Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.02.2019, Side 7

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. febrúar 2019 • 7
more misleading. In order to
prevent misunderstanding, the
ethnic groups of Canada should
avoid the use of the word
‘national’ in the names of their
organizations.”
The founding president
of the INLNA was Rev.
Rögnvaldur Pétursson and
the vice president was Jón J.
Bíldfell. The original officers
were rounded out with Dr.
Sigurður Júlíus Jóhannesson
as secretary and Ásmundur P.
Jóhannsson as treasurer.
The INLNA published
an annual magazine, Tímarit,
from 1919 until 1968. The first
editor was Rev. Rögnvaldur
Pétursson, who filled the role
from the time of its founding
until his death in 1940. Gísli
Jónsson took over following
his death and served for twenty
years before being joined as
editor by Haraldur Bessason.
It also published a children’s
magazine, Baldursbrá, from
1934 to 1940, which was
edited by Dr. Sigurður Júlíus
Jóhannesson.
In assessing the importance
of the INLNA, Walter J. Lindal
argued that it “has rendered
useful service.” He noted
that it had helped to slow
assimilation, which he viewed
as a positive thing despite
his own outspoken Canadian
patriotism. It facilitated visits to
North America by distinguished
Icelanders to speak at
conventions or tour the Icelandic
communities here, sometimes
both. And he described the
INLNA’s conventions as “a
pause, a reawakening to the
worth of what Icelanders have
felt to be within themselves as
they venture on in their chosen
Canadian callings,” which
aroused “a sense of duty”
among participants.
Will Kristjanson echoed
Lindal’s assessment, although
he offered a more extensive
and specific list of activities
and initiatives that the INLNA
had undertaken before
concluding, “It has promoted
closer contact between the
various Icelandic settlements;
sponsored or promoted
publications; supported two
very promising musicians in
their studies abroad; encouraged
sports, and promoted the visits
of distinguished musicians,
authors, poets, actresses, and
leaders in religious and political
life from Iceland to the Icelandic
communities in America.”
Reflecting on the INLNA’s
accomplishments in 1995,
three decades after Lindal
and Kristjanson, Stefan J.
Stefanson wrote: “The INL to
this day continues to deliver on
the fundamental building block
set out in the first constitution
– to promote and preserve the
Icelandic heritage in North
America and foster ongoing
interaction with Iceland. This
has helped to foster better
citizenship among those of
us in the United States and
Canada, and to create a stronger
relationship with the ancestral
homeland.”
As we approach the
100th anniversary of the
establishment of the Icelandic
National League of North
America, it is obvious that much
has changed since its founding.
Many of us are three or four
generations further removed
from the first immigrants, even
as we continue to enjoy the
presence of members who were
born in Iceland and welcome
those whom we affectionately
refer to as IBMs – Icelanders
by marriage. The transition
from Icelandic to English
in our proceedings is all but
complete, even as some of us
continue to learn the ancestral
language. As citizens, there’s
little question that our loyalties
are owed to Canada or the
United States, however much
we continue to love Iceland.
We still seem to take a long
time to get things done and
delight in quarreling along the
way, sometimes discussing
things until we have forgotten
what the original question was.
Yet, through it all, the INLNA
has been a organization – a
treasure, really – that brings
us together, encourages good
citizenship, and enriches our
cultural understanding.
Today, we may wonder
how the INLNA came to be and
why events unfolded as they
did. I wonder if the founders
could have imagined what their
organization would look like
a century down the road, what
accomplishments it would have
made, and how faithful we
have remained to the purposes
they envisioned.
During the course of 2019,
Lögberg-Heimskringla plans
to cover the centennial of the
Icelandic National League
of North America as fully as
possible with vignettes from the
INLNA’s history and coverage
of INLNA events. We also invite
contributions from individuals
about their experiences in the
INLNA, the work of their local
chapters, and their aspirations
for the future. Submissions
should be sent to the editor at
stefan@lh-inc.ca.
References
Wilhelm Kristjanson, The
Icelandic People in Manitoba,
1965.
Walter J. Lindal, The
Icelanders in Canada, 1967.
Gwenn Mann, ed. History
of the Icelandic National
League of North America
1919-2009.
Rev. Rögnvaldur Pétursson, founding president of the
Icelandic National League of North America
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Fred Morris recently wrote about the Young Men’s Lutheran Club hockey team in
Lifestyles 55, a newspaper for seniors. After a perfect season, the YMLC won the first
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