The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1982, Side 8

6
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SUMMER, 1982
become involved in activities related
to the Icelandic culture. Do not pro-
vide a family orientation for activities,
because it would result in people
becoming involved from an early age.
18. Don’t turn out for events organized by
local Icelandic groups or support them
by your membership.
19. Remove all traditional elements such
as Icelandic music, poetry, speech-
making, pagentry and traditional foods
and make Islendingadagurinn just
another summer festival.
20. Through dissension and lack of com-
munication among the various Ice-
landic groups, make sure that we do
not get together and get a building (or
space connected with the proposed
Betel Home complex which it is hoped
will be built in Winnipeg) for use as
our cultural headquarters, to house: a
hall for meetings, facilities for serving
refreshments, an auditorium with a
stage and space for Icelandic language
lessons, offices for Logberg-Heims-
kringla and The Icelandic Canadian
and a library.
Note: My editorial comments are phrased
negatively partly to get your attention but
partly to emphasize the fact that sometimes
we are working at cross-purposes and not
as effectively as we could be towards main-
taining the Icelandic cultural heritage in
North America. Some will undoubtedly feel
that I have over-stated the case but, as an
active member of many Icelandic organiza-
tions in Manitoba, I feel that we must not
get too complacent. These issues do bear
examination. As Dr. Watson Kirkconnell
once said, “It is not enough to produce a
brief cultural euphoria in each ethnic
group on its pathway to extinction.’’ Ob-
viously, if you twist my comments around,
you will see what measures I feel would
ensure that this does not happen to
Icelanders in North America. K.I.P.
* * *
AT THE EDITOR’S DESK
Donations to the Icelandic Canadian:
The Jon Sigurdsson Chapter
of the I.O.D.E............... $100
Elma Gislason.................... $100
Cecilia Ferguson................. $100
Gratefully Received.
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