Lögberg-Heimskringla - 20.04.2001, Síða 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 20. apríl 2001 • 3
SkOÐUNAR • VlEWPOINT
Where is New Iceland?
David Jón
Fuller
WlNNIPEG, MB
IT seems that with every generation,
North Americans of Icelandic
descent go further out into the world
to follow their careers, seek their for-
tunes, or just explore. I have noticed, in
my own family, a spread from initial
“settlement” in Selkirk, MB as each
successive generation matures. In my
mother’s, people moved out to
Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, and
Halifax, among other places in Canada.
In my own, national boundaries have
dissolved and among my cousins maný
have gone and lived in countries as
diverse as Venezuala, Denmark,
England, Papau New Guinea, and
Iceland. And yet, wherever we are,
there is some kind of connection. Is it
familial? Is it a longing for home? A
desire to share experiences in foreign
countres?
When I read about “Icelandic”
communities throughout North
America, and the activities that some of
the clubs undertake, it makes me won-
der at the invisible ties between them. I
don’t mean any kind of allegiance to
one another, or even a shared history
beyond the fact that all of them have
their roots in Iceland. Groups in
Markerville, Kinmount, and
Vatnabyggð write books on the history
of their areas. Poets and writers spring
up in profligate numbers. Reading soci-
eties are founded. Perhaps there are
Icelandic traits that are passed down
from one generation to the next, which
are still evident in the communities at
large; but if this is the case, I don’t think
any group owes any one other a debt for
these traditions, or even necessarily
Iceland. Icelandic seeds have taken root
in American soil, from Brazil to the
Northwest Territories, and only tradi-
tions relevant to the particular areas of
settlement have survived.
The concept of the “Republic of
New Iceland” has been debated in these
pages—was there ever a twelve-year
republic? I’m sure others will have
more to say on this. I think there is
another, obvious question hiding in
plain view: where is New Iceland
today? There are subscribers of this
newspaper living in far-flung areas of
the world, as can be seen from the let-
ters page. There are vibrant communi-
ties whose activities have not been cov-
ered adequately if at all by L-H. I hope
this will continue to change. But I
would like to address this question to
everyone in the “Icelandic” community:
where is New Iceland? If we take our
metaphor literally, applying it only to
our own region, we cut ourselves off
from reality: New Iceland is no longer a
place, but an idea. What we make of
that idea is up to us.
Do you have an opinion you wish to
share? Send it to the Editorial Office.
David Arnason to be feted
WlNNIPEG, MB
David Arnason, Winnipeg
author, editor and teacher, will
be toasted and roasted by
Prairie Fire, a Winnipeg literary maga-
zine, with which he has had a long asso-
ciation. On the same evening, the
Spring 2001 issue of the magazine,
devoted to his work and works about
him, will be launched.
The celebratory evening, to be held
May 12, 2001 at the Quality Inn at
Pembina and Grant (635 Pembina),
falls into two parts. The early part of the
evening begins with a cocktail hour at
6:00, followed by a buffet dinner at
7:00. Tickets for this are $40.00
($20.00 tax receipt will be issued) and
are available from Prairie Fire at 943-
9066, or from McNally Robinson
Booksellers. In addition to honouring
David, the dinner serves as a fundraiser
for Prairie Fire.
At 8:30 pm the doors open for the
launch of the magazine and readings by
David and others. This issue includes
an excerpt from his new novel, three or
four short stories and poems by David,
along with works on and about David.
They look at him as publisher, teacher,
novelist, playwright, Manitoba Arts
Council member, friend, gardener, host.
Although they barely scratch the sur-
face, they give an impression of him as
larger than life. The many contributing
authors include Meeka Walsh, Robert
Kroetsch, Kristjana Gunnars, Di
Brandt, Douglas Barbour, Dennis
Cooley, Chris Johnson, Kim McCaw,
W.D. Valgardson, Margaret Sweatman,
Fred Wah, Aritha Van Herk, The
breadth and depth of the contributions
speak volumes to the broad interests
and extensive career of David Amason.
While holding down a full-time
job as a teacher of Canadian literature
and creative writing at the University
of Manitoba, and serving as Head of
the Departments of English and
Icelandic, he has published novels,
short stories, and plays, edited books
on Canadian writing, written scripts
for movies, television and radio, and
done reading tours in many countries.
His work has been translated into
Icelandic, German, French, Polish,
Russian, Hungarian, Ukrainian,
Japanese, and Chinese. His next novel
King Jerry will be published by
Tumstone Press in September 2001.
The Prairie Fire issue, vol.22, no.l,
which is 224 p. and devoted to David
Amason can be purchased for $11.95
from them at 423-100 Arthur St., Wpg.,
MB, R3B 1H3, phone (204) 943-9066,
fax (204) 942-1555, e-mail
prfire@escape.ca. Prairie Fire is also
available at many newsstands; check
one in your area for copies.
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CORRECTION
In our last issue, in the INL Conference ad,
the time for the Opening Ceremonies was incorrect.
The Opening Ceremonles start at 7:45,
Betel Home Foundation
—Gimli Chapel Fund
In Memory ofMrs. Johanna Rousseau:
Mrs. Hedy Bjomson,
Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 ...................$60
Clara & Carlo Steffenson,
Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 ..................$15
In Honour ofMary Kelner’s lOOth Birthday:
Sonya Kelner-Dodd,
Winnipeg Beach, MB...................$90
Betel Home Foundation
Building and Memorial Fund
In Memory of Johanna Rousseau:
Dawn Suchy, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 ...........$25
Sister Laufey Olson,
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3M6................$25
Mr. & Mrs. Allan Goodman & family,
Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 ..................$25
Dori Eastman, Ames, MB R0C 0C0 ..........$50
Mrs. Margaret Pyper,
Winnipeg, MB R3M 3V9................$10
Mrs. Lillie Rousseau,
Winnipeg, MB R2Y 2G5................$15
ln Memory ofEmily Katzalay:
Mr. & Mrs. R. Hilderman,
Winnipeg, MBR1P0G1 .................$25
StafF of Riverview Day Hospital &
Psychogeriatric Team,
Wpg. R3R 1V2........................$50
Violet McLeod, Selkirk, MB RIA 2H8........$10
Zenon & Helen Sabay,
Agassiz, BC V0M 1A1 ................$25
In Memory of August (Gus) Isfeld:
Mike Guttormson, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0.......$20
Mrs. Gerdur Harris,
Winnipeg, MB R3J 1H2................$30
Dilla Narfason, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0......$25
Emma Wilkinson, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 .......$25
May Medd, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3R7............$25
Mits & Chiyoko Ikeda......................$20
Chris & Julie Isfeld......................$30
Doug & Heather Pockett,
Kamloops, BC V2E 2P4 ...............$50
Paul &01an Isfeld,
Winnipeg Beach, MB R0C 3G0..........$25
In Memory ofVictoria Herda:
Joyce Boss, Winnipeg, MB R2G 3V4........$25
Kathleen & Don Rudko,
Dugald, MB ROE 0K0.................$20
Mary Tomczak, Selkirk, MB RIA 2M7.......$10
Mary Wachal,
East St. Paul, MB R2E 1B4...........$25
Ron & Janice Herda,
Selkirk, MB RIA 2A8.................$40
Robert & Loura Herda,
Selkirk, MB RIA 2A8................$100
Robert & Terry Herda,
Selkirk, MB RIA 2A8.................$25
Mr. & Mrs. J.L. Wasney,
Edmonton, AB T6E 0M9................$50
Corey Dalebozik,
Flin Flon, MB R8A 1M6...............$25
Mr. & Mrs. Doug Dalebozik,
Treheme, MB R0G 2V0.................$25
Judy Dalebozik, Carman, MB R0G 0J0......$25
Catherine Dalebozik,
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5B2 ...............$50
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Dalebozik,
Selkirk, MB RIA 2A8.................$50
Jeff Romaniuk, Winnipeg, MB R3J 1V3.....$15
Dave Romaniuk, Oakbank, MB R0E 1J1.......$15
Garry Romaniuk,
Winnipeg, MB R2K 1G6................$20
Violet Romaniuk,
Hazelridge, MB R0E 0Y0..............$50
In Memory of Rosevast Thompson:
Helgi & Lillian Austman,
Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 ...................$50
In Memory of Randy Bott:
Mary Chemichan,
Winnipeg, MB R2G 2G8................$25
Lois & ClifFord Johanson,
Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 ...................$20
Wally & Betty Helgason,
Selkirk, MB RIA 0K7.................$20
A1 & Louise Thompson,
Lockport, MB RIA 3R9................$100
In Memory of Jenny Grabowiecki:
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred & Lois Nelson & family,
Visalia, CA, USA 93277 ....(US funds) $30
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