Lögberg-Heimskringla - 24.01.2003, Side 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur, 24 Janúar 2003 • page 3
FRÉTTIR • NEWS

c.

984 Porlagc Avenue
at Aubrey St.
Ph: (204) 949-2200
Fax: (204) 783-5916
www.nbarctal.rnb.ca
</( (yomp-lele/,
(u*v&'uel/ 'ftzcílMý'
'Tíjtuíyv iuzsuíeö& decéiUc^
needt to- ée* ivuzele'. . .
If you have pictures or
information contact
Nelson
One little-known chapter in
the history of Icelandic
immigrants in North America
is that of the Yúkonfarar
(Yukon Farers) — Icelanders
who joined the Gold Rush to
the Yukon around the tum of
the last century. Among those
who flocked to the Klondike in
search of gold between 1897
and 1904 were ntore than forty
Icelanders from as far afield as
Winnipeg, the Interlake, North
Dakota, Utah, Vancouver, and
Washington State.
In the summer of 2003,
Edmonton’s Klondike Days
wiil feature Scandinavians, and
in response Edmonton’s
Icelandic club Norðurljós is
Wally 467-8822 Mobile 981-1666
Daryl 322-5743 Mobile 981-5460
Petrína Bachman Visits
Petrína Bachman, the
administrator for the
Icelandic National League in
Iceland was part of the
entourage of the President of
Iceland when he came to open
the Viking Exhibition in
Minneapolis.
Following that, she came
to Winnipeg to meet with
INL/NA officials. It was her
first trip to Winnipeg and
Canada, but, she said, “not my
last.”
She has been attached to
the INL in Iceland since the
first of May. They had a big
convention and general meet-
ing in Reykjavík in the fall.
Sigrid Johnson, President of
the INL/NA and David
Gislason attended the conven-
tion. Now she will be gearing
up for next summer when there
will be visits to and from
Iceland, both on the Charter
flights and otherwise. The
New Iceland Youth Choir will
be in Iceland, and Jónas Þór’s
evening class, which is spon-
sored by the INL, will be doing
Icelanders in the Klondike Gold Rush
stories have almost all been
forgottén, even among descen-
dants of the Klondike Farers.
Fortunately, true to character, a
few Icelanders in the Yukon
wrote home with news of their
adventures, and some of their
letters have been preserved.
Even a poet or two went along,
and some poetry reflecting the .
experiences of the gold seekers
has also been discovered. A
few photos of the Klondike
Farers are also known, but
many remain faceless.
If readers of Lögberg-
Heimskringla should happen
to know of any letters or arti-
facts relating to Icelanders
who participated in the
Klondike Gold Rush, or of any
photographs of these men and
women, please contact Nelson
by e-mail at eyrarbakki@hot-
mail.com, by phone/fax at
204-378-2758, or by mail at
Box 925, Arborg, MB, R0C
0A0. Time is short, so any and
all input is welcome.
Below are the names of
Icelandic Klondike Farers cur-
rently known.
Petrina Bachinan (left) with Eygló Haraldsdóttir at the
Nordic Centre in Winnipeg.
a tour to North America again.
The INL in Iceland has a
five member board, with three
on the reserve board. Petrína
attends board meetings, once a
month.
Her job also includes
adniinistrative responsibilities
for the lcelandic American
Society, which works in asso-
ciation with the American
Scandinavian Association.
One of its main focuses is
grants for Icelandic students to
study in America. It works in
cooperation with the Fulbright
Committee.
Petrína is attached to the
Foreign Ministry in its
Information and Cultural
Department. If you wish to
contact her about the work of
either association, she can be
contacted at inl@utn.stjr.is
Argyle Transfer Ltd.
Specializing in livestock
transportation
Wally & Linda Finnbogason
Stonewall, MB
sponsoring an exhibit on the
lcelanders who went to the
Klondike and played a part in
this rnajor Canadian drama.
The exhibit, currently being
researched and designed by
PHOTO COURTESY OF NELSON GERRARD
Nelson Geirard, will tell the
story of the Icelandic Klondike
Farers in text and pictures.
More than a century has
now elapsed since the occur-
rence of these events, and the
Albert Jónsson, Winnipeg
Ármann Bjarnason, Winnipeg
Árni Thórðarson, Winnipeg and Gimli
Ástráður Jónsson*, Lundar (died in the
Klondike)
Bergvin Jónsson*, Winnipeg, Seattle
Bjarni Stetánsson, Hallson, Piney
Björn Magnússon, Utah
Björn Stetánsson
Eiríkur Runólfsson, Akra, ND
Eiríkur Sumarliðason**, Winnipeg
Guðjón Vigfússon, lceland
Hannes Snæbjörnsson Hanson?
Hjörtur Jónsson (Hordal?), Winnipeg
Jóhann Jónsson, Winnipeg
Jóhannes Helgason (Bergen)**, New
lceland, Seattle
Jón Jónsson “Yúkonfari”, Point Roberts,
Seattle
Jón Tryggvi Jónsson Bergmann**,
Winnipeg, Seattle, Medicine Hat
Jón Jónsson Bíldfell’, Winnipeg
Jón Jónsson HordaP, Lundar
Jón Sigfússon Bergmann?, Gardar, ND
Jón Stefánsson, Hallson, Piney
Jón Thorsteinsson “Hotel", Gimli
Jón Valdimarsson, Winnipeg
Jónas Bergmann (Captain), New
lceland, Vancouver
Jónas B. Brynjólfsson*’, New lceland,
Winnipegosis
Júlíus Jakobsson Eyford?, ND
Krist? (from Utah)
Kristján Guðmundsson
Kristján Matthfasson, Sinclair, Man. •
Kristján Sveinsson, Helena, Montana
Kristján Pétursson**, Hayland
Lárus Sölvason*, Víðir
Magnús Pétursson, Nome
Marteinn Jónsson
Oddbjörn Magnússon, Winnipeg
Oddur Jónsson*, New lceland,
Vancouver
Ólafur Jónsson, Utah
Sigurður Jón Jóhannesson**, Winnipeg
Sveinn Bjamason, Winnipeg
Sölvi Sölvason, Winnipeg and Point
Roberts
Teitur Thomas**, Winnipeg
Thorkell Jónsson, Vancouver, Victoria
** indicates good photo known
* indicates image from printed source
VlKING INN
Gimli, MB
(204) 642-5168
1 21 Renovated Rooms
Gord Lee’s Chinese Dining
Ph. 642-5170
1 "Two Friends” Nite Club
■ Beer Store
Y úkonfarar
Nelson
Gerrard
Eyrarbakki,
Hnausa, MB
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