Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.2019, Page 7

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. janúar 2019 • 7
Stefan Jonasson
With input from the Consulate General
As a day of celebration drew to a close in
Iceland on Saturday, December 1, 2018, the
Icelandic community in Winnipeg gathered
to celebrate the centennial of Icelandic sovereignty
at a special reception hosted by the Consul General
of Iceland, Þórður Bjarni Guðjónsson, and his wife,
Jórunn Kristinsdóttir. The consulate general was
filled to overflowing with members of the community
and distinguished guests, including Mayor Brian
Bowman, Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson, Member
of Parliament Doug Eyolfson, Senator Pat Bovey, and
former senator Janis Johnson.
“It is my privilege and pleasure on behalf of the
Consulate General of Iceland in Winnipeg to welcome
you all here today,” Þórður said at the beginning of the
formal program. “My wife, Jórunn, and I are delighted
to have you with with us to participate and share this
special day for Icelanders, when we celebrate 100
years of Iceland being a sovereign and free nation.”
The evening’s program was simple and elegant.
The consul general read the text of a message to the
world community from the President of Iceland,
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, which had been released at
Bessastaðir earlier in the day. He then introduced the
keynote speaker for the event, David Gislason.
“We are greatly honored to have our good friends
Judy Sólveig Richardson and David Gislason with us
today. They were invited to be guests of Alþingi, the
Icelandic parliament, at the centennial celebration of
Iceland’s independence and sovereignty at Þingvellir
last July. Judy and David are well known in the
Icelandic communities in North America and also in
Iceland. David was awarded the Knight’s Cross of
the Icelandic Order of the Falcon in 2000, the Order
of Manitoba in 2008, and inducted into the Manitoba
Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2009.”
David spoke about his trip to Iceland last summer
and his participation in the celebratory session of
Alþingi at Þingvellir on July 18, 2018, and his speech
at the offical gala dinner at Hotel Saga’s Súlnasalur that
same evening.
“We have a very special bond between Iceland and
Canada – made strong by common history and shared
heritage,” Þórður observed after David’s remarks. “The
fact that Canadians of Icelandic descent have formed
about 30 different clubs, chapters, and institutions, one
being this wonderful Icelandic choir, Sólskríkjan Kór,
preforming for us here today, is a solid testament to the
unique dedication that people of Icelandic descent in
Canada show to their roots.”
Þórður then introduced Kerrine Wilson and the
choir, who performed several songs from their growing
repertoire to the delight of those attending.
In concluding the formal program, the consul
general thanked chef Karen Peters, who catered
the event. In addition to her delicious creations,
the consulate general brought in some traditional
Icelandic food direct from Iceland, including hangikjöt
(smoked lamb meat), sviðasulta (sheep’s head jam),
hákarl (fermented shark) served with Icelandic
brennivín (schnapps), flatkökur (Icelandic flatbread),
and laufabrauð (leafbread), a traditonal deep-fried,
patterned Icelandic Christmas wafer.
“Finally, we have vínarterta – the Icelandic
celebration cake – from our dear friend, Johanna
Wilson,” he exclaimed. After thanking Jo for the
vínarterta, and thanking the guests for their presence,
those attending lingered over the refreshments and
chatted in a festive mood.
“ Today is a day to be remembered. Iceland is
an independent and sovereign country.” On the
first of December, 1918, Elka Björnsdóttir, an
Icelandic working woman, wrote these words in her
diary. Now, we Icelanders celebrate one hundred years
of sovereignty; we thank our foreign friends for joining
in our celebrations (and for watching this message in
Icelandic).
Yes, the first of December, 1918, is assuredly a day to
be remembered in our histroy as a nation. Sovereignty,
one of the biggest steps towards full independence,
was achieved. The final step was then taken on June
17, 1944, with the establishment of a republic and
the aboliton of monarchy in Iceland. It serves us, the
Icelandic people, well to remember this milestone, to
remember the country and its history, not the least when
we are far from the shores of Iceland and the mind
wanders towards home. What is on the news there, what
is the weather like?
When the working women Elka described the day
we gained our sovereignty way back then, the weather
was uppermost in her mind: “a clear day with a red and
lovely midwinter sun shining above; snowless but rimed
all over with frost and the mountains white-tipped, no
wind at all.” That night, the northern lights shimmered
in the sky.
One hundred years have now passed. Some things
remain the same: the sun sets and rises and will continue
to do so. Sometimes the sky is clear and sometimes
there are rainclouds. Some things have become worse
– we are now faced with environmental challenges that
must be handled.
Other developments are to be celebrated. In 1918
Icelanders were generally poor, health services were
scarce, social security non-existent. Discrimination
was widespread and freedom of speech and action
was limited. It was considered absurd for the common
people, women like Elka, to seek education and make a
name for themselves in society.
Since then, radical changes have taken place.
Iceland is now a welfare state. Together we strive to
help those in need. Civil rights have grown and been
transformed. Today, the people of Iceland have a much
better opportunity to make their dreams come true, to
show what they are made of.
We have also been active in the inernational
arena during those 100 years. We have expanded our
sovereignty, as well as shared it with others, depending
on our own wishes and needs. We will continue to do
this as independent Icelanders, a nation among nations.
In a new century, long after the Icelandic people
celebrated the country’s sovereignty on December
1, 1918, Björk sang, in English, about the desire for
independence inherent to people, about the will to stand
on their own feet:
“With a flag and a trumpet,
go to the top of your highest mountain.
And raise your flag (higher, higher).
Declare independence.”
Dear friends, “Declare independence,” Björk sang,
echoing the sentiments of 1918. We will continue to
cherish our independence, our positive patriotism
of pride with tolerance and compassion; we will
continue to cherish our national heritage, culture, and
language in a globalized world of cooperation and
interdependence.
Dear fellow Icelanders, near and far: On this
anniversary of our sovereignty I wish you prosperity.
May Iceland and its people continue to thrive.
On the anniversary of Iceland’s sovereignty
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
President of Iceland
MANITOBA ICELANDERS CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF SOVEREIGNTY
L-R: Johanna Wilson with Mayor Brian Bowman. Senator Pat Bovey, Consul General Þórður Bjarni
Guðjónsson, and former senator Janis Johnson. Jason Stefanson, Consul General Þórður Bjarni
Guðjónsson, Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson, and Mayor Brian Bowman.
Jórunn Kristinsdóttir with Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson. Doug Eyolfson, MP, with Consul
General Þórður Bjarni Guðjónsson.
PHOTOS: CONSULATE GENERAL OF ICELAND