Lögberg-Heimskringla - 22.07.1994, Blaðsíða 6

6 > Lögberg-Heimskringla « Föstudagur 22. júlí 1994
A IM
Looking for facts about Hecia
To those for whom Hecla
Island holds a special place
in their hearts and memories,
the beauty and importance of its
landscape as a record of the com-
munity that lived there is self-evi-
dent. Those who don’t know the
story of life on the island can not
see the landscape in the same way;
perhaps seeing it as ‘a piece of the
Maritimes in the prairies.’
As part of my Master’s thesis in
Landscape Architecture focusing on
the cultural landcape of Hecla
Island, I want to record some of the
lore of the island. Cultural land-
scape contains both the material
traces the inhabitants leave on a
landscape, and the non material
cultural adaptations of a people that
govern how they see the landscape,
and how they exploit its resources
to make their living. The material
traces can be seen in the patterns of
settlement, the arrangement of the
buildings within a farmstead and
their relation to the fields and the
the shore, and the architecture of
the buildings. However in order to
investigate the non-material ele-
ments of culture, I am interested in
collecting: the names given to physi-
cal and cultural features of the land-
scape; tales and information about
how the islanders made their living
(farming, including hay-making,
raising cattle, horses and sheep, any
crops that might have been raised,
logging, físhing, and how the differ-
ent demands of farming and fishing
were accommodated); stories about
community celebrations such as
concerts, plays, and picnics, and the
typical seasonal round of activities.
Also what places are important to
the community or you individually.
Icelandic culture is well known
for belief in the supernatural. The
trolls, ogres, and huldufólk do not
seem to have transplanted well to
New Iceland, perhaps because of
their attachment to rocky outcrops
in Iceland. However, some may
inhabit the rocky cliffs of Hecla’s
shore. Also stories of ghosts and
other supernatural phenomena,
especially if associated with a partic-
ular place, are valuable in under-
standing the transfer of this culture
trait to Hecla.
Betel Home Foundation - Selkirk
Mrs. Jennie Witwicki, East Selkirk, MB....................$25.00
Catherine Richert, Selkirk, MB............................$25.00
M. Myrtle Bamett, Selkirk, MB.............................$25.00
Henry Gursky, Winnipeg, MB................................$25.00
In Memory ofAnna Olson
Dilla Narfason, Gimli, MB...............................$50.00
Mrs. May Medd, Winnipeg, MB..................................
Emma Wilkinson, Winnipeg, MB............................$25.00
In Memory of Betty Thomson
EstherV. Haglof, Penticton, BC..........................$20.00
Morey & Shirley Block, Coquitlam, BC....................$20.00
In Memory of Ingibjorg Johnson
Roberta Chic, Selkirk, MB...............................$25.00
W. Leo & Laura Johnson, Winnipeg, MB..................$100.00
L. Johnson, Winnipeg, MB................................$20.00
Mrs. Mae Brady & family, Selkirk, MB...................$20.00
^ - --------------------
Betel Home Foundation - Building & Memorial Fund
In Memory of Malmfridur Einarson
Gudny & Snorri Johnson & family, Arborg, MB..........$20.00
Valdina & Kjartan Johnson & family, Arborg, MB.......$20.00
Rita & Tom Moloney, Gayle Post, Winnipeg, MB.........$100.00
S. Vincent, Winnipeg, MB.............................$20.00
James & Sylvia Moloney & family, Winnipeg, MB........$50.00
In Memory of Loa Alfred
Morey & Shirley Block, Coquitlam, BC.................$20.00
In Memory of Olafia Sigurdson
Len & Joyce Jackson, Ames, MB........................$25.00
In Memory of Solvin Holm
Yellowquill School, Portage la Prairie, MB...........$25.00
Gordon & Norma Philpot, Sandy Hook, MB...............$25.00
Rick & Bunny Williamson, Portage la Prairie, MB......$25.00
A. & B. Holm, Lac du Bonnet, MB......................$25.00
Vincent & Mrs. Lillian Gibson, Winnipeg, MB..........$15.00
Sigga Benediktson, Gimli, MB..........................$25.00
Runa Ingimundson, Winnipeg, MB........................$25.00
Board of Tmstees & Administrative Staff of the
Portage la Prairie School Division #24.............$30.00
In Memory ofRonald A. Hay
Irene M. Hay, Winnipeg, MB............................$22.00
The culture of the Western
Icelanders of Hecla Island derived
from that of Iceland, but it evolved
as they adapted to a new landscape
in a new country. The isolation of
their island allowed their culture to
thrive, creating a landscape of
exceptional beauty and clarity. The
subsequent inclusion within a
provincial park has presented the
opportunity to preserve the rem-
nants of a community that lives only
within the memories of its former
residents and those few who remain.
I hope that my study will help to
preserve the spirit of that communi-
ty and interpret it for visitors to the
island.
Please write to me with your sto-
ries of life on the island or thoughts
on ways to preserve or interpret the
cultural landscape.
Bruce Kjartanson
c/o Dept. of Landscape
Architecture
201 Russell Building, University of
Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2
Fax: (204) 275-7198
Phone: (204) 269-4632 (home)
Phone: (204) 261-5746 (university)
Betel Home Foundation
1994 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Betel
Home Foundation was called
to order at 18:15 hours on
Thursday, June 23rd.
The meeting was held at the Betel
home, Gimli.
Mr. Jakobson chaired the Nom-
inating Committee and presented the
following report. Other members of
the Committee were Mr. W. Dryden
and Mr. E. Stefanson.
The following members of the
Betel Home Foundation were
appointed as directors: Three Year
Term: Mrs. A.F. Wilson, Mrs. Alma
Sigurdson, Mrs. Helen Sutherland
and Mr. Kris Johnson. Two Year
Term: Mr. Gudmundur Myrdal, Mr.
Ernest Stefanson, Dr. Irvin Olafson,
Mr. Richard Thorsteinson, and Mrs.
Betty Helgason. One Year Term: Mr.
Freeman Skaptason, Mr. Brian
Jakobson, Mr. Roy Gilbart, Mr.
Donald Bjornson, and Mr. Robert
Oleson.
Mr. Kris Stefanson was elected as
a new member of the foundation and
the following were appointed as offi-
cers and executive committee:
Past President - Mr. Brian Jakobson
President - Mrs. Alma Sigurdson
lst Vice President - Mr. Roy Gilbart
2nd Vice Pres. - Mr. Robert Oleson
Treasurer - Mr. Roy Gilbart
Secretary - Mrs. A.F. Wilson
R.V.O.
Betel Home Foundation - Winnipeg Chapel Fund
Bea Einarson, Winnipeg, MB
$14.00
In Memory of Sena Thompson, Emily Eby & their parents, Sveinn
& Sigurlaug Thompson (of Selkirk)
Sister Laufey Olson, Winnipeg, MB........................
In Memory ofJohn Gregg
Mrs. Beatrice Sigurdson, Winnipeg, MB
**_____________________________________
$20.00
J
r ■= Betel Home Foundation - Gimli Chapel Fund \
Kari & Emily Oleson, Gimli, MB $50.00
In Memory oíMary Michaluk The Michaluk Family ....$150.00
In Memory ofMargaret Bjornsson Lauga Fjeldsted, Winnipeg, MB
In Memory ofMalmfridur Einarson Petrina & Ronald Morden, Ames, MB $25.00 Carolyn Sveinson, Elroy Sveinson, Dean Sveinson, Dawn & Bill Cartwright, Bumaby, BC $50.00 Einar & Gwen Palson, Winnipeg, MB $25.00 Bamey & Beverley Einarson, Arborg, MB $25.00 Gordon & Thomnn Einarson & family, Winnipeg, MB $50.00
In Memory ofLoa Alfred Esther V. Haglof, Penticton, BC $20.00
In Memory ofElsie Strauss Mrs. Lara H. Tergesen, Gimli, MB Wallace & Betty Helgason, Selkirk, MB $25.00 $25.00
In Memory ofHarold O'Hara Doreen Walker, Gimli, MB $10.00