Lögberg-Heimskringla - 07.03.1986, Blaðsíða 4

4-WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 7. MARZ 1986
Ritstj ór nargr ein
Fjöldi íslendinga í Vesturheimi
Þeir eru ugglaust margir er velta
því fyrir sér hversu fjölmennir
Islendingar séu í Vesturheimi.
Skrifstofa Lögbergs-Heimskriglu fær
oft bréf eða upphringingu frá hinum
og þessum, stöðum öðrum en
íslendingum, er vilja fá einhverja
hugmynd um fjölda Islendinga í
þessari heimsálfu. Þá verður venju-
lega fátt um svör því slíkar tölur
fyrirfinnast ekki svo auðveldlega.
Á árunum 1872-1914 er áætlað að
meir en 14 þúsund íslendingar hafi
flutt vestur um haf. (sjá Vestur-
faraskrá 1872-1914). Kjarni þessa
hóps var ungur eða vel innan við
þrítugt og því má ætla að tala
Islendinga hafi hækkað fremur ört
þegar landnám hafði tekist eða
atvinna fundist. Þá má heldur ekki
gleyma því, að áfram fluttist fólk
vestur (þ.e.a.s. eftir 1914) þó ekki í
eins ríkum mæli og áður.
Sá er þetta skrifar býr ekki yfir
sömu reikningsgáfu og Jón Ólafsson,
ritstjóri í Winnipeg 1890, en hann
*
lagði eitt sinn til að Islendingar tækju
land í Alaska. Átti hann þá ekki
einungis við þá er vestur ætluðu,
heldur vildi hann að ísland yrði lagt
niður og að Bandaríkjastjórn sæki um
fólksflutninga þaðan til Alaska. Lýsti
Jón landskostum gaumgðfilega í
kostulegri skýrslu og reiknaðist svo
til að Islendingar yrðu um eina mill-
jón um aldamót. Ekki höfðu
íslendingar náð 200 þúsundum í þá
daga (1874) eins og nú en þó svo hefði
verið þá virðist sem hann ætlaði
hverri konu að eignast nokkra tugi
barna á hverju ári.
Það er reyndar ómögulegt að ætla
eitthvað um fjölda íslendinga í
Vesturheimi og eru ýmsar ástæður
fyrir því. Ein sú helsta er
nafnabreytingar við giftingu.
Islenskar konur er giftust mönnum
af öðru þjóðerni tóku upp föðurnafn
manna sinna og eins varð vitanlega
um börn þeirra. Þá virðist sem
margur íslendingurinn hafi við
skoðanakannanir talið sig Skandi-
nava en á mörgum spurningalistum
eru norrænu þjóðirnar í einni sæng
undir nafninu Skandinavía. Sitthvað
fleira mætti til tína en það er
ástæðulaust hér í þessu stutta spjalli.
J.Þ.
Þorrablót in Winnipeg
As in past years, the annual gather-
ing of Icelanders and friends came
together, in a cordial atmosphere, to
Icelandic National League
An executive meeting was held at
the Scandinavian Center Feb. 24,
1986, 7:30 p.m.
The President called the meeting to
order at 7:30. He welcomed Gwen
Cronshaw, President of the Gimli
Chapter, and Helga Sigurdson, Presi-
dent of the Lundar Chapter.
The minutes were réad, the secre-
tary moved, seconded by H.
Thomasson, that they be accepted as
read. Carried.
The President reported that he had
been in conversation with Oscar
Howardson. The deadline on the
hotel reservations has been extended
to March 10. Oscar was asked to ar-
range for suitable music for Saturday
evening.
Twenty people have requested
rooms.
Bob Asgeirsson will be contacted
with an invitation to speak at the lun-
cheon on Saturday noon. He will also
be asked to run the Media workshop.
Gus Kristjansson will also be con-
tacted to take part in a workshop.
A letter was received from the
Canada Iceland Foundation stating
that they will not be ready to an-
nounce scholarship winners till the
fall.
The membership chairman
reported that the people from North
Dakota who were invited to the
þorrablot were unable to accept be-
cause of illness.
Lilja Arnason will check on name
tags.
Jack Bjornson has the honorary
member's certificate ready.
Business —
Motion — A. Nelson moved, sec-
onded by S. Stefanson that the din-
ner tickets for Saturday evening be
set at $20, and that he order 200
printed. Carried.
Motion — G. Asmundsson moved,
seconded by A. Martin that the mem-
bers of the executive be extended the
same travel grant as the Manitoba
delegates. Carried.
Motion — J. Bjornson moved, sec-
onded by A. Nelson that the books
"Iceland'1 be made available to the
chapters for $35 each, to be sold for
$50. The profit to go to the chapter.
Carried.
Motion — S. Stefanson moved, sec-
onded by H. Thomasson that 50 Ice-
land-Canada pins be ordered to sell
at the convention. Carried.
Motion — S. Stefanson moved, sec-
onded by G. Asmundsson that the
League become patron to the Festival
by donating $100. Carried.
Stefan Stefanson, Jack Bjornson
and A1 Nelson were named to the
nomination committee.
Coffee was served during the
course of the meeting.
Helga Sigurdson moved for
adjournment.
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relax and enjoy this mid-winter
event. This year was no exception,
the blasts of winter added no comfort
but grimly reminded us that Iceland-
ers are descended from a race long
acquainted with the harsh reality of
the elements. It was a stormy cold
night which probably detracted from
a larger attendance than often ex-
perienced in former years. Yet, there
were many out-of-town guests who
braved the winter night to join us in
a real fun evening on Friday, Febru-
ary 21 at Vasalund, located on the
south banks of the Assiniboine River,
which flows into the heart of Win-
nipeg to join the Red River.
After a smorgasbord supper, a
pleasant interlude of songs was
rendered by Kerr Wilson, one of our
well known and respected soloists.
.To add to the main part of the
gaiety, a dance and friendly frater-
nization continued for the rest of the
evening.
On this night, we were fortunate to
have with us two prominent guests
from Iceland, in the persons of
Þórður Þ. Þorbjarnarson, City
Engineer of Reykjavík, and Thor-
valdur S. Thorvaldsson, Architect
and Director of Town Planning for
the city of Rekjavík.
They had arrived from Edmonton,
Alberta, where they had spent seven
days at a convention. Prior to Edmon-
ton, they had visited for three days
in Chicago.
On the day of the Þorrablót, they
had been hosted by Len Vopnfjord, a
senior official of Environmental Plan-
ning with the City of Winnipeg. Len
is a son of our good friend Axel Vopn-
ford, editor gratis of the Icelandic
Canadian.
The evening was a success and we
owe our thanks to Norma Krist-
jansson, President of Icelandic Cana-
dian Frón.
On Saturday evening, our Icelandic
guests presented a series of slides on
Iceland, with commentary, that had
formed part of the presentation at the
Edmonton convention. The series
ranged from the period of settlement
in Iceland to the present, combined
with . present-day environmental
planning, including tree planting on
a scale of 2,000 per year.
An interesting description of un-
derground super-heated steam was
described. From bored wells, the
steam is converted into electrical
energy, then circulated in liquid form
through buildings for heating pur-
poses, and finally, led through pipes
below the street surface, freeing the
road and sidewalks of ice and snow.
Some 60 people were in attendance
at the Scandinavian Centre, although
the only notice that could be given
was an announcement at the
Þorrablót.
It was a pleasant evening, with an
opportunity to converse with our
friendly guests from Iceland. As
always, they, like all our cousins in
Iceland, exuded a warmth and
friendliness that characterized our
forefathers who made the western
world their home.
Their presence was a precious
bonus to the Þorrablót event.
— Einar Arnason
Kids Will Be Kids
Ash Wednesday for Icelandic children means dressing up and play-
ing the traditional prank of hanging bags on the backs of unsuspecting
passers-by. "Bagging" a policeman is the biggest catch of all.