The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2003, Qupperneq 31

Vol. 58 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
29
large enough for us to be able to be sepa-
rated from the original inhabitants, forcing
us to mingle with these aboriginals to such
a degree that it would be impossible for us
to preserve those traits of our own culture
which are worthwhile keeping: our lan-
guage and our religion.
Some time ago we had a meeting where
we discussed this matter and we reached
the conclusion that the best thing to do for
the time being were to send some represen-
tatives to the State of Manitoba because
there are a lot of possibilities in that State
not to be found elsewhere. There is, for
instance, spacious land very suitable for
farming (both for growing corn, etc. and
for animal farming) and hopefully the
Government is willing to provide
Icelanders with some of this land. We
selected two Icelanders for this mission,
Sigtryggur Jonasson and Einar Jonasson
(who is from the western part of Iceland)
and an old gentleman by the name of John
Taylor is going to join them. We also sent
the Government of the Union States an
appeal to finance the journey (for these
three men) and we are hopeful that this
request will be granted. If the land turns
out to be good one more colony of
Icelanders will be available in addition to
those which until now have been in the
making.
This winter I was collecting lists of
names (of Icelanders). I have obtained them
all, long ago, but it was a troublesome work
because of the people were spread over
such a large district and always on the
move. I postponed sending you the lists
because the majority of Icelanders do not
have any one permanent place of living.
What I had in mind was to wait for a while
and see where the different individuals set-
tled down and then add their addresses to
the list - which, by the way, is still only a
draft. If you want to get this report at once
I can send it to you, but then I shall leave
the addresses out.
I do not think that much can be done
concerning the Icelandic Association for
the time being. The board of directors and
the representatives should, however, try to
obtain all possible information about the
Icelanders because therein can lie the root
of the prosperity of the association in the
future. I shall do whatever I can in this mat-
ter, but as things are right now I do not see
any sense in trying to get new members
because there is such a lack of general
enthusiasm since things are in such a chaot-
ic state here.
None here belongs to the Icelandic
Literary Association and none cares to join
because people do not know where their
future homes are going to be. Personally I
am interested in joining and hereby ask you
to accept me as member, provide me with
books and tell me where to send my sub-
scription fee. Furthermore, I would like to
ask you to send me the World History by
Pall Meldsted. Still I have not received the
Alaska-Description from Niles. If you
write to him (i.e.Niles) would you please
remind him of sending this book to me.
What news can you tell me about
Olafur Olafsson? News of him would be
most welcome. We were good friends even
though we didn’t always agree about the
various issues.
I wonder if Jon Olafsson still keeps
those religious beliefs which he got during
I>jodraeknisfelag Islendinga \ Vesturheimi
PRESIDENT: PAUL WESTDAL
Support Icelandic culture and heritage
by joining your local chapter, or contact:
The Icelandic National League
#103-94 First Ave. Gimli, MB ROC 1B1
Tel: (204) 642-5897 • Fax: (204) 642-7151
inl@mts.net