Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.09.2017, Page 10

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10 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • September 1 2017
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENT
OBITUARY
The first issue of the Framfari contained an
address to subscribers, the paper’s bylaws, it’s aim,
which was “to preserve the Icelandic language in
America,” and a statement of its editorial policy,
which was to provide “information, enlightenment,
and entertainment.” News from Iceland dominated
the first issue and there was a poem and three
jokes. The next issue focused heavily on the
Russo-Turkish War and church matters, while
the third issue focused on Lord Dufferin’s visit
to the Northwest. As publication progressed, the
proportion of local news increased and the today
the paper serves as an important chronicle of the
early years of the New Iceland colony.
Halldór Briem took over the editorship with
the January 24, 1878, issue. In his first editorial,
he urged his readers to “work together for the
common good,” preserving what was “noble, good,
and beautiful” from the Icelandic heritage while
remaining open to what they could learn from their
neighbours in their new homeland. He encouraged
Icelanders to be industrious, cooperative, and
zealous so that the colony would prosper.
However, neither the colony nor the paper did
prosper over the next few years. Even before the
new editor had arrived, New Iceland was gripped
by a religious controversy that pitted the followers
of Rev. Jón Bjarnason and Rev. Páll Þorláksson
against one another and Framfari sided with Rev.
Jón, which led many of Rev. Páll’s supporters to
withdraw their support for the paper. Then, during
the spring and summer, the exodus from New
Iceland to Dakota Territory commenced, which
depleted the number of people in the colony. Add
to this the high cost of subscribing for readers with
very meagre means and it’s easy to see why the
paper soon found itself in the red ink financially,
struggling to continue.
At a shareholders’ meeting in September, 1878,
Jóhann Stefánsson led a rebellion of community
members who made their continued support
dependent on seven demands, only one of which
was agreeable to the leaders of the enterprise – a
board of referees to review contributions the editor
rejected. By this time, the salaries of the editor and
printer were well in arrears, subscriptions were 650
dollars behind, and liabilities exceeded assets by
353 dollars. Nevertheless, the paper carried on for
more than another year and Sigtryggur Jónasson
pointed out that it was the finest Icelandic newspaper
anywhere – larger, superior in journalistic style,
and containing better world news. The last issue
appeared on April 10, 1880, and it was published at
the expense of Sigtryggur himself after the paper’s
own resources had been exhausted.
“When it died,” quipped Tom Oleson, “a
number of knives were found in the body, but two
in particular had struck deadly blows. One was that
the base circulation was small … and subscribers
were not always quick to pay their bills. The
second, and perhaps the most serious, was the
factionalism that divided the Icelandic community
on almost every conceivable issue. We should be
just as ashamed of that as we are proud of the fact
that the newspaper existed at all.”
But it did exist and that fact alone is a remarkable
accomplishment. It is an exceptional feat that a
small, impoverished group of immigrants, dwelling
in frontier conditions, established a newspaper so
soon after their arrival to keep themselves informed
and discuss current events. Just as Landnámabók
gives Icelanders insights into the settlement of
Iceland that few other countries have, if any,
Framfari chronicles the events of a critical period
in the Icelandic immigrants’ experience in Canada.
As Nelson Gerrard has correctly noted, “Much
of what is now known about New Iceland’s early
years has been gleaned from the few surviving
volumes of Framfari which are now of inestimable
historical value.”
After the demise of Framfari, the Icelandic
community was without a newspaper for three years
until the launch of Leifur in the spring of 1883. It
met with a similar fate after a three-year run. Finally,
on September 9, 1886, almost nine years to the day
after Framfari was launched, Heimskringla began
publishing, which was followed by Lögberg sixteen
months later. These two papers merged in 1959 to
create Lögberg-Heimskringla, which continues the
publishing tradition that began near the banks of the
Icelandic River in 1877.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
Ásthildur (Ásta)
Jóna Gunnarsson
Ásthildur died peacefully on
August 24, 2017, in her home,
surrounded by loving family.
Predeceased by her beloved husband,
Snorri Gunnarsson and adored brother,
Torfi Tómasson, she is survived by her
son, Sturla Gunnarsson, daughter-
in-law, Judy Koonar, grandchildren,
Ari and Maya Gunnarsson, devoted
sister-in-law, Inga Henrikson, and
Inga’s husband, John Henrikson, and
her extended family in Iceland.
Ásthildur was a formidable
woman, kind and generous to the
end. Her spirit lives on in the hearts
of the many people whose lives she
touched.
The family extends its deepest
gratitude to the staff at Höfn (The
Icelandic Harbour) for their care
and love, and to the nurses from
the Vancouver South Community
Health Unit, whose compassion and
professionalism allowed her to die
with dignity and grace.
In lieu of flowers, Ásthildur
requested that her friends make a
donation to their local food bank.
A celebration of life was
scheduled to take place on
Wednesday, August 30, from 2:00
to 5:00 p.m. at the UBC Boathouse,
7277 River Road, Richmond, BC.
Framfari ... from page 1
PHOTOS: ALICYN GOODMAN AND STEFAN JONASSON