Lögberg-Heimskringla - 06.11.1992, Blaðsíða 7

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 6. nóvember 1992 • 7
Who are ive afiyivayí
Cont'd from page 1
honour to the memory of our ances-
tors. On the other hand, we must be
careful not to take our citizenship for
granted, and we should be cautious
about using inappropriate references
to our cultural identity — as these
can act as red flags to other
Canadians — especially in sensitive
political times. The term “Icelandic-
Canadian” correctly identifies us as
Canadians, and is merely a specific
term to distinguish us as descendants
of Icelandic immigrants who made
Canada their home. It does not
detract from our Canadianism or
imply foreign allegiance.
The term “Westem Icelanders” on
the other hand, identifies us as
Icelanders - which to me designates
natives of Iceland and has an ‘alien’
political connotation with which I an
uncomfortable. This term, which is a
literal translation of the Icelandic
Vestur íslendingar, was certainly
appropriate at one time - during the
immigration era when our native-
born forefathers and mothers were
alive! These people were, after all,
transplanted Icelanders, though
landed immigrants in Canada. We
today, for the most part, are not
Icelanders in this sense, and the use
of this term reflects poorly on us -
suggesting cultural naivete at best - at
worst, poor citizenship. I confess to
having once used such phrases, but
as a fifth generation Canadian of
Icelandic descent, who has also lived
in Iceland, I now see a very signifi-
cant distinction between the two. It
is of particular importance that
spokespersons for our community at
large - the editors of our paper, offi-
cials of the Icelandic National
League, and those representing us
through the Chair of Icelandic - be
aware of this distinction and the pos-
sible negative impact of using such
terms inappropriately.
I would also like to comment of
the use of the Icelandic flag here in
Canada. When I first went to Iceland
as a youth, one of the first souvenirs
I bought was a full-sized Icelandic
flag, which to me symbolized
Icelandic identity in a general way.
Today, I would hesitate to display
Fríends of the Libraries of the University of Manitoba
present and evening of Icelandic Canadian Literature with
David Arnason Kristjana Gunnars Kirsten Wolf
______- DATE: Tuesday, November 17,1992
tliilVll1 TiME: 8:00 p.m.
^----- PLACE: Faculty Club, Pembina Hall Fort Garry Campus
This is ther second of a series of readings and talks from the 1992-93 Program
“University of Manitoba Writers and their worhs”
Refreshments follow the readings Free parking in “F" lot off MacLean Crescent
Everyone is weicome.
TAYLOR
McCAFFREY
CHAPMAN, SIGURDSON
Barristers & Solicitors Winnipeg.....................Phone 949-1312
4th Floor - 386 Broadway Gimli........................Phone 642-7955
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3R6 23 Stitr Street, Winnipeg Beach.Phone 389-2999
Mr. David King attands in Qmli and Riverton on the frst end third Fridey of eech month and Mr. Tim Taylor in
Winnipeg Beach in the aftemoon on the second and fourth Friday of each month.
Office hours are held in Gimli at 3rd Ave. end Centre St. between the hoira of 9:30 a.m. -12:00 noon and 4 - 5 p.m.
In Riverton, Mr. King attende at tha Riverton Village offioe between the hotra of 1:30 and 3 p.m.
Office houro £ro held at Winnipeg Beach between 2 and 4 p.m. in the Winnipeg Beach offica of Gimli Credit Union.
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For anyone interested in the lcelandic culture Lögberg-Heimskringla is the
perfect gift that lasts all year. Gift cards are available upon request.
Make cheques payable & mail to: Lögberg-Heimskringla Inc.
699 Carter Avenue,
Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3M 2C3
this flag in public, except in combina-
tion with the Canadian flag, as part
of a cultural display on modern
Iceland, or as a way of acknowledg-
ing visitors from Iceland. The
Icelandic flag is, after all, a political
symbol, and this flag was not even in
existence when our Icelandic forefa-
thers and mothers came to Canada.
A much more appropriate symbol for
the Icelandic heritage brought to
Canada during the 1800s would be
the falcon, which was the acknowl-
edged cultural symbol of Iceland at
that time. The falcon is not a politi-
cal, but a cultural symbol, and would
therefore represent our heritage with-
out suggesting foreign political
entanglements.
Icelandic Newspapers
Published in Manitoba
by lola Nlcklas — all the informatlon was
obtalned from old copies of these newspa-
pers at Lögberg-Heimskrlngla 699 Carter
and the lcelandic Collection, Dafoe Library
Universlty of Manttoba.
The Icelandic Settlers arrived in
Manitoba from 1864 through
early 20th Centuiy. These people
arrived with their own personal libraries
and were completely literate. It was no
time until they were publishing newspa-
pers and magazines.
Lögberg-Heimskringla which is cur-
rently published weekly was at one time
two separate weeklies published in
Winnipeg. In August of this year
Lögberg-Heimskringla Received the
1992 Annual Cultural Award of $500
from The American Scandinavian
Society of New York, Inc.
In 1886 Heimskringla was organized
and published by Heimskringla Printing
and Publishing Co. 151 Lombard
Street. Heimskringla — what does the
word mean? Heimur means the world,
kringla is a globe. Heimskringla was
named after Snorri Sturlusson’s writings
of 1220 A.D. to 1235 A.D.
By 1888 Lögberg was being pub-
lished by the Lögberg Printing Co. at 11
Rorie Street. Lögberg — what does the
Buy Directly
from the People
who make them.
The Beautiful
lcelandic
Handknits
Pullovers..$142.50
incl. mailing
Cardigans with buttons ....$146.50 incl. mailing
Cardigans with zippers..$157.50 incl. mailing
PRICES IN CANADIAN' DOLLARS
Sizes ' S M L XL
LADIES 8/10 12/14 16 18
Sizes S M-L XL XXL
MENS 38“ 40" 42-44“ 46"
When ordering please
state color
preferences:
Howto
Measure
Send your orders to:

jMvrTttoift?;
The Handknittíng
Association of Iceland

Skólavördustígur 19,
101 Reykjavík,
ICELAND.
Tel.: 91-21890
word mean? Lög means law and berg
means rock. Lögberg was named after
the mount of Laws on the Thingvalla
Plain in Iceland where the leaders met
in the year 930 A.D. to establish a sys-
tem of law and order.
A common law was established with
a firmly based legislative and judicial
organization. The leaders called
“Goðar” were like judges and presided
over the courts. Since there were no
written records, a law speaker stood on
the rock and recited the law from mem-
ory.
The main concems of the publishers
of both newspapers was to convey to
the various Icelandic communities news
of their countrymen who had settled in
many widely scattered areas of Canada
and the United States. To provide infor-
mation on govemmental fimctions and
the laws of the land including areas
available for settlement under the
Homestead Acts. Information about
existing and proposed railway lines,
access to lakes for fishing. They provid-
ed news from Iceland with generous
space alotted to Icelandic prose and
poetry.
Contlnued next week
Donations to
Lögberg-Heimskringla Inc.
Irene Finnson, Bumaby, BC.......$100.
In loving memory of our cousin Friða
Erickson, from Michael & Steina
Jaskolski and Melanie Jaskolski,
Calgary, AB......................$40.
In memory ofAdelaide West, from
Gunnar & Vera Solvason,
Gimli, MB.....................S25.
In memory ofStefanía Eyjólfson, from
Verma Zahorodny & family,
Lundar, MB....................$50.
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
Pastor Ingthor I. Isfeld
1030 a.m. The Service followed by
Simday School & Coffee hour.
First Lutheran Church
580 Victor St., Winnipeg, MB
R3G 1R2 Ph. 772-7444