Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.09.1999, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 10. september 1999 * 5
What’s happening in...
Iceland
Bragi Jónsson takes part in the discussion. pi,oto: Morgmhiaðið/Jím Sman
Leifur
Continued from page 1
for the building, this cannot be con-
firmed. However, Guðmundur said: “If
Eiríkur lived at all, he lived at
Eiríksstaðir.” As we know, Eiríkur was
a warrier who changed his place of res-
idence frequently. He was driven from
Norway because of warfare.
In his address, “Greenlanders’
Saga in present times,” Helgi
Þorláksson pointed out that the verbal
sources had changed from one genera-
tion to the next, and the same was true
for the written texts. For example he
said that. many things were unclear
about Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir, where
sources did not agree, such as on her
stay at Skagafjörður after her retum
home. Did she live aÞReynisnes or at
Glaumbær, for example?
Robert Kellogg also mentioned
Guðríður and Jenny Jochens spoke of
her and Freydís in her discussion ori
women and vikings. Kellogg reviewed
the reason for Eiríkur the Red’s leaving
Norway and said that Iceland had been
a good refuge for people who had got-
ten into trouble; where there was a tra-
dition for telling tales for the sake of
entertainment.
Bo Almqvist discussed the chapter
on the two Guðríðurs in Greenlanders’
Saga, where both women claimed to be
named Guðríður. Almqvist felt this was
more of a ghost story than a description
of a dream.
Árni Björnsson was thinking along
the lines of anthropology as well in his
discussion on families with special
poetic abilities which possibly settled in
Iceland. He felt the nation’s isolation
explained the poetic literature, and
emphasized that those who moved to
Iceland were not only warriers from the
ranks of Vikings, but mainly peaceful
men, most of whom were farmers. The
art of writing came with the church and
the farmers on church lands kept pas-
tors who did the writing.
Kirsten Wolf talked about the
effects of Vínlands Saga on Westem-
Icelandic and Canadian literature where
there is plenty to work with,from then
and now. Vínland became a symbol, a
kind of Frón or ísafold and the same is
tme for Leifur Eiríksson. He became a
very romantic symbol. Kirsten Wolf,
professor at the University of Manitoba,
and Marianne E. Kalinke, professor at
the University of Illinois, talked about
Icelandic studies in the U.S.
Robert Kellogg mentioned W.H.
Auden, for a good reason, and Iceland’s
iinportance to him. Sveinn Haraldsson
toyed with contradictions in the origin
of Eiríkur the Red. Was he Norwegian
or Icelandic? Sveinn also discussed
names, for example Leifur’s name,
which rightly should have been named
Þorleifur, and perhaps that was his
name. Sveinn also praised the literature
itself which certainly is very important
in the Vínlandssagas. Why do people
not rather spend time discussing the lit-
erature than the question of Leifur’s
nationality? Inga Dóra Björnsdóttir,
who is familiar in the U.S.A. informed
that many Americans consider Leifur to
be Swedish.
Skrælings
verrir Jakobsson gave an interest-
ing talk on Skrælings (uncultured
people). He felt that stories on
Skrælings tell us something about
Icelanders. Icelanders described them-
selves by describing Skrælings.
Skrælings had most likely been seen as
a kind of sorcerers or outlaws and right-
ly killed as such.
Many areas of study were dealt
with at the conference, such as nautical
studies, and chronological studies by
Þorsteinn Vilhjálmsson and Sören
Thirslund. Birgit Wallace Ferguson
gave a lecture on L’Anse aux Meadows
and Vínland. Benjamin J. Vail meted
out knowledge on studies which lie
mid-way between culture and the natu-
ral surroundings, Human Ecology.
There was also Vínland and ancient
Icelandic studies among British people
such as during the Victorian period.
Other studies of interest were Bjöm
Bjarnason’s remarks on Columbus’s
possible visit to Iceland in 1477.
Translated from Morgunblaðið
Canada
Iceland supports Centre
Elva Jónasson
Ernest Stefansson opened the reception 17 June 1999 at
Betel Centre in Gimli by introducing Svavar Gestsson,
Consul for Iceland, and his wife Guðrún Ágústsdóttir,
President of the Reykjavík City Council. Svavar Gestsson, on
behalf of Halldór Ásgrímsson, the Foreign Minister of Iceland,
and, with his wife Guðrún, took great pleasure in lauding their
good friend, Neil Bardal, on his appointment as Honourary
Consul for Iceland to Gimli. Guðrún presented Neil with a
special gift of commemorative coins from the city of
Reykjavík, perhaps her last oíficial duty as President of the
Reykjavík City Council before beginning her two-year leave
of absence. Neil Bardal then presented his credentials from
Halldór Ásgrímsson, the Foreign Minister of Iceland, to Bill
Barlow, Mayor of Gimli, saying that “1 chose Gimli, Gimli did
not choose me.”
On behalf of the Govemment of Iceland, Svavar Gestsson
presented a cheque for $90,000 to the Icelandic Heritage
Museum of Gimli. John Harvard, M.L.A., presented another
cheque for $90,000 from the Millennium Commission to the
Museunt. Laurence Johnson as president ol’the Museum board
accepted the monies.
Ernest Stefansson invited the guests to enjoy the refresh-
ments with coffee and conversation.
Photo: Jón Einars. Gustafsson
Mural
Continued from page 1
melodies.
David Carty, the painter, in his illustration of Icelandic cul-
ture, has incorporated several elements in his depiction. Viking
explorers, an elderly seaman, fishermen, Icelandic horses, a vol-
cano, a geyser, the sagas, scenes front both Iceland and the New
World, and even Charlie Thorson with “Punkinhead.” The mural
will undoubtedly be visited by many from the community and
may become a focal point when visitors from Iceland are being
guided through the early areas of the first lcelandic settlers in the
West End neighbourhood.
Slefania Sveinhjamardóitir
YEOMAN
FARM
Parham, Ontario
K0H 2K0
Telephone & Fax:
613 / 37J-6308
<it& it itnnt fiin* iint nu1 'nB'HRiet hri n nr&ttr NtiT'mtm a. rmt t rin 'ne'HittBiHi-