The Icelandic connection - 01.06.2010, Side 35

Vol. 63 #1
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
33
Undan Snjobrei[unni
What Lies Beneath the Snow - Part Four
Revealing the contributions of Icelandic pioneer women
to adult education in Manitoba, 1875 - 1914
by Jo-Anne Weir
Part four
Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of
an article that began in issue 62, #2 of the
Icelandic Canadian. The final installment will
appear in the next issue.
The last area of influence listed in the
conceptual framework is that of Immigrant
Peoples. The many Icelandic immigrants to
arrive in Manitoba during the time period of
this research (1875-1914) required assistance,
which influenced the activities of the
Icelandic pioneer women. The women
responded through the efforts of the Icelandic
Women’s Society and the Lutheran and
Unitarian Ladies’ Aids groups. Active
involvement in these groups provided non-
formal learning opportunities for the Icelandic
pioneer women. The following historical nar-
rative describes the influence of the Icelandic
immigrant people on these women’s groups.
This historical narrative develops a
theme that emerged from the seventh and
final area of influence shown on the concep-
tual framework: Immigrant Peoples. This
refers to the influence that new immigrants
arriving in Manitoba had on the educational
activities of the Icelandic pioneer women. The
women responded to this influence with the
creation of volunteer community and church
groups. These types of groups provide non-
formal learning opportunities (Merriam and
Caffarella, 1999, p. 28) for the women
involved as members. Specifically, the
Icelandic pioneer women of Manitoba formed
The Icelandic Women’s Society in 1881 to
receive and assist new immigrants from
Iceland when they first arrived in Winnipeg.
In addition, they formed Lutheran and
Unitarian Ladies’ Aid societies in Winnipeg
and throughout Manitoba to continue to assist
the immigrants in later years. The effect of
these efforts by Icelandic women created a
social welfare network for the Icelandic
immigrants at a time when very few govern-
ment supports were in place (Glenboro &
Area Historical Society, 1979, p. 65).
The Icelandic Women’s Society and the
Ladies’ Aid societies work not only benefited
the Icelandic immigrants, it also contributed
to the non-formal learning of the women
themselves.
Large numbers of Icelandic immigrants
arrived in Manitoba during the time period of
this research, 1875 - 1914. During this time
period Icelandic immigrants continued to
arrive in Manitoba each year, with particular-
ly large numbers in 1876 (approx. 1200),
1883 (approx. 900) and 1886 (approx. 350).
By 1900, an estimated 10,000 Icelanders lived
in the province (Thor, 2002, p. 219). The
Icelandic immigrants who arrived were often
without means to support themselves, and
most could only speak Icelandic. They
required assistance for basic necessities such
as transportation, food, lodging and employ-
ment. With few provincial supports in place,
immigrants relied on their ethnic communi-
ties and families to provide whatever support
they could. The Icelandic community provid-
ed support to their fellow Icelanders despite
also being relative newcomers to the province
and only having a few among them who were
financially well-established (Kristjanson,
1965, p. 165).
The Icelandic community was committed
to assisting the Icelandic immigrants just as
others from their community had assisted
them when they arrived (Gimli Women’s
Institute, 1975, p. 479). There was a belief in
mutual assistance, and often that belief took