Lögberg-Heimskringla - 11.04.2003, Blaðsíða 6

page 6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday, 11 April 2003
FRÉTTIR • NEWS
Icelandic Featured in Song, Film and Speech
The Arborg Þorrablót Showcases its Efforts to Preserve the Icelandic Language and Culture
Sóley Söngmenn with director Kristin Johnson. From Ieft
David Gislason, Thor Eyjolfson, Bragi Sæmundsson, Melvyn
Eyjolfson, Reg Johnson and Mereno Sigvaldason.
The New Iceland Youth Choir
Gordon Fjelsted, who is clas-
sically trained, plays the
tuba.
Feasting on the traditional
Canadian þorramatur, with
friends from Riverton, Gimli,
Lundar, Fraserwood,
Winnipeg, and many other
places in the Interlake, the
Esjan chapter of the INL/NA at
Arborg put on a grand
Þorrablót. About 200 came to
dance, be entertained, and
enjoy foods they don’t
encounter every day.
Feasting took up a good
portion of the evening, early on
and later on, when the late
lunch table groaned with skyr
and rúllupylsa on brown bread
and other wonders.
Another portion of the
evening went to the program,
where Icelandic was featured in
song, film and speech. The
guest speaker for the evening
was Steinþór Guðbjartsson,
journalist for Morgunblaðið.
Although he didn’t speak in
Icelandic, he peppered his pres-
entation with rhyme.
The community showcased
its efforts to preserve the
Icelandic language and culture.
The New Iceland Youth Choir,
directed by Rosalind
Vigfusson, performed several
pieces in Icelandic.
Kris Vigfusson and Joel
Friðfinnson screened their
short film on the use of the
Icelandic language in the dis-
trict. They are both students in
Svava Simundsson’s Icelandic
class, and they interviewed
different people in the district
about their knowledge of the
Icelandic language.lt was a
delightful film, which will be
available on the Internet via
the website samkoma.
The Sóley Söngmenn,
directed by Kristin Johnson,
sang several numbers, includ-
ing a poem The Ember written
by David Gislason, one of their
members. Kristin set the poem
to music.
Gordon Fjelsted, who
accompanies his amma, who is
from Lundar, to the Arborg
Þorrablót each year, played
several pieces, including Hvað
er svo glatt, on the tuba.
At the beginning of the
evening, David Gislason hand-
ed over the Esjan gavel to Einar
Vigfusson, who has taken over
as president of the club. Lynne
Erickson was master of cere-
monies for the evening.
Dancing to The Four D’s,
children playing and laughing
and animated conversation all
over the Hall, made up the
other portion of a great
evening.
Ivbmh
Erika MacPherson
Nominated for a Golden
Sheaf Award
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICOLLE OLAFSON
Joel Friðfinnson (left) and Kris Visgusson screened their
short film.
Portage la Prairie Icelandic Classes
Evelyn Thorvaldson
WlNNIPEG, MB
Portage la Prairie, MB held
their first year of Icelandic lan-
guage classes and it was, with-
out question, a big success.
Beginners and Advanced class-
es were comprised of students
PHOTO COURTESV OF EVELYN THORVALDSON
from Langruth, MacGregor
and the town of Portage.
Gunnvör Ásmundsson and
Evelyn Thorvaldson, as
instructors, enjoyed the people
and the participation. Thanks
to Ray G. Johnson, Past
President of the INL/NA for
organizing and arranging the
collegiate premises for the
classes. Plans are to continue
in the fall.
This class donated $50 to
Geraldine Selkirk, formerly of
Riverton and her daughter
Shayna, towards their partici-
pation in the Reykjavík
Marathon August 16th, 2003.
We are hoping that all language
classes in Manitoba will sup-
port them and/or others in this
journey. For more about the
mother/daughter team, see the
Lögberg-Heimskringla issue of
March 7/03.
L-k: Doris Sigurdson; Viola Wild; Kristin Arksey; Inez
Rinn; G. Ray Johnson; Cindy Carson; Gloria Borczuch;
Asgar Sigurdson; Norma Johnson; Joyce Beaubien.
Missing from the photo: Shirley & Stephanie Christianson;
Asta Smart; Joyce Grant; Robert and Rose Benedictson;
Philip Thordarson; Heather Thordarson.
Erika MacPherson and Bruce Little in the editing suite
The Magnificent Obsessions episode Tlie Katherine de
Montrose has been nominated in the category Documentary
Series at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival. In its 56th
year, the Festival will take place May 22 to 25th, 2003.
Magnificent Obsessions aired last fall on Life Netwófk.
Erika MacPherson was the Creative Producer for the series. She
both directed and produced The Katherine de Montrose. The
episode is also nominated in the category Editor. Bruce Little
edited the series.
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