Lögberg-Heimskringla - 20.10.1995, Blaðsíða 2

2 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 20. október 1995
Notes from our readers:
Women pioneers need
more recognition
First, let me congratulate you on
the excellent quality of Lögberg-
Heimskringla. I thoroughly
enjoy keeping in touch with the think-
ing of Icelandic Canadians. In particu-
lar, Einar Arnason’s writings are
always worth reading.
Your Icelandic lessons are greatly
enjoyed by one of my daughters who
developed an interest in the Icelandic
language through classes with
Professor Haraldur Bessason while
she was at the University of Manitoba.
She uses the lessons to test my memo-
ry of Icelandic and also to see whether
I understand her pronunciation. On
both scores we get ‘A’ s.
My real reason for writing this letter
is to explore a couple of ideas with
you and your readers.
For some time I have felt that we as
a community of Icelandic North
Americans have not given adequate
recognition to the early women immi-
granís who settled in Gimli, Arborg,
Riverton, Víðir, Winnipeg and others
parts of North America. For example,
we have given recognition to Jóhann
Sigurðson who built the first
steamship to carry freight on Lake
Winnipeg. But while Jóhann was
building this ship, his wife Ragnhildur
was busy teaching the settlers English.
I use this only as an example; there are
many other women who have made
equally significant contributions to our
society.
To compensate for this lack of
recognition, I suggest that in prepara-
tion for íslendingadagurinn in the year
2000 we make a concerted effort to
record in print the work of the women
of Icelandic descent in North America.
Each family can record what they
think their children and grandchildren
will want to know when they become
adults.
If this idea appeals to some of your
readers, perhaps they could write to
Lögberg-Heimskringla to indicate
what they could do to advance this
idea.
Another idea came to me when I
read of the Palsson brothers’ donation
to the Chair of Icelandic Studies at the
University of Manitoba. In addition to
the research scholarship underway, we
need to strongly support existing
efforts to further an interest in teach-
ing the Icelandic language to our chil-
dren and grandchildren. This can be
done by working with the appropriate
people in Iceland to identifý students
there who might wish to spend some
time at a North American university.
I’m sure there are some families in
North America who would be happy
FAMILYIFUNERAL
COUNSELLORS
Choices.
Consider Cremation,
A simple act, done with dignity, our way.
Phone anytime
949-2200
GallUuf, Aíí 9oeiandle/iyi and rWo*uta-le OcelatiÉeM.!
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Respectfully,
Kris Kristjanson
Winnipeg, Manitoba
★ ★ ★
Iwish to express my sincere thanks
to you for publishing my poems
Muna and Wishkabena in
Lögberg-Heimskringla. My deepest
reward is knowing how much joy the
publication of these poems brought to
my Amma Asdís Anderson (who has
been reading L-H since she was a little
girl). I am honoured to have been
published in a paper that means so
much to her.
This summer, while visiting with
Amma out at her farm in Libau, my
cousin Erla dropped by and informed
us that a poem of mine entitled
Langafi had won first place in the
Icelandic Festival Writing Contest. I
was not able to attend íslendin-
gadagurinn and had not been notified
by mail of my winning, and so was
very surprised.
I realize that you have already cov-
ered this year’s Islendingadagurinn in
the September 1 issue. Nevertheless, I
am sending you a copy of my winning
poem on the chance that you might
want to print it in another issue.
Thank you and bravo to the fine
efforts put into Lögberg-Heimskringla.
Sincerely,
Katrina Koven
Toronto, Ontario
There's o Lot of
in the Loke
But there's
only one ploce
to go uuhen
\)ou uuont the
best cotch
GIMLI FISH
AADRKCT
596 Dufferin flve., UJinnipeg
Miiil Onli'rs Wck'omv CQÍ\ 'IAHA
I’Iioir' l'oikiv: (204) /“T
Langafi
by Katrína Koven
Langafi Einar
chopping, scraping
sharp hooks dipping,
deep beneath the
frozen skin of the lake
Jigger, snapper
whatchamacallit
twelve foot nets
nets stretch like gum
north-west to Gimli
Tar-paper shack
paddywhack
hungry sleigh hounds
wet leather noses
tails ripped and ragged
North winds, no-nonsense
eyes stinging, snow blazing
lcelandic wool helmets
cold Lifrarpylsa
thick coffee in jars
Sky vast, cloaked in dusk
pickerel box packed proud
homeward to Freda
home through the crowds
of shivering Poplar branches
"jÉíC
Iwas dumbfounded and angry to
find as I leafed through the Sept.
15 issue of L-H that you had
printed a somewhat edited version of
a “thing” I wrote some fífty odd years
ago merely for my own amusement
and that of a few friends and neigh-
bours — if they chose to find it amus-
ing — but not for publication. I am
surprised at your indiscretion at print-
ing something without proper autho-
rization and amazed at the gall of
whoever submitted it without my per-
mission. This person also bestowed a
title which the original did not have
and altered some of the wording. After
taking so many liberties why didn’t
she claim authorship as well? I would
have found that more acceptable
Solrune Gillis, nee Johnson
Brandon, Manitoba
Ed. note: We truly apologize for
any embarassment that our prínting of
this poem has caused. L-H receives
many submissions from friends and
family members who are veiy proud of
the work they are submitting to hon-
our their loved one. Unfortunatley L-
H does not have the resources or
manpower to search out the oríginal
authors for verífication in every case.
We do, however, aim for the best
qualityin each case.
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