The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1994, Qupperneq 50

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SPRING, 1994
be the Fjallkona at Islendinga-
dagurinn. This she did with great
dignity.
In 1989, when President Vigdis
Finnbogadottir visited Canada,
Caroline enjoyed a good discussion
with her on the changing Icelandic
language. With her honest and
forthright manner, she told President
Vigdis of her displeasure over some of
the modem changes and additions.
Reading has always brought great
pleasure to Caroline. She discussed
various authors that she has enjoyed
.with Laxness topping the list. She
has read everything she can find
written by and about Margret
Benedictsson. Of Canadian writers,
she has some criticisms. She feels
that Martha Ostenso portrayed the
Icelanders in a veiy poor light in her
novel Wild Geese. She also feels that
Confessions of an Immigrant's
Daughter by Laura Goodman
Salverson was a poor title. She says
the publisher must have selected it!
She does, however, truly enjoy the
works of Canadian female writers
such as Margaret Laurence and
Gabrielle Roy. She says that she
thoroughly enjoyed the Anne of Green
Gables series — both book and
television series — by L.M.
Montgomery. And, Caroline feels that
Mazo de la Roche is being forgotten
by Canadians and this upsets her.
Caroline has done some trans-
lating of Icelandic works into English
— several of which have been
published in The Icelandic Canadian.
She says she has done this so that
the younger generations will know
their heritage. She has translated
some family letters and notes that
she wrote in earlier years for her
nieces and nephews, but in her
chiding way scolds them for not
picking up and using the language
well enough to be able to read it
themselves.
Caroline describes herself as a
“bladakona,” or newspaper woman,
and she truly has lived up to that
definition. “Women are still too
submissive,” says Caroline. She
knows that this sentiment is not
totally popular, but feels it is still a
crucial point in today’s feminist
movement. She says, “great strides
have been made since Margret
Benedictsson’s day, but there is still a
big leap to be made to equality.”
Although she is of an older
generation, Caroline’s thinking is veiy
astute and totally up to date!
The Icelandic Canadian has
benefited from Caroline’s work over
the years. She has also assisted
numerous other Icelandic organi-
zations and events. She has always
enjoyed her heritage. And although
she was bom in Iceland she became
a very devoted Canadian, contri-
buting strongly to the fabric of the
Canadian mosaic.
Editor’s note: The interviews with
Caroline Gunnarsson and prepara-
tion for this article were done just
prior to her passing in Winnipeg on
March 20, 1994.