Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.01.1974, Síða 2

2
LÖGBERG-HEIMSKRINGLA, FIMMTUDAGINN 17. JANÚAR 1974
and from Iceland has become a regular occurence.
During the past two years, the above-mentioned
eight Icelandic organizations in Winnipeg have
assumed the responsibility of jointly sponsoring
two organizations that will provide an apportunity
for co-ordinated planning and collective action in
the future — The Canada Iceland Foundation and
The Centenaries Celebration Committee (1970—
1980).
The Canada Iceland Foundation
The Canada Iceland Foundation was recentíy re-
organized with a new broadly representative
Board of Directors of 14 members, 8 of whom are
appointees of 8 separaite organizatians and 6 who
are selected from the community at large. These
are but the first steps that are contémplated in
its re-orgamization. Clubs and organizations in oth-
er Provinces of Canada are being invited to appo-
int representatives to the Board. A cordial invitat-
ion is also being extended to organizations or
groups situated in the United States of America
to nominate fratemal and advisory members to
the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
The main objects of The Canada Iceland Found-
ation as l'aid down in the Charter Agreement are:
1. To foster and strengthen the cultural bonds
and mutual understanding between Canada
and Iceland.
2. To promote an imderstanding and appreci-
ation of the related Icelandic and Canadian
heritage in the fields of representative
govemment and the rule of law-
3 To encourage and give assistance to the
establishment and maintenance of Icelandic
as one of the subjects in post-graduate and
honour courses in English.
4. To assist or give scholarships to students
studying Icel'andic at Canadian Universities.
5. To assist Canadians of Icelandic descent in
the study and enjoyment of, and the pro-
duction of, work in the arts, humamities, and
social sciences.
S. To award scholarships to and otherwise ass-
ist students from Iceland to attend Canadian
Universities, and students from Canada to
attend the University of Iceland.
7. To encourage and give assistance to the
translation of Icelandic literature into Engl-
ish and Canadian literature into Icelandic.
8. To encourage and give assistance to visits
and performances and exhibitions and publi-
cations of Icelandic artists in Canada and
Canadian artists in Iceland.
9. To assist in the collection and preservation
of works of art, hamdicrafts, books, periodic-
als, manúscripts, and documents by or re-
lating to the people of Iceland or people of
Icelandic descent.
The Charter Agreement provides that the
Foundation may assist associations, publishers,
and other organizations whose aims and objectives
are similar to those of the Foundation.
The Centenaries Celebration Commlttee
(1970—1980).
The Centenaries Celebration Committee was or-
ganized in the Spring of 1972 and consists of 22
members. The whole purpose of this Committee
is to promote inler-group communicalion and co-
operation and, when deeirable, collective actlon
between the various clubs and associations in this
community and, hopefully, across Canada and
also in the United States. Its principal job is to
bring together representative people of many
organizations and clubs so that each co-operating
organization will have the opportunity to decide
and to accept responsibility for special events. As
far as possible, unnecessary duplication of effort
should be avoided as this would be a waste of
time and of the limiited financial resources. Over
the years, ít has been demonstrated that when-
ever the whole Icelandic community get together
and work towards the achievement of a specific
goal, nothing worth doing is impossible.
The historic llOOth Anniversary in 1974 of the
Settlement of Iceland and the lOOth Anniversary
in 1975 of the Icelandic settlements in Manitoba,
as well as other centennial celebrations in Canada
and the United States between the years 1970 and
1980, sparked the formation of a Centenaries Cele-
braition Committee .with the following “Terms of
reference.”
1. To act as a Co-Ordinating Agency.
2. To create a Central Information Bureau.
3. To assist in publicizing aH events.
4- To receive suggestions submitted by inter-
ested groups or individuals and refer them
to the appropriate sponsoring organization.
5. To act in an advisory capacity when request-
ed.
8. To establish and maintain a liaison with all
the various Icelamdic organizations in North
America and with the appropriaite authoriti-
es in Iceland.
7. To establish an adequate Memorial Fund in
The Canada Iceland Foimdation to assist in
the promotion of cultural and coommemorat-
ive events of this decade.
8. To gather material to be published in a Cenit-
ennial Book of Remembrance.
It should be emphasized that The Canada Ice-
land Foundation and The Centenaries Celebration
Committee will not replace and will not interfere
in any way with the plans, programs and activiti-
es that have been traditionally the responsibility
of any one of the sponsoring or affiliated organiz-
ations.
This co-operative, organizational structure will
permit the development of projects and promote
activities which will parallel and complement the
objectives of the Federal Department of State on
Multiculturalism in Ottawa.**
* Since 1703 accurate vital statistics, based on periodic
census-taking, have been kept in Iceland.
•• On October 8th, 1971 the Prime Minister of Canada
announced in the House of Commons the federal policy
on multiculturalism. In November 1972, the Minister of
State rosponsible for multiculturalism was appointed. In
the Spring of 1973, a broadly representative Canadian
Consultative Council of 83 members was appointed with
a National Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen and five
Regional Cnairmen.
CENTENNIAL EVENTS 1870—1880
by W. Kristjanson
1870 — Commencement of continuous Icelandic
immigraition in North America... four
settlers on Washington Island, Lake Mich-
igan, Wisconsin, U. S. A.
1872 — First permanent Icelandic settler in Can-
ada. Sigtryggur Jonasson lands in Que-
bec, September 12, 1872. Proceeds to Ont.
1873 — First Icelandic group settlement in Can-
ada, at Hekla P- O., near Rosseau, ih the
Muskoka district, Ontario.
— 135 Icelandic people in Milwaiukee, Wis-
consin.
1874 — The Kinmount group, Ontario.
— An Icelandic Association formed in Mil-
waukee.
— August 2, an Icelandic celebration held in
Milwaukee.
— A few young men of the Kinmount group
proceed to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
— The Shawano, Wisconsin, settíement
commenced. (Ljóeavatnshérað).
1875 — Icelandic settlers in Lyon and Lincoln
Counties, Minnesota.
— Icelandic settlement — the Markland
settlement — on Mooselands Heights,
Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia; some 200
people.
— The first Icelandic Lutheran congregation
formed at Shawano, Wisconsin, founded
by Rev. Pall Thorlaksson.
— The first Icelandic people in Winnipeg.
Some 50 people. October 11.
— The New Iceland settlement commenced.
Landing at Willow Point, October 21.
1876 — January 4. Gimli Vil'lage Council organiz-
ed; the first organized self-govemment in
the Icelandic settlements in North Amer-
ica
— The New Iceland settlement extended to
Icelandic River and Big Island (Hecla
Island).
— The beginning of an Icelandic community
life in Winnipeg. Shanty Town, on the
Hudson’s Bay Flats, close to No. 6 ware-
house, south of Broadway, later extended
towards Water Street.
— August 23. The first Icelandic divine serv-
ice at Gimli, conducted by Reverend Pall
Thorlaksson.
1877 — Februairy 5. Provisional constitution ór
laws and regulations for a govemment of
New Iceland. Four districts: Vidinesbygd,
Amesbygd, Fljotsbygd, and Mikley; and
a Colony Council for New Iceland (the
Lake Region or Vatnsþing).
— Two groups of Ieelandic Lutheran Con-
gregations formed in New Iceland:
a. The Icelandic Lutheran Synod in Am-
erica (Hid Lutherska Kirkjufelag Is-
lendinga í Vesturheimi Reverend Jon
Bjamason — 5 congregations.
b. The Icelanidic Lutheran Congregation
in New Iceiand — Reverend Pall Thor-
laksson — 3 congregations. (Hinn Is-
lenski Lúterski Söfnuður í Nýja ís-
landi).
— September 6. The Icelandic Society form-
ed in Winnipeg.
— September 10. The first issue of Framfari
off the press at Lundi (now Riverton).
— October 21. The first Icelandic divine ser-
vice in Winnipeg, conducted by Reverend
Jon Bjamason.
1878 — January 14. The revised constitution for
New Ieeland govemment came into effect-
— June. An Icelandic settlement commenced
in Dakota, at Hallson-
— August 11. The First Lutheran Church of
Winnipeg organized, the Trinity cangreg-
ation (Þrenningar Söfnuðurinn) formed in
Winnipeg.
1879 — Sigurður Antonius, age 26, placed second,
covering 132 miles in 24 hours. Several
other Icelandic newcomers distinguished
themselves in these walking matches dur-
ing the next decade.
— Before 1880 — a few Icelanders in Sel-
kirk. Settíement about 1884.
1880 — First Icelandic settlers in Argyle file
entry on homesteads.
A WORD OF APPRECIATION:
As Chairman of the Centenaries Celebration
Committee (1970—1980) I wish to take this oppor-
tunity to thank the associations, clubs, and in-
dividuals who have responded so promply to re-
quests for the information contained in this issue
of Logberg-Heimskringla. This record represenits
an up-to-date North American Registry of the
activities of Canadians and Americans of Iceland-
ic and part-Icelandic descent.
A spirit of complete cooperation has been genu-
inely exemplified in compiling this record.
It would be greatly appreciated if the readers
would report omissions and errors in order that
these can be corrected and acknowledged as soon
as possible to Mrs. Imgiborg S. Goodridge, Project
Secretary, 30—271 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg,
Canada, R3M 0A1.
Paul H. T. Thorlakson.