The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1981, Qupperneq 29

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
27
emblazoned on the minds of all who had the
privilege of attending the celebration at
Thingvellir. In the year 930 when the
settlement of the country was almost com-
plete, the settlers began to feel they had
become a nation in their own right. They
were a nation inhabiting a country of their
own, dependent on no one and obligated
henceforth to take charge of its own destiny
for good or ill. It was at Thingvellir that they
set up a popular assembly for the whole
country and at the same time founded a free
state.
On July 28, 1974, 60,000 people from
Iceland and around the world met to be a
part of this important event. Each district
from the country was represented and
marched down Almannagja (all men’s
ravine) waving their banners. We joined the
contingent from Western Canada, led by our
Fjallkona. We followed the procession
down the steep road which appeared to be
carved out of molten lava, to the plains
below. One could not but feel a part of
history as we marched down the path that
the Chieftains traversed in 930. Down the
west wall of Almannagja, the Oxara
River plunges a 1000 feet as the Oxarafoss
waterfall. It is a beautiful sight as it finds its
way along the plains past Thingvellibaer,
the church and the tourist house. As we
scrambled up the narrow access to the his-
torical rock called Logberg (law hill), and
viewed the expansive scene below, we felt a
part of the tradition of years gone by where
the “Logmadur” (law maker) stood at that
exact spot, and proclaimed the laws of the
land to the assembled crowd below on the
mountain slopes. In this historic location in
1930, 30,000 people gathered to celebrate
Iceland’s 1000 years as a democracy and
masters of their own destiny. The location is
appropriate, for at Thingvellir there is a
harmony between the landscape and his-
tory, which, together with their language
and culture, unites the people of Iceland and
fuses them into a nation.
One cannot toast Iceland without refer-
ring to its literature — the Sagas and Eddas.
These literary pieces provide a complete
record of the history of the country and a
deep understanding of the people, their
hopes, fears and aspirations. Every modern,
civilized country today recognizes Iceland
for its high quality of literature and poetry.
These important attributes were developed
early in the first settlers and have been main-
tained with the passage of time, and passed
on from one generation to the next. Mr.
Chairman, I have a copy of a program from
1925 when the people of Gimli were cele-
brating the 50th anniversary of the Ice-
landers coming to this area. It makes ref-
erence to Lord Dufferin, the Governor-
General of Canada, when he visited the
people of Gimli in 1877. On that occasion
he spoke of the people and their literature in
these words and I quote:
“/ trust that for all time you will
cherish the heart-stirring litera-
ture of your nation — that from
generation to generation your little
ones will continue to learn in your
ancient ‘sagas’ that industry,
energy, fortitude, perseverance
and stubborn endurance, have
ever been the characteristics of the
noble Icelandic race.
I believe these words describe the people of
Iceland today even though they were spoken
104 years ago at this location.
The beauty of the land is in its contrasts.
As one travels around the island, there is
something different and interesting at every
turn. The cities and towns, nestled along the
coast and the lush green land stretching up
the slopes of the mountains defies descrip-
tion. The vastness of the glaciers cover 11%
of the total land surface. Vatnajokull, with
an area of 3250 square miles, is the largest
glacier in the world. Although exceeded in
height by others in the world, the beauty of
Iceland’s waterfalls cannot be matched