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by Shaune Jonasson Settling the untamed land of the Canadian prairie, originally known as Assiniboia in the North-West Territories (NWT) before Saskatchewan was a province in 1905, was fulfilled by many ethnicities, including our Icelandic ancestors. Filing for homesteads, then carving out a living in this vast open land was no small feat. Viking courage harmonized with a pioneering spirit; the Icelandic settlers became an important element of Saskatchewan’s tapestry. They le

A collection of stories by: Nancy Asmundson Linda Breidfjord Judy Dickson Lois Janusson Yasinko The month of September profiles the Icelandic settlements in Saskatchewan and its history. Many of us share family roots from here, including four of our Icelandic Roots members. Each of them has taken a different approach; some are very personal, some extol their ancestor’s accomplishments, while others define the genealogy. Although the stories are unique, there are similarities

By Sharron Arksey Icelandic settlements spread outside beyond the area of New Iceland over the course of time. Many continued north and west. This article looks at two other areas of Manitoba. Argyle, where the early settlers felt they had arrived in Paradise and yet some of them left, and Swan River. Sharron explores the early days for the settlers, their communities and how they have evolved. ARGYLE There is a story about an Icelandic immigrant who, in 1880, travelled from

By Becky Byerly-Adams [Condensed for Rætur Fréttir/Roots News] As we learn about our heritage, the connection to our ancestors strengthens. It intensifies when opportunities exist to see where they once lived, stand where they stood, walk where they walked. The ultimate connection is finding their eternal place of rest. Growing up in non-Icelandic communities in the United States, long after my Iceland-born grandmother had passed, I was proud of my heritage. Yet I knew little

By Brian Borgford Historical Fiction with an Emotional Connection: Comparisons and Contrasts Be Still the Water by Karen Emilson has something for everyone. It takes you through a full range of emotions over the first three quarters of the twentieth century: joy, sadness, grief, anger, love, hope, despair, acceptance, atonement, fear, trust, and acceptance. No matter who you are or what your background is, it would be hard not to connect with the wide range of characters

By Sharron Arksey Photo Credit: Winnipeg Free Press1 If you are a Manitoban of Icelandic descent, you likely recognize the name Haraldur Bessason (I155214). As the Chair of the Icelandic Department at the University of Manitoba for several decades and a former editor of Lögberg-Heimskringla, he was a well-known figure in western Icelandic circles. But I did not know that Bessason was born in Iceland, nor that his remains are buried there. I was surprised last year to see his

By Sharron Arksey Photo Credit: The author. Manitoba’s Provincial Trunk Highway 50 begins where it meets the Yellowhead Highway (Provincial Trunk Highway Number16) in the south-central portion of the province. The paved highway stretches north for approximately 50 miles before it makes a turn to the west, ending at McCreary, MB. Its north-south route parallels the western shore of Lake Manitoba. The highway is on a gravel ridge left by the receding of Glacial Lake Agassiz tho

By Alfreda Erickson Duffy The writers in the Icelandic Roots Author's Group are regular contributors to our newsletter. Meeting monthly provides a prompt for articles. In March, the prompt was something that reflects a "candle in the dark", a touchstone, or something that brings comfort. Enjoy this reflection by Alfreda. The Grunnvatns Settlement, sometimes referred to as the Lundar Settlement, is located east of Lake Manitoba, past the eastern edge of the town of Lundar itse

By Sharron Arksey The Icelandic Roots Writers Group contributes to the bi-weekly Rætur Fréttir/Roots News. Keeping with Icelandic Roots settlement stories, this article profiles two sisters who each made significant contributions during their lifetime in Langruth, Manitoba. BIG SISTER – YNGRI SYSTIR Bonnie Bjarnason Photo Credit: Author Elizabeth Hazeltine Polson (I681998) was born in 1893 in Winnipeg, one of ten children born to Águst and Elisabet Pol

by Patty Johnson Patty Johnson and Becky Byerly-Adams were guests on Samtal Hour, a member's only conversation hour normally held bi-weekly that shares all things Icelandic. On Monday, 14 July, they spoke about their roots in the Lundar and Interlake Region east of Lake Manitoba. This article is a transcript from Patty who shared her fond memories and heartfelt reflections of growing up in Lundar. Where is Lundar? Originally the Swan Lake Settlement founded in 1887, Lundar is

By Alfreda Duffy and Patty Johnson Icelandic Roots is exploring the Interlake district along Lake Manitoba during August as part of its North American settlement theme. The lakes and waterways adjacent to fields for raising livestock and farming attracted the Icelandic settlers. Here we look at two of those locations, Lundar and Oak Point. Oak Point, a tiny hamlet, is just over an hour's drive north of Winnipeg on Highway #6. Still heading north for an additional 15–20 minu

by Sunna Olafson Furstenau Continuing the North America Icelandic settlement theme, Sunna addresses the many areas of North Dakota our ancestors called home, even temporarily. Many towns and villages, although mostly abandoned or forgotten, uphold an enduring legacy binding their past to our present. When people think of Icelandic settlements in North Dakota, they usually think of Mountain and Gardar first. Perhaps Akra and Cavalier come to mind as well. But the Icelandic sto

By Sunna Olafson Furstenau Through the month of July, we've focused on the North Dakota settlement areas of our ancestors. Their stories come to life more readily when one has an opportunity to travel and see the sites for ourselves. Here are some suggestions for northeast North Dakota: Click on the image to enlarge details. The content of the above inserted tour details and driving map are duplicated below: Icelanders who settled in the area known as Fjalla mostly came fro

By Jason Doctor Our Interesting Icelander for July, Páll Þórlaksson, is one of the most familiar names heard when learning about the early settlement of Icelandic emigrants in North America. Jason Doctor presents the profile of Páll Þórlaksson as we explore the North Dakota settlement. Additionally, if you happen to be in Mountain, ND for August the Deuce on Friday, 31 July, 2026, Jason will also be presenting at the Friday Forum held in Mountain Community Center. Be sure to

By Greg McNeill Photo Credit: @honest_agency and Icelandic Festival of Manitoba/Íslendingadagurinn Icelandic Roots will once again be at Íslendingadagurinn in Gimli, Manitoba, during the weekend of July 31st to August 3rd, 2026. Come join the festivities and learn more about your Icelandic genealogy!!! Íslendingadagurinn translates to “Day of the Icelanders” and has a similar mission to Icelandic Roots in promoting and sustaining interest in Icelandic culture and descent.

By Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane Members of Icelandic Roots who read the newsletter are usually interested in finding and following their Icelandic relatives and ancestors. I was the same. But, to my total surprise, my research revealed much more than I was looking for: a genuine, well-documented family ghost! Now, so that you too can learn this ghost’s story, I have written a book entitled Leirarskotta: Memoir of an Icelandic Immigrant Ghost. This ghost, a never-dull entity nam

by Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane As we review the settlements in Winnipeg and the New Iceland area, no doubt many of us have reflected on the life our ancestors experienced. But what of our own life in these Icelandic settlement areas? One of our IR volunteers and author, Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane, reflects on her growing up in Winnipeg as a Canadian with Icelandic heritage. Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane There are not too many advantages to being what you might call “pretty old”

By Brian Borgford The following is a series of excerpts from the memoir of Thorsteinn Borgford (I464972), written in 1947 when he was in his 70s. His grandson, Brian, transcribed his typewritten manuscript. Thorsteinn tried to present his story in the third person, but his writing occasionally shifted into the first person. In addition, spelling and other errors that did not impact the meaning of his story remain unchanged. Brian has selected excerpts relevant to our theme

By Gerry Stefanson Gerry Stefanson is a member of the Icelandic Roots Author’s Group, and we are pleased to share his musings through poetry, a craft he has honed in more recent years. Many of Gerry’s poems have been previously published in our Newsletters. He has also published poet “Chap Books” through Spillwords. You can see more of his work, including Passages and Bouleversant HERE. For June, we are profiling the New Iceland area on Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba as part of our

By Becky Byerly-Adams, Brian Borgford, and Cathy Josephson This month's interesting Icelander is a tribute to William Jon Holm, more commonly referred to as Bill Holm. He is revered as many things, with poet, author, teacher and musician among them. This special collaborative article shares contributions from three Icelandic Roots volunteers and writers, Becky, Brian and Cathy. They tell us about Bill, but more so, they reveal more of the person he was. Join us in remembering