as-
sociates, has provided scienti-
fic proof of the existence of
early Norse settlements in
Newfoundland about the year
A. D. 1000.
When the plaque is un-
veiled, it may come as a sur-
prise to you, Mr. Prime Min-
ister, and to others — as it did
to me — to see how small a
portion of the plaque is occu-
pied by the original Icelandic
version in the centre as com-
pared with the English and
the French translations which
appear on either side. The
reason, of course, is that some
The discoveries of Bjarni
Herjolfsson and Leifr Eiriks-
son surely constitute one of
the earliest chapters in Ca-
nadian history.
I have the honour, Mr.
Prime Minister, to present
this bronze plaque to the Gov-
of the original Icelandic words
— when inscribed on thin
leather — were abbreviated
to conserve space. One letter
and a mark may stand for a
word or even a phrase.
The upper section of the
plaque shows, on the left, an
open book and a quill which
recalls the work of the Ice-
landic scholars who, in the
eleventh and twelfth centu-
ries, preserved the records of
their time for posterity. On
the right, is a replica of that
sturdy Viking ship in which
the ancient mariners sailed
across the stormy North At-
lantic to the eastern coast of
North America and made the
first attempt at settlement.
The introductory para-
graph at the top of the plaque
reads:
ernment and to the people of
Canada as a Centennial Gift
from Canadians of Icelandic
descent.
Mr. Prime Minister, may I
now invite you to unveil the
plaque.
THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE DISCOVERY
OF THE EASTERN COAST OF CANADA BY MARINERS
FROM ICELAND AND GREENLAND IN THE LATE
TENTH CENTURY.
THE HISTORIC EXCERPT REPRODUCED BELOW IS
FROM GRAENLENDINGA SAGA (THE SAGA OF THE
GREENLANDERS) FIRST COMMITTED TO WRITING IN
ICELAND ABOUT A. D. 1200 AND PRESERVED IN FLAT-
EYJARBOK (THE FLATEY BOOK) A VELLUM MANU-
SCRIPT COMPILED IN ICELAND ABOUT A. D. 1390.
PART I RECORDS THE SIGHTING OF NEW LAND
IN THE WEST BY BJARNI HERJOLFSSON, OF EYRAR
IN ICELAND, IN A. D. 986.
PART II DESCRIBES THE VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
OF LEIFR EIRIKSSON SOME YEARS LATER AND HIS
LANDINGS IN HELLULAND (FLATSTONELAND), MARK-
LAND (WOODLAND), AND VINLAND (WINELAND).
THESE EXPLORATIONS LED TO AN ATTEMPT AT
COLONIZATION BY THORFINNR KARLSEFNI WHOSE
SON, SNORRI THORFINNSSON, WAS BORN ON THIS
CONTINENT.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN WESTERN GREEN-
LAND AND EASTERN CANADA SUPPORTS THESE
ANCIENT ICELANDIC RECORDS OF EXPLORATION
AND COLONIZATION.
Some Dates in North American-lcelandic
History, mainly 1870-1920
986 A.D. Bjarni Herjolfsson sails along the north-east coast of North
America.
C. 1000 A.D. Leifr Eiriksson, the Lucky, winters in America (Vin-
land).
C. 1003 A.D. Thorfinnur karlsefni launches a settlement in America
(Vinland).
1855 Icelandic settlers arrive in Utah.
1870 Four Icelandic settlers arrive in the United States, Washington
Island, Lake Michigan.
1872 Sigtryggur Jonasson became the first Icelandic settler in Can-
ada, in modern times.
1873 Icelandic immigrants to the number of 165 arrive, 115 pro-
ceeding to the Muskoka district (Rosseau) in Ontario and 50 to
the United States.
1873 Some 135 Icelandic settlers arrive at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1874 The Millennial Celebration is heid at Milwaukee.
1874 The first divine service in the Icelandic language in America is
conducted by Rev. Jon Bjarnason at the Milwaukee Celebration
1874 The second group of Icelandic immigrants, 365 in number, pro-
ceeds to Kinmount, Ontario.
1874—1875. The Markland settlement in Nova Scotia is founded.
1875 Icelandic settlement in Lyon Coúnty, Minnesota, commences.
1875 The first Icelandic settlers in Western Canada — 285 — arrive
in Winnipeg and New Iceland.
1875 The Icelandic congregation in Shawano, Wisconsin, formed by
Rev. Pall Thorlaksson.
1876 (Jan. 4). A village council is organized by the settlers at Gimli.
1876 The “Large Group” of upwards of 1200 settlers arrives in New
Iceland.
1876 The small-pox epidemic strikes in New Iceland.
1877 (Feb.). The New Iceland settlers organize a colony government.
1877 (Sept.). The first issue of Framfari appears.
1877 The visit of Lord Dufferin to Gimli.
1877 The Icelandic Society formed in Winnipeg; later (1881) the
Progressive Society.
1877 The arrival of the Pastors Rev. Jon Bjarnason and Rev. Pall
Thorlaksson in New Iceland.
1878 The Trinity Congregation formed in Winnipeg.
1878 The beginning of a migration from New Iceland to Dakota
Territory.
1878 The Icelandic settlement at Hallson commences.
1879 The first and only annual conference of the Icelandic Lutheran
Synod of America held at Gimli.
1879 The first church building to be completed in the Icelandic
settlement is under construction at Lundi (Riverton).
1881 New Iceland becomes a part of Manitoba.
1881 The Icelandic Hall, at 137 Jemina St., Winnipeg, is built.
1881 The Icelandic Women’s Society in Winnipeg is formed.
1881 The beginning of the Argyle settlement.
1882 Brynjolfur Sveinsson, by Torfhildur Holm, a full-length his-
torical novel written in Manitoba, published in Iceland.
1883 The first issue of Leifur a weekly newspaper, in Winnipeg.
1884 The First Lutheran Congregation of Winnipeg — a new name
for the Trinity Congregation.
1884 The Trinity Congregation becomes the First Lutheran Con-
gregation in Winnipeg.
1884 The Free Church Congregation in Argyle is formed.
1885 Frimann B. Anderson graduates from Manitoba College, Uni-
versity of Manitoba.
1885 An Icelandic community already forming in Selkirk, Man.
1885 Some twenty Icelanders enlist for service in the North-West
Rebellion of 1885.
1885 The Thingvalla (Churchbridge) settlement in Saskatchewan
commences.
1885 The Icelandic Evangelical Lutheran Synod of America founded.
1885 Icelandic settlers arrive (or have arrived) at Victoria, B.C.
1886 Heimskringla commences publication.
1886 Sameiningin, the official organ of the Icelandic Lutheran
Synod, begins regular publication.
1885—1886. Icelandic settlement at Mouse River, Dak., commences.
1886 Icelandic settlers locate in Keewatin, Ontario.
1887 Hekla Lodge, I.O.G.T., is founded in Winnipeg.
1887 An Icelandic settlement is forming in Brandon.
1887 The Tantallon settlement in Saskatchewan commences.
1887 The First Lutheran Church, cor. Nena and McWilliam, in
Winnipeg, is built.
1887 The settlement at Lundar in the Manitoba Interlake District
commences.
1888 The Icelandic Cultural Society in Dakota formed.
1888 Lögberg begins publication in January.
1888 The Icelandic settlement at Markerville, near Red Deer, Al-
berta, commences.
1888 Dr. George Bryce, of Manitoba College, founds the Kate
Street Mission in Winnipeg.
1890 The Icelandic Labor Association in Winnipeg is formed.
1890 Bjorn Petursson establishes a Unitarian Mission in Winnipeg.
The congregation is formed in 1891.
1890 The first Icelandic Celebration held in Winnipeg.
1890 Icelandic settlement at Shoal Lake, Manitoba Interlake Dis-
trict commences.
1891 Rev. Magnus Skaptason’s Easter sermon, leads to break with
the Lutheran Church.
1891 Icelandic settlement at Fishing Lake, Sask., commences.
1892 An Icelandic settlement is formed at Pipestone, Manitoba.
1894 Icelandic settlement at Big Point, on Lake Manitoba, com-
mences.
1894 The Tabernacle Congregation in Winnipeg is founded by Rev.
Hafsteinn Petursson.
Confinued on page 15.