Lögberg-Heimskringla - 22.05.1998, Page 6

6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday, May 22, 1998
d?HILDREN’S CZORNER
STEINN BOLLASON
This children’s story continues in this issue.
It is translated by Gunnur Isfeld.
UTT undraðbörn!”Risinnmisstiallasekkina, svo varðhonumbillt við,
ll ení einhverju ofboðsfáti tókhann þá alla upp aftur og bar þáheim
að húsinu.
En nú þótti risanum fyrst taka
út yfir allan þjófabálk. Þegar öll
þessi hundrað svöngu börn sáu
pabba sinn koma með klyfjaðan
risa, þustu þau á móti honum, hvert
með sinn gaffal og hníf í hönd-
unum, þau brýndu hnífana á göffl-
unum og æptu öll í einu:
“Pabbi kemur með kjöt, pabbi
kemur með risakjöt.”
Annar eins aðgangur og þetta
gæti skotið sjálfum kölska skelk í
bringu.
U A ]
Ai
'.-V-
hundred children!” The
. giant dropped all the sacks,
he was so startled, but in a fluster
he picked them all up again and
carried them home to the house.
Now the giant was completely overwhelmed. When all hundred
children saw their father coming with the giant loaded down, they hurried
towards him, each with a fork and knife in hand. They sharpened the
knives on the forks and all shouted:
“Daddy is bringing meat, daddy is bringing giant meat.”
Such commotion could frighten the devil himself.
The word
The word as it
appears in story
missa missti
billt við
ofboðsfát
taka út yfir allan þjófabálk
Grammar
pt.
svangur
brýna
æpa
svöngu
brýndu
æptu
pl.
pt.
pl. pt.
English
translation
lose
startled
frightened fluster
completely
overwhelmed
hungry
sharpen
shout,
Shores Under Siege
Continued from page 4
is causing irreparable damage to Lake
Winnipeg as a multifaceted resource.
How has this problem been allowed
to reach such proportions? A manipulation
of statistics, a campaign of misinforma-
tion, and a widespread lack of solid infor-
mation have all contributed to public be-
wilderment and even denial, but the single
largest factor in this problem is corporate
greed. Those in positions of responsibil-
ity quote record profits in years of high
water as justification for allowing this de-
struction to continue, deeming money
more important than the preservation of
our province’s natural resources. Profit is
evidently also more important than the rights
of those Manitobans directly affected.
The litany of protest and denial sur-
rounding this issue is far too lengthy to
relate here, but most recently the cause of
property owners and of the public at large
has been taken up by a newly reorganized
Lake Winnipeg Property Owners Associa-
tion. A grass roots organization, the
LWPOA represents communities right
around the south basin of Lake Winnipeg,
and armed with the combined knowledge
of several members who have been follow-
ing this issue as far back as 1972, a delega-
tion of the LWPOA met with govemment
ministers and MLAs in March of 1998. A
follow-up meeting is to take place in April.
In the meantime, Lake Winnipeg
stands ominously high after the winter, and
there is no indication that measures have
been taken to begin releasing the flood
waters of 1996-97 to alleviate the situation.
Property owners from the Red River to Frog
Bay on Lake Winnipeg’s west shore there-
fore have little choice but to invest their
life savings in fortifying their properties
with rock, which fortunately is another
abundant resource in ‘New Iceland’. □
Attention Readers:
Lögberg-Heimskringla now has an
e-mail address: logberg@escape.ca
Vatnabyggð Þorrablót
Continued from page 2
“And, on July 11, these accomplish-
ments and the contribution of Vestur
Islendingar, or should I say, Saskat-
chewaningar, will be forever cast in
bronze, when the statue of the Icelandic
settlers will be dedicated in Elfros.
“You have much to be proud of.
“Ladies and gentlemen, join me in a
toast to the Vatnabyggð Chapter and the
memory of Eric Stephansson.”
The only other formal speeches were
a welcoming greeting from Sharon
Armstrong, Mayor of Wynyard, and from
Laurence Johnson, president of the Icelan-
dic National League, who was attending
his first Vatnabyggð Þorrablót.
Entertainment included an authentic
Icelandic fairy tale by Joan Eyolfson
Cadham, who, thanks to the talents and
generosity of Judy Hamilton of Regina,
now has an almost-authentic Viking lady’s
outfit to dress up the stories; and assorted
musical selections. Generations, the local
talented trio of Frances Blythe, Audrey
Shepherd and Bina Keyser, offered a set
and were asked for an encore. Shamrock
School Division band director, Dave
Hugg, brought along a trio of Wynyard
band members to remind the crowd that
the Vatnabyggð area’s tradition of fine lo-
cal music is being carried on. Finally,
Baldvin Julianasson, a regular feature at
Þorrablót, entertained with his usual pas-
sion and good humour; this year accom-
panied by Thelma Grant.
Later, during an interview with the
Wynyard reporter, President Laurence
emphasized that there is not only interest
here in culture; there is interest far away.
He said youth in Iceland are experiencing
“an awakening.” Shared history, traditions,
intellectual pursuits and a need for con-
nections elsewhere are part of the rising
tide of interest, he said.
Since everyone was welcome at the
Wynyard Þorrablót, the lesson for every-
one was clear. Culture can be shared
among peoples without being a threat to
other cultures.
During an interview with Joan Eyolf-
son Cadham, she recalled the days when
govemments stomped on identities, fear-
ing that there would be no loyalty to the
country in the relatively new province of
Saskatchewan. The Ukrainians, Poles,
Irish and Icelanders had to endure ethnic
jokes and laugh, or risk being called a bad
sport. “It makes me sick to think of it,”
she said.
Now, she said, the situation is differ-
ent regarding cultural celebrations. “Now
that we’re all doing it publicly, the walls
are coming down. The divisions are go-
ing or gone,” she said. Celebrating our
different cultural backgrounds by making
them strong and sharing the experiences
openly is what makes life interesting, she
said.
“After all, if a rainbow were only pur-
ple, would people stop and look at it?” □
Fjallkona
Continued from page 3
Lillian, Lois Olafson as Fjallkona for
1998.
Lois was bom in Riverton, the daugh-
ter of the late S.V. and Kristran Sigurdson.
She is married to Dr. Irvin Olafson and is
the mother of Kristine, Stefan, Laurie, Eric
and Marno, and Amma to Mackenzie,
Ryna, Spencer, Victoria and Olivia. Lois
has been associated with the festival for
many years, hosting events on the Black
Hawk and looking after our guests from
Iceland. She has also been involved in the
Bruin chapter of the Icelandic National
League.
Following the speech, Lois Olafson
came forward to receive the crown from
Loma Tergesen, Fjallkona for 1997. □
dALENDAR OF ^VENTS
Thu. May 28 Winnipeg, MB Lestrarfélag — Nordic House of Canada, 764 Erin St. 7:00 p.m. Discussion will centre on TheAxe's Edge by Kristjana Gunnars.
Sun. May 31 Markerville, AB An lcelandic Penny Carnival — Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site. Fun forthe entire family.
Sun. June 7 Markerville, AB Tales to Tell festival — Stephansson House Provincial His- toric Site. Tel: (403) 310-0000 toll free; or (403) 728-3929.
Tue. June 9 Guelph, ON Luncheon for Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, who is to receive an honourary doctorate from the University of Guelph; to be held at the Arboretum, University of Guelph. Contact Norma Ackerley at (416) 604-7260.
Wed. June 17 Winnipeg, MB Anniversary of lceland’s Independence — 7:00 p.m. at the Jón Sigurdsson statue on Manitoba Legislative grounds. Following wreath-laying, the Jón Sigurdsson Chapter of the IODE and the Frón Chapter of the INL invite you to a reception with refreshments, Nordic House, 764 Erin St.
What’s happening in your area? We want to hear from you before or after the events. Send us a few lines — or a lot — typed, double-spaced or on a 31 /2 -inch computer disk. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if material or photos are to be returned. Fax copy to: (204) 284-3870. Send photos or material to Lögberg-Heimskringla, 699 Carter Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3M 2C3.