Lögberg-Heimskringla - 14.10.1988, Page 5

LÖGBERG CENTENNIAL YEAR, FÖSTUDAGUR 14. OCKTOBÉR 1988-5
Helga Sigurdson Fjallkonna 1988
Helga Sigurdson
The words of the Fjallkonna at the
Icelandic Celebration 1988 held at
Gimli this year as usual the Fjallkon-
na addressed the audience with the
following words including Icelandic.
The Fjallkonna or Maid of the Moun-
tains was Mrs. Helga Sigurdson of
Lundar, Man.
Her words are as follows:
Kveðjur frá Islandi —
Greetings from Iceland:
I am pleased to carry on the tradi-
tion of Fjallkona and speak to you as
Mother Iceland.
My attire, each year, is a visual
reminder of your ancestral
homeland. My headdress is as the
snow-capped mountain peaks that
rise above the grassy slopes and val-
leys just as my green velvet mantle
cascades from my shoulders. My
golden crown radiates sunshine and
displays the unity of the four main
parts of the country protected by the
Land Vaettir, the guardian spirits, in
the image of the falcon, the bull, the
dragon, and the giant. The Icelandic
flag is prominent in the centre.
I thank David Arnason, who at the
Banquet of the Century, said "We are
ruled by our Fjallkona, maid of the
mountain, not some young girl
celebrated solely for her physical
beauty, but an older woman, earth
mother, celebrated for her eontribu-
tion to the community as a whole. It
is a wonderful and entireiy unique
position, a creation of the communi-
ty here and not an imported ceremo-
ny from Iceland."
Dr. Jóhann Axelsson and his
research team from Iceland are leav-
ing this Thursday, Sept. 29. They ex-
pect to be back during 1990 to con-
tinue with data gathering, this time
in Winnipeg. We look forward to
their return and wish them well on
their journey home. It is always ex-
citing when our cousins from Iceland
pay us a visit, particularly if we can
be of some help which the people of
New Iceland have willingly done.
Two years ago they responded and
attended the research team data-
gathering sessions, this year they
repeated this help by volunteering to
go through medical data gathering
tests. It was significant that Dr.
Olafur Olafsson, Director General of
Health in Iceland, spent two weeks
with the team, entering into the ac-
tual routine of carrying out data
gathering tests.
Working with them was Mrs. Nai-
mark, wife of the President of the
University of Manitoba.
Dr. Anthony Way of Texas Tech
University, a member of the Icelan-
dic Research Team, is on the road to
Texas, his car loaded with equip-
ment. Tony tells us it will take him
two and a half days to reach home.
He is a Lögberg-Heimskringla sub-
scriber, has a good working
I am honoured.
As Mother Iceland, I am attended
by my hirðmeyjar, Linda Fay, Sandra
Julia, Deidre Fay, and Elizabeth San-
dra. We stand before you as three
related generations.
This is the essence of íslendin-
gadagurinn. We come to Gimli on the
weekend of the first Monday of Au-
gust, three generations together, to
take pride in and to understand the
meaning of our rich Icelandic
heritage. Islendingadagurinn helps
you to remember and honour your
forefathers — the pioneers of this
land, and to recognize the achieve-
ments and the accomplishments of
their descendants, with pride in the
knowledge that they carry on and
have not forgotten their ancestry or
the land of their birth.
Today, we sail towards the
Celebration of the Century. In 1989,
we arrive. I call upon my children,
of all ages, from every settlement, to
attend the related activities.
As well, I call upon all the Icelan-
dic settlements to participate active-
ly in displaying their individual his-
tories and in greeting those in search
of ancestral roots. Hávamál, the
Norse poem of worldly wisdom, says
"True bonds are formed where men
keep faith and don't hide their
hearts."
I call on the settlement champions
to participate in all the artistic, atht
letic, dramatic, and musical activi-
ties, proudly displaying their colours.
I see, in the traditional parade, the
knowledge of the Icelandic language.
Thanks Tony it is nice knowing you.
While our friends from Iceland are
highly skilled in their medical
research and hold key positions in
the Medical Faculty at the Universi-
ty of Iceland, they are also in many
instances from a basic background.
When Jóhann tells of his boyhood ex-
periences on the fishing vessel,
which his father commanded, during
the era of large herring catches, his
eyes glint with pride. D. Stefán
Stefánsson has Sea Captain's papers
and has commanded ocean going
fishing vessels, and spends his holi-
days in the north of Iceland cod fish-
ing. The ocean and fishing runs thick
in their veins and this is also true of
many of our Canadian Icelanders ex-
cept we had to deal with open fresh
water lakes in summer and ice co-
vered lakes in winter.
As a sort of last and relaxing mo-
ment Dr. Stefán joined a fishing
crew, and lifted nets on Lake Winni-
peg. After the Medical Team had
completed their tests and were ready
to return home to Iceland.
It has been a pleasure to be in con-
tact with them, first in Iceland this
summer and then here this fall we
look forward to their return in 1990.
settlement chieftains ancj supporters
marching with their special banners,
just as in the days of old, when peo-
ple from all over Iceland congregat-
ed at the parliamentary plain,
Þingvellir.
Remember, however, that
Hávamál advises that one should al-
ways be "freshly washed" when set-
ting off for the "thing."
íslendingadagurinn is a tradition
not to be lost. I thank the volunteers
who spend countless hours each
year, selflessly pursuing another suc-
cessful celebration. Some years the
Norse god, Thór, and his thunder
hinder the financial success.
To ensure that íslendingadagurinn
will continue for future generations,
I ask you, my dear children, to con-
tribute generously to the Centenary
Fund. The Book of Settlements will
record the names of the contributors
in perpetuity.
I have consulted my rune stones
and pronounce that 1989 will be a
wonderful year where you, my peo-
ple, will excel in all your activities.
May we always have a full horn from
which to drink at the Well of Kinship.
May we always remember that the
treasure of Islendingadagurinn is not
gold but what lies in the hearts of
those assembled.
The beloved Icelandic poet from
the last century, Jónas Hallgrímsson,
wrote the well-known poem "Vísur
Islendinga." This is the first stanza —
Huað er svo glatt sem góðra vina
fundur,
* * *
en gleðin skín á vonar hyrri brá?
Eins og á vori laufi skrýðist lundur
lifnar og glæðist hugarkætin þá
Og meðan þrúgna gullnu tárin glóa
Og guðaveigar lífga sálaryl
Þá er það víst, að bestu blómin gróa
í brjóstum, sem að geta fundið til.
Translated:
Nothing brings such joy to the
heart as meeting friends. It quickens
our being, as when leaves grow on a
tree in the spring. While the golden
tears of the grape warm our hearts,
one thing is for certain — the most
beautiful fruits are produced by
hearts that have sympathy with
others.
* * *
May we find the peace described
in this verse of Stephan G. Stephans-
son's poetry and then as translated by
Kristjana Gunnars.
— Þui hjarta mitt er fullt af huíld og
fögnuð, af frið mín sál.
Þá finnst mér aðeins yndi, bliða,
fegurð, sé alheims mál —
Að allir hlutir biðja bænum mínum
og blessi mig —
við nætur gæzku-hjartað jörð og
himinn að hvíla sig.
— For my heart is full of tranquil joy,
of peace my soul.
Then it seems to me only happiness,
gentleness, beauty are what the
world speaks of —
That all things pray my prayers and
bless me —
That by the kind heart of night, earth
and heaven find rest.
* * *
As we gather to celebrate íslendin-
gadagurinn let us do so in warm joy-
ous friendship.
For Islendingadagurinn 100, I
bestow upon you this special pass-
word —
"Velkomnir Vinir! Velkomin
Heim!"
Gódar Stundir
Research team leave