Photo: Stefan Jonasson
Good afternoon, Fjallkonna Kerinne Wilson and other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, konur og karlar:
I am so very honored to provide this toast to Iceland.
Initially, I was nervous about how to encapsulate the incredible relationship (history) between New Iceland and the homeland. I was so fortunate that, in the last two weeks, I had the honor of traveling to the land of fire and ice for a second time and was reminded of this deep-rooted history and relationship that we are so lucky to have.
From the moment I stepped out of the airport in Keflavík, the feeling of belonging washed over me with the fresh, mossy air and, of course, the rain coming down sideways in true Icelandic fashion. I feel so at home there.
Guðmundur, my good friend whose friendship started back at Icelandic Camp, greeted us at the airport and frænka mín, Kristín, whom I stayed with on a previous trip with Snorri, immediately sent me a “velkominn aftur til heimalands þíns”(welcome back to your home country). The overwhelming sense of welcome reminded me of why I feel so at home when I am there.
There’s a bond between us here in New Iceland and current-day Icelanders that I believe is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Family and friends remain close, and it felt like I had taken a short trip down the road in New Iceland, not to a small island in the North Atlantic.
This trip, we drove the entire Ring Road, visiting incredible places such as the black sand beach (Reynisfjara), the Eastfjords, Stuðlagil Canyon, and Akureyri. Of course, I had to stay in Hofsós, as well, showing my fiancé Madeleine and cousin Travis the emigration museum – to learn of the emigration story and not just the immigration. The hospitality we experienced was so welcoming. Many friends and family insisted we come over for dinner, whether it was lamb, fresh-caught fish, and, of course, some hákarl and brennivín. The brennivín I love; the hákarl is an acquired taste. There was not a moment on this trip when I didn’t feel “at home.”
In 2022, I was selected to participate in the Snorri Program, named after Snorri Þorfinnsson, the first Icelander born in North America around 1004 AD. His parents, Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir and Þorfinnur Karlsefni, were Icelandic explorers who appear in the Grænlendinga saga (Saga of the Greenlanders) and Eiríks saga rauða (Saga of Eirik the Red). The next group to come to Canada did not come for over 1,800 years ... and here we are today. I recommend anyone of Icelandic heritage to go on that program!
My deep love for the homeland began on this trip, connecting me to ancestors and to an incredible community of Icelanders who made me feel like family from the moment I met them.
The Icelandic heritage and culture was extremely important to amma mín, Emilia Gudbjartsson, and she instilled their importance in mamma mín, Julianna Gudbjartsson, and then into me. My experiences in Iceland further developed my passion for our shared heritage and culture. It encouraged me to become more involved in this vibrant Icelandic community here in North America, by volunteering with groups – doing podcasts for the Icelandic Roots and joining the editorial committee of the Lögberg-Heimskringla.
The connection between our nations has stayed strong and, through celebrations like this one, Íslendingadagurinn, ensures that we continue to embrace, educate, and celebrate all the things that make us Icelandic.
If you had asked my langamma and langafi about Iceland and their journey over, the stories are unbelievable and demonstrate their strength and courage. When landing in North America, my langamma, who had a one-year-old child with her, lost her koffort with all her personal belongings into the sea. Imagine that – your one collection of belongings eaten up by the unforgiving sea. Yet they still remained proud of their culture and heritage.
Between 1875 and 1914, nearly 20 percent of Iceland’s population emigrated to North America for many reasons, including the harsh climate, poor socio-economic conditions, and the devastation following the eruption of the volcano Askja in the northeast. Driving through there on my latest trip gave me a glimpse of some of that devastation. The biggest population of Icelanders outside of Iceland is right here in New Iceland.
To connect all of what I’ve spoken about to my latest trip, we visited the museum inside the home of Halldór Laxness, the Icelandic writer and winner of the 1955 Nobel Prize in Literature. As a prolific author, one of his quotes in the audio tour struck a chord with me:
“If there is any goal in life, it is to be united with someone, something.”
Halldór Laxness’s novels, such as Independent People, World Light, and The Fish Can Sing, convey similar messages. This quote encapsulates the natural human desire for connection and unity. While this can be true for many things in life, I truly believe that the relationship we have here in New Iceland with the country of Iceland captures exactly that – a desire for unity and connection to our past and our culture. It’s something that many locals are fiercely proud of, as am I.
So, with that in mind, what an incredible festival this has been, and I look forward to many more to come, including the 150th anniversary next year. Let us raise our glasses high in gratitude and celebration. To the rich cultural heritage that binds us!
From the sagas and stories passed down through generations to the enduring traditions that we continue to honour, we are forever connected to the spirit of Iceland.
It is through this shared heritage that we draw strength, unity, and a sense of belonging. I also toast to the continued friendship and connection between Iceland and New Iceland. May our ties grow stronger, fostering cultural exchange and mutual support, as we celebrate the legacy of our ancestors and look forward to a future filled with promise and collaboration. Takk og skál.
Born in Thompson, MB, but raised in Gimli, Owen Roberts has been immersed in the Icelandic Canadian community his entire life. A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business, he works for Richardson International in Winnipeg. He is active in the Scandinavian Centre, a volunteer for Icelandic Roots and Lögberg-Heimskringla, and loves sports, being with friends and family, and going up to Gimli for the weekends. Owen in engaged to Madeleine Lovsin, whom he proposed to next to a waterfall in Iceland.