Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.05.2016, Qupperneq 1

LÖGBERG
HEIMSKRINGLA
The Icelandic Community Newspaper • 15 May 2016 • Number 10 / Númer 10 • 15. maí 2016
Publication Mail Agreement No. 40012014 ISSN: 0047-4967
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.LH-INC.CA
W.D. Valgardson explores our
westward journeys /
page 10 – 12
Coming West
Sunna Pam Furstenau
INLNA's new president /
page 13
Keeping our
bonds strong
Karen Botting's reflections on
becoming Fjallkona / page 5
Celebrating
our future
PHOTO COURTESY OF W.D> VALGARDSON
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July 29, 2016
Links at the Lake Golf Course
Gimli, MB
INSIDE
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNNA PAM FURSTENAU
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JON SIGURDSSON
CHAPTER IODE
People of Icelandic ancestry from across the continent, along with native Icelanders and assorted
lovers of Iceland (including Icelanders
by marriage), descended upon Vancouver,
British Columbia, for the annual
convention of the Icelandic National
League of North America from April 28
to May 1, 2016. The assembly hall at the
River Rock Casino Resort was filled to
overflowing throughout the convention,
the exhibit area was a beehive of activity,
and convention-goers spilled out into
the public spaces of the resort with their
conversations and revelry.
The convention opened with the
customary ingathering reception, which
brought together old friends and new
acquaintances while offering attendees
their first peak at the silent auction tables,
which were richly adorned with items to
bid on. Some Facebook friends met each
other in the flesh for the first time while
more than one person could be overheard
saying, "I've heard about you for many
years, so it's nice to finally meet you." At
the other end of the spectrum, some who
have been to dozens of conventions seem
to have picked up their conversations
where they left off last year.
Friday – coast stories, seawomen, and art
After breakfast on Friday morning,
the formal program began with greetings
from convention chair Norm Eyford
and a welcome from Tsatsu Stalqayu,
the Coastal Wolf Pack, who offered
a traditional ceremonial welcome on
behalf of the area's Indigenous residents.
Peter Julian, the Member of Parliament
for New Westminster-Burnaby, home of
Vancouver's Scandinavian Community
Centre, brought greetings on behalf of the
government of Canada. Then the podium
was turned over to Óðinn Helgason, who
served ably as the master of ceremonies
for the remainder of the convention.
The theme of the convention,
"Strandarsaga – A Coast Story," was
reflected through all of the presentations
on Friday morning. Fred Bjarnason told the
story of Icelandic settlers in Victoria, British
Columbia, a city he described as something
of "an awkward teenager" when the first
Icelanders arrived. A master chef who is
passionate about his Icelandic heritage and
who has been president of the Victoria club
for more than half of its existence, Fred's
enthusiasm for the city's Icelandic heritage
was readily apparent. In addition to Victoria,
he shared the story of Icelanders in Point
Roberts, Washington, and Golden, BC.
Signý Wilson, a professionally-trained
coach and faculty member of the Coaches
Training Institute, spoke about the
Icelandic communities at Ósland, Hunter
Island, and Sunnybrook. A unique twist
in her account of these communities was
her reference to the relationships between
Icelanders and Japanese at Ósland. Gerri
McDonald, former INLNA president,
spoke about the Icelandic community in
Vancouver, which is scattered throughout
the metropolitan area.
Over lunch, attendees heard about the
three Snorri programs – Snorri, Snorri
West, and Snorri Plus – from Gail Einarson-
McCleery, Ásta Sól Kristjánsdóttir, and
Snorri participants.
On Friday aftenoon, anthropologist
Margaret Willson spoke on "Survival on the
Edge: Seawomen in Iceland," a compelling
portrait of the countless women in Iceland
who have braved the sea for centuries – in
surprising numbers. While many have heard
about Þuríður Einarsdóttir, the legendary
feamle sea captain from Árnessýsla,
Margaret revealed that Icelandic women's
involvement in work on the sea was far
more extensive than most people realize.
Her forthcoming book on the subject,
Seawomen of Iceland, is scheduled to be
released by the University of Washington
Press later this year.
Hafþór Yngvason, Director of the
Western Gallery and Sculpture Collection
at Western Washington University
and former Director of the Reykjavík
Art Museum, spoke about the artist
Jóhannes Kjarval, illustrating his talk
with powerful images of the artist's work.
... continued on page 13
PHOTO: ROB OLASON
ICELANDIC NATIONAL LEAGUE OF NORTH AMERICA ANNUAL CONVENTION
Leadership at INL annual general meeting. The INL of NA's coat of arms.
Strandarsaga delights and informs