Lögberg-Heimskringla - 06.12.1985, Blaðsíða 2

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 06.12.1985, Blaðsíða 2
2-WINNIPEG, FOSTUDAGUR 6. DESEMBER 1985 Western Icelandic Culture Today The celebration of the Centenary of Icelandic settlement in Canada in the mid-70's was in many ways a much more depressing event than we would have liked. Many Western Icelanders felt at the time that Icelan- dic culture in North America was on such a decline that it was rapidly headed for oblivion. The reasons for this pessimism were many, but perhaps foremost among them was the fact that the last generation of Western Icelanders to learn Icelandic as their mother tongue were by that time young adults. Other reasons in- cluded the demise of many publica- tions and the loss of the Tímarit Pjóðræknisfélagsins I Vesturheimi seemed especially foreboding. The merger of Lögberg and Heimskringla, the ancient rivals, could only be in- terpreted as a dire omen, and the declining memberships in the various clubs and the flagging subscriptions to the two remaining publications seemed to be absolute confirmation of this omen. But the last decade has witnessed a remarkable reversal of this trend. True, our children are still not learn- ing Icelandic at home, and Lögberg- Heimskringla has not re-divided into bitterly quarreling weeklies, but in other ways Icelandic culture is not only alive ahd wélí, but thriving. Many of the Icelandic organizations have found that their membership lists have been growing steadily. (The ícelandic Club of B.C. is a most dramatic example of this). A great number of new events have been tried, some of which have been great successes such as Heritage Days in Gimli and Frón's Kaffi Hús series, while others have failed miserably, such as the Student Social I tried to organize for Frón this spring. Whether these events succeed or fail is really unimportant. (Although it is certainly more rewarding when they succeed), what matters is the at- tempt. The easiest method of avoiding failure is to do nothing, which is fortunately not a path followed by many Icelandic groups. We can only succeed by trying, and if we are ultimately doomed to failure, then it would certainly be best to go down fighting. At least then, we will be assured of a home with Oðin, Þór and Oli Narfason in Gimli after the final battle is fought. (If this last sentence makes no sense to you, a quick reading of Old Norse mythology is in order). Why has this dramatic reversal taken place? The last paragraph may seem to suggest that it is nothing more than a last dying spasm of ac- tivity, but I do not believe that this is so. I believe that it is directly related to the decline of the Icelandic language in North America. As pro- gressively fewer young Western Ice- landers grew up speaking Icelandic, they were excluded from active parti- cipation in many Western Icelandic Minnist <BETEL í erfðaskróm yðor New Book, FARM STEAM POWER ERA, steam threshing history. Steam instructions, information, pictures, two stories, and lots more. Unusual book. Fine gift for Dad! $10.00 postpaid U.S. Funds; $12.00 Postpaid Canadian Funds T.L. Hanson, P.O. Box 17, Milton, N.D., U.S.A. 58260 We Need More Subscribers You Can Help Send us naraes and addresses of suggested subscribers. We will mail them four complimentary weekly copies of Lögberg- Heimskringla. Be active, support your heritage during our Centennial year. organizations, because a speaking knowledge of Icelandic was often considered an essential component of Icelandic culture. It was only when the doors to non-Icelandic speaking people were opened in these organ- izations that the apparent "resur- gence'' of Western Icelandic culture was made possible. The central claim that is being made here is that Western Icelandic culture has evolved from traditional Icelandic culture to emerge as a uni- que entity with its own character- NEED ICELANDIC CHRISTMAS BAKING? PHONE VIGDIS 334-3975 istics, and that it has taken the es- tablished Western Icelandic organiza- tions a while to recognize and accept this. Knowledge of the Icelandic language may be an essential compo- nent of Icelandic culture, but it has become exceedingly obvious that it is not an essential component of Western Icelandic culture. The ques- tion of what, if anything, is essential to Western Icelandic culture is not easily answered, and will have to be left for future articles. LEE BRANDSON Working To Keep Our Heritage Alive CANADA ICELAND FOUNDATION SECRETARY 1-204-772-8989 Mrs. S. Borga Jakobson 1145 Dominion St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 2P3 iCELANDIC 346/49 RIVER SAGA An 847 page history of New lceland and the Icelandic River/Isafold (Riverton) settlements, including hundreds of early pictures, maps, stories, family histories, and accounts of homesteading, fishing, farming, travel, education, customs, culture, and historical events in the Interlake. Limited supply left at the original price. AN IDEAL GIFT Available from: • Tergesens’ Store, Gimli • Gull Harbour Resort, Hecla Island or by contacting: • Saga Publications, Box 925, Arborg, Manitoba R0C 0A0 (ph. 376-2767) LOAN AGENTS WANTED If you enjoy helping individuals and firms solve their financial needs, and at the same time earn yourself a legitimate and conscionable fee for your service in joining borrower and lender together, including Arbitrage and Barter Lending (after we have taught you our system), without disturbing what you are doing now for a living, then this could be the answer to your dreams and ambitions. A $10,000 installment plan is available to applicants with low cash flow. Also available is our Barter Plan, whereby instead of cash, you may wish to put up an auto, truck, jewellery, etc., the value of which would be refundable to you anyhow, membership-performance fee is required, refundable from flrst completed loans, (Based on 10% service charge up to $1 Million, thereafter 5%, $1 Billion and over add 21/2%). Write in strictest confidence, or if in a hurry, call 1 -203-848-8552, Dr. Louis Bates, Bates Business Consultants, 123 Maple Ave., Box 233, Montville, Conn. 06353, USA. — OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1935-1985 —

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