The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2009, Síða 46

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 62 #3
Park in Riverton so I will concentrate on
the memorials in that park. This would
include Sigtryggur Jonasson, Guttormur
Guttormson, and Framfari. I am only elab-
orating on these three memorials.
First, a monument is located in the
Centennial Park commemorating the
“Father of New Iceland,” Sigtryggur
Jonasson.
Canada was attempting to encourage
settlement in the north and west territories.
The postage stamp province of Manitoba
had set aside an area for the Mennonite
people in 1874. A group of Icelandic people
had settled in the Muskoka County north
of Toronto in 1873-4. Disappointed with
the land that was available, the group
expressed a desire to establish a settlement
where they could all settle together. To
avoid losing these Icelandic settlers to the
other North American settlements that had
attracted mainly Icelanders, North Dakota,
Minnesota, and Utah, John Taylor went to
Ottawa to plead their case for a land of
their own. A similar arrangement was
arrived at with the Government of Canada
and the Manitoba Mennonite Reserve and
the Icelandic Reserve was established. Since
these settlers were very poor, Canada
agreed to set aside land for this group and
bear the expense of an inspection party to
select a new site for their settlement. The
party was under the leadership of John
Taylor, with Sigtryggur Jonasson and
Einar Jonasson funded by Canada. By the
time that they left for Manitoba the group
had grown to six with the addition of
Skapti Arason, Kristjan Jonsson and
Sigurdur Kristofferson, paying their own
expenses.
The party arrived in Winnipeg on July
16,1875. The land did not look too promis-
ing since one of the worst grasshopper
infestations was laying the ground bare,
even eating the potato stems. Since the
Icelandic settlers were dependent on hay
for their cattle this seemed like another
calamity similar to the ones in Iceland that
led them to leave their homeland.
However, after some discussion the group
decided to hire a boat and inspect the area
along Lake Winnipeg. Reports that the
land was good drew them north to the area
from Winnipeg Beach to Hecla Island. The
fact that they could navigate up the White
Mud River for three miles and on raft a fur-
ther three miles convinced them that this
was an ideal location. The three paying
their own way remained to seek employ-
ment on the CPR under construction. The
others returned to convince the rest of the
settlers to relocate.
John Taylor and Sigtryggur Jonasson
were selected to meet with the government
authorities and negotiate for the land and
expenses to relocate. Although there was
no support for moving from place to place
in Canada, the arrangements not only
included a land grant but also the expenses
incurred in moving to Winnipeg in
Manitoba. From there the group would
have to make their own arrangements. The
usual money for provisions to maintain the
settlement during the first winter was also
included.
Sigtryggur Jonasson had made a deep
impression on the authorities that led to a
lifelong connection to the politicians. His
leadership and political connection were
significant to the success of the settlement.
The arrangements negotiated were accept-
ed by the settlers and the first group of 270
left for Winnipeg on September 25, 1875.
With the addition of more Icelanders in
Duluth the group numbered 285 when they
arrived in Winnipeg, on October 11, 1875.
Problems such as a lack of hay for the cat-
tle created some dissention. Along with the
late arrival and the hardships incurred dur-
ing the first winter, this dissention grew to
a peak in 1877. During this initial period,
the leadership of Sigtryggur Jonasson and
John Taylor is credited with the success of
the colony.
The recruiting of new settlers was the
main role for Sigtryggur. He returned to
Iceland on behalf of the Dominion govern-
ment to encourage more Icelandic settlers
to join the new Colony. The success of this
recruitment is reflected in the growth of the
colony despite all the hardships incurred.
The second group arriving in 1876 num-
bered 1200. More arrived gradually with
fairly large groups in 1878 and 1883.
The Icelandic Reserve as it was known,
was from what was then the northern