Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.09.1999, Blaðsíða 1

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HMll iÉ f , Friday 10 September 1999 • Number 32 / Föstudagur 10. september 1999 • Númer 32
Lögberg
Lögberg stofnað 14. janúar 1888
Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
Tekið saman 20. ágúst 1959
Heimskringla
The Icelandic Weekly
Publications Mail registration no. 08000 “The oldest ethnic periodical still publishing in Canada”
Canadian Publications Agreement no. 1402161
News
Did Eiríkur Live at
Eiríksstaðir?
C 6TT 7"est, across the Ocean” was
VV the title of a recent confer-
ence where scholars from Iceland and
abroad introduced their ideas on the
land discoveries and settlement by the
father and son team, Eiríkur the Red
and Leifur the Lucky. Jóhann
Hjálmarsson listened to the lectures
and pondered the value of the
Vínlandssagas today, their sources of
information, and last but not least the
literary influence.
The conference dealt with the
information sources on the land dis-
coveries and settlement of Nordic peo
ple, and Icelandic scholarly works in
English-speaking countries. It was
sponsored by the Sigurður Nordal
Institute, at the Nordic House in
Reykjavík, on August 9-12.
Keeping in mind that next year
will mark the thousandth anniversary
of the land discoveries, it was fitting to
hold a conference on the topic as well
as Icelandic studies among English
speaking people. The conference was
very well attended, the discussions
varied, and the reception mainly good.
Clearly there is a lot of interest in the
subject, probably more than people are
aware of. The language spoken at the
conference was English.
After the address given by the
Chairman of the Sigurður Nordal
Institute and the opening speech given
by the Minister of Culture, Ólafur
Halldórsson delivered an address on
the Vínlandssagas, Greenlanders’
Saga and the Saga of Eiríkur the Red.
Ólafur is among those best informed
on the subject and many references
were made to him at the conference.
Guðmundur Ólafsson spoke on
studies at Eiríksstaðir—Eiríkur the
Red’s farm? Recent archaeological
studies at Eiríksstaðir have revealed
the remains ol' a hall l'rom the end of
the the tenth century, a rather small
building. People ask whether this was
Eiríkur the Red’s farm and, at the same
time, Leifur the Lucky’s birthplace. As
News continues on pcifie 5
Mural and plaque dedicated
Elva Jónasson
Bright sunshine beamed down
on the Colour Party of Army,
Navy, and Air Force Veterans of
Fórt Garry Unit #60 and the Royal
Canadian Legion Winnipeg Branch #1
piped in by Warrant Oflicer E. French of
177 Air Canada Air Cadet Squadron, as
they led the representatives from the
Government of Canada, Manitoba, the
City of Winnipeg, and the Government
of Iceland toward the Icelandic Mural
located at 563 Ellice Avenue at Furby
Street for the Dedication of the Mural
and the unveiling of a Memorial Plaque.
The Icelandic Mural painted by David
Carty pays homage to the first settlers of
the West End and recognizes the impor-
tant contribution that the Icelandic
Community has made in shaping the
ethno-cultural mosaic of the West End
neighbourhood.
The Mural Project—“The Outdoor
Gallery”—was established three years
ago to enhance the West End neighbour-
hood and to showcase the diverse ethnic
makeup of the community. Funding for
the programme was provided in part by
the City of Winnipeg Community
Incentive Grant Programme, the
Winnipeg Development Agreement
Programme 3A; and the West End
Winnipeg BIZ (Business Improvement
Zone).
Master of Ceremonies Neil Bardal,
Honourary Consul of Iceland in Gimli,
gave his opening remarks following the
playing of the Canadian and Icelandic
national anthems, then introduced the
following speakers: Hon. Jack Reimer,
Minister of Urban Affairs, Province of
Manitoba; Pat Martin, Member of
Parliament, Winnipeg Centre; City of
Winnipeg, Cindy Sciberras, Heritage
Winnipeg; Terry McGregor; Chief
Deputy, City of Winnipeg Police
Services.
Svavar Gestsson, Consul General of
Iceland, unveiled the Dedication Plaque
for the assembled guests frorn the
Icelandic community. Harry O.
Bergman made a preseotation of three
l'ramed prints of the Icelandic Mural to
Svavar Gestsson and his wife Guðrún
Svavar Gestsson and Guðrún Agústsdóttir infront oftlie mural. Photo: jó„ Einars. Gustafsson
/ |
Agústsdóttir, Sister Laufey Olson,
Deaconess of the First Lutheran Church
and President of the Betelstaður
Residents Organization, and to Kendra
Jónasson, President of the Icelandic
Canadian Frón. Kathy Arnason, author
of The Huldufólk, opened her briefcase
and, to the de'light of those present, out
jumped Snorri and Snæbjörn, Huldufólk
dolls which she presented to Svavar and
his wife Guðrún, both of whom asserted
that the “boys” would be very welcome
in their home.
A reception hosted by the West End
Winnipeg BIZ followed at Betelstaður,
1061 Sargent Avenue. Blaine
Waldbauer, violinist, entertained the
guests as he wandered through the
tables playing several nostalgic
Please see Mural on page 5
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