Welcome to Framfari
Winnipeg Chapter
Icelandic National League

This Winnipeg Chapter of the Icelandic National League was formed during May 2001.

Our aim is to serve all persons of Icelandic origin in their efforts to obtain information about Iceland and Icelanders. Through annual social and cultural events, our members revive and honor Iceland's strong cultural and social traditions. Of course, those not of Icelandic origin are also welcome. Besides working as a member of the National Organization, the Winnipeg Chapter initiates Icelandic cultural activities in Winnipeg. The Chapter participates in events with other groups to display and interpret the Icelandic heritage.

Interested in joining Framfari? Let us know. Call Bob (membership chairperson) at 488-0682.


Objectives
of Framfari		EventsMeetings
INL Annual ConventionMembershipExecutive of Framfari
GuestbookLestrarfélag Reading GroupThe Meaning of "Framfari"
External Links
about Iceland
in English Text		Travel Information
to Iceland
(discounts for members)




mp3 samples
Introduction
Á Sprengisandi
Draumalandið
Íslenskt vögguljóð á Hörpu
Sofðu unga ástin mín

order CD

Concert Tour Details: October 2002


Objectives of Framfari, this Winnipeg INL Chapter include:
1. To foster and strengthen a mutual understanding of kinship, language, literature and cultural bonds among people of Icelandic descent in North America and the people of Iceland.
2. To foster and promote harmony and cooperation and to maintain an active and viable association with individuals and organizations which have similar purposes and objectives.
3. To actively support Icelandic cultural and heritage projects which may include education, history, publishing and the arts.
4. To foster and promote good citizen-ship among people of Icelandic descent.
5. To work as a chapter of the Icelandic National League.


Membership in Framfari is open to interested individuals and families.
Membership is designed for fun and learning.
Annual membership fees are set to be inclusive at $15 per adult, $25 per family, $10 per student and $10 per senior(65+). Call Bob at 488-0682.


Meetings of Framfari are held at the Boardroom, Icelandic Collection, within the Dafoe Library, University of Manitoba. The Dafoe Library is located on the East side of the Ft. Garry campus.
The meeting schedule of Framfari executive meetings will be on Tuesday evenings:
February 3, 2004-7:00 - 9:00 PM
March 2, 2004-7:00 - 9:00 PM
April 6, 2004-7:00 - 9:00 PM
May 4, 2004-7:00 - 9:00 PM

The best parking (see campus map) is in Lot B. Parking is free after 6 PM. The Icelandic Collection is located (see floor map) on the 3rd floor, Northeast corner of the Dafoe Library.


Events:
A variety of topics are being planned for workshops during 2004. Details (being developed) are as follows:
January 27, 20047:30 p.m.Icelandic Movie, "Cold Fever" at Icelandic Collection, U of M.
Silver Collection
At the beginning of February, Björn Thoroddsen will be in Winnipeg for a series of concerts. He will be performing with Richard Gillis on trumpet and Steve Kirby on bass. Steve is the new head of the jazz program at the University of Manitoba. Björn is a fantastic guitar player and the concerts will feature well-know jazz tunes and some jazzed up Icelandic folk songs.

The concerts are as follows:
Wednesday
February 4		8:00 PMEva Clare Hall (University of Manitoba School of Music, 65 Dafoe Road).
Tickets: $10 (available at the door or at the U of M School of Music: 474-9310)
Thursday
February 5		7:30 PMIn the Johnson Room at the Betel Waterfront in Gimli.
This concert will be presented by THE ICELANDIC FESTIVAL OF MANITOBA.
Tickets are $10/adults; $5/students & seniors.
Friday
February 6		7:30 PMAt the Lutheran Church, Lundar.
Tickets -$10.
Saturday
February 7		4:00 PM Guitar Masterclass by Björn Thoroddsen at the University of Manitoba (Music Annex).
Admission: $10 (contact: gillisrj@cc.umanitoba.ca).
Sunday
February 8		2:00 PM &
8:00 PM		 Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra Concert "Gershwin on Ice" at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Featuring the music of George Gershwin, plus guitarist, Björn Thoroddsen. Tickets: $18 Adult; $12 Student.

February 17, 20047:30 p.m.Icelandic Geneology Forum at Betelstadir, 1061 Sargent
Silver Collection




Executive & Contact People:
PositionNamePhoneE-Mail
President:Brian Gudmundson475-3048 (H)StoriLundi@samkoma.com
Vice President:Arny Hjaltadottir783-2885 (H)arnyh@hotmail.com
Treasurer:Flo Holigroski254-7684 (H)treasureamma@shaw.ca
Secretary:Diane Gillis475-3463 (H)bigillis@home.com



Icelandic websites:
Samkoma Over Icelandic 1,500 links in English text
Snorri Program
The Icelandic National League
The INL Chapters - Canada & USA
Department of Icelandic Language & Literature, U. of Manitoba
Lögberg - Heimskringla, The Icelandic Weekly Newspaper (in Canada)


Travel Information to Iceland:
Booking information from Winnipeg by the Great Canadian Travel Company.
Travel tips to go to Iceland by Samkoma.
Travel Agencies within Iceland, another free research tool provided by Samkoma.


Lestrarfélag Reading Group:
Participation in the Icelandic Reading Society (in Winnipeg) is encouraged by Framfari. Lestrarfélag meets on the last Thursday each month, 7:00 - 9:00 PM. at the Icelandic Collection Boardroom, Dafoe Library, University of Manitoba.
For details, call Linda Sigurdson Collette. Phone : 786-2190


The Meaning of "Framfari"
The Icelandic phrase "Framfari" in English translates to "Progress".
This phrase has a proud tradition in the "Western Icelandic" history in New Iceland Reserve.

Literacy and language were foremost concerns of the Icelandic immigrants in Canada, dedicated against all odds to preserving their culture and heritage. The first Icelandic newspaper in Canada, the "Framfari", made a public declaration of this goal in its first edition, just two years after Icelandic colonists had settled in New Iceland:

When the Icelandic immigrants came to North America they were very concerned with preserving their language and their culture. They in agreement that two things were necessary for the preservation of their precious heritage: a separate colony and a newspaper in the Icelandic language. These two projects were so closely linked that it was scarcely considered that one could thrive without the other.

The Icelanders had began circulating a hand-written paper the first winter of their stay in New Iceland. It was called Nyi Thjodolfur and only lasted three issues. But more ambitious plans were soon in the works. The founding of a paper had first been discussed at the Gimli town meeting of January 22, 1877. The consensus was that a stock company should be formed to finance the purchase of a printing press. Certain individuals undertook to promote the sale of shares for what was to become the Framfari Newspaper.

By the next monthly meeting on February 5, 1877, a sufficient number of promises had been obtained to warrant proceeding with the project. The New Iceland Printing Company was formed. By-laws were adopted and a board of directors appointed. After half of the proposed capital of $500 had been collected, the board of directors looked into acquiring a printing press. They had to wait for a while, however. A die had to be specially made for some of the letters of the Icelandic alphabet. It was June before the press arrived. The first issue of the Framfari Newspaper was printed in a log cabin at Lundi (later renamed Riverton, Manitoba), and appeared on September 10, 1877.

Sigtryggur Jónasson, who had led the settlers to their new colony and since become known as Father of New Iceland, was also the moving force behind the first newspaper. Jónasson edited the first eight issues before Halldor Briem assumed the responsibility, and the newspaper was printed in a log cabin by Sigtryggur's brother, Jónas Jónasson.

Framfari Newspaper was a four page issue, 15 1/2 inches by 10 1/2 inches, published three times a month. The subscription rate was $1.50 per month in New Iceland, $1.75 elsewhere in Canada and the United States, and Europe. The newspapers name, both in its meaning (which translated to "Progress") and its bold gothic letters on the masthead, proclaimed the progressive character of its ambitions and its content. Even the mainstream media such as the Manitoba Free Press was impressed, giving the Framfari's debut a favourable, although necessarily superficial, review in 1877:

     "It is very neatly printed, presents a fine typographical appearance and
     contains a large quantity of local news, or something,in the Icelandic language."

The contents of the first issue, in addition to the address to subscribers, included Framfari's policy to provide information and enlightenment, and entertainment; its aim to preserve the Icelandic language in America; a page and a half of news from Iceland; the provisional by-laws of the Framfari Printing Company for the information of its community shareholders; and three jokes. Other standards were church matters, updates on Icelandic settlements elsewhere in Canada and the United States; European news; and practical advice on issues important to the settlers such as ploughing, clearing the land, and winter storage of crops.

The founding of the Framfari Newspaper, less than two years after the first settlers in the colony, and in a small community of 1,500 ravaged by famine, disease and natural disaster, was quite an accomplishment. But the Framfari, like the community, met economic difficulties early on and published only from 1877-1881. It was, however, merely the first in a long line publications in the Icelandic tradition. Literacy and literature were, after all, said to be the lifeblood of the Icelanders. Between 1879 and 1910, eight other Icelandic publications originated in Gimli. In 1886 the Icelandic newspaper Heimskringla (The World) was founded. Lögberg (The Law Stone) was established in 1887. Both were published in Icelandic. It wasn't until 1959 that they were amalgamated into Lögberg-Heimskringla, and published in English.

The Icelandic newspapers are just one branch of the enduring Icelandic tradition of literature. They provided links from generation to generation in maintaining the Icelandic language, and between communities and isolated individuals. They acted as a mirror of the lives of the people, because in addition to news, they carried a wealth of historical and biographical material. They were an invaluable means of expression, for both budding poets and polemics.