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The goal for many Icelandic emigrants to Canada was to get to Gimli, Manitoba and join those who left before them. The plan was to establish Nýja Ísland , where the immigrants could be close to friends and family, and preserve their culture, traditions, and language.   However, the first Icelanders to Canada settled in Ontario. In The Icelanders of Kinmount, Don Gislason referred to it as an “experiment in settlement” because it largely failed. Only a few families chose to s

By Shaune Jonasson This book review presents The Young Icelander – The story of an immigrant in Nova Scotia and Manitoba . A classic in Iceland that has been translated and published in English, offering insight to the challenges of emigration and settling in a foreign land. The emigrants are resilient. Their spirit, motivated by hope and determination, molds their greatest desire of creating a better life for their families.   In 1899, Jóhann Magnús Bjarnason wrote the story

by Becky Byerly-Adams Wisconsin was the chosen settlement area for many Icelandic emigrant families in the 1870s. Becky provides background and insights from the areas of Milwaukee and Shawano. These settlements were not without challenges; many relocated while others remained. Their preservation of Icelandic life and culture remains their legacy. We still celebrate them today. Wisconsin Map 1866. Image sourced from Maps of the Past MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Milwaukee, Wisconsi

By George T. Freeman This month's Interesting Icelander article featuring Hjörtur (Chester) Þórðarson/ Thordarson was written by Hjörtur's great-great-nephew, George Freeman. Arriving in North America as a young lad of six, we learn about Hjörtur's life and legacy. Icelandic Roots is sharing this article with permission. THE VIKING HALL AT WISCONSIN’S ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK Hjörtur Thordarson (I481526) Icelanders and their descendants enjoy tales of the accomplishments of o

By Jason Doctor   Public Webinar on Friday, 27 March 2026 : INDIGENOUS AND ICELANDIC INTERACTIONS AT THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS Our Icelandic Roots Host, Jason Doctor, welcomes guest Hildur Sigurbergsdóttir, historian and Snorri West alum. We will be discussing the complex story of the encounters between the Icelandic settlers and the existing Indigenous populations as part of an extended celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of New Iceland and Minneota.

By Gay Strandemo Settling in the Wisconsin area, our Scandinavian ancestors left their mark. A strong sense of literacy and the preservation of historical records has offered enhanced understanding of their cultures, traditions, languages and more curated by the Department of Scandinavian Studies, which has a history unto itself. Established in 1875, the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the oldest Scandinavian Studies department in

Icelandic Roots newsletter theme for 2026 is the emigration to North America and the settlements there. Some are still active settlements, while others have since been abandoned. Washington Island is a settlement from 1870 that remains strong today.   In the mid-1800s, Icelanders began to emigrate to America. Many hardships in Iceland contributed to its people searching for a better life, for them and their family. Emigration proved to be the answer for some. Stories of settl

Book review of The Icelandic Emigration Journey

by Rob Olason The Icelandic Roots 2026 focus is “Exploring and Documenting Local Icelandic Settlements in North America.” In 2025, the focus was on Icelandic art and culture in Iceland and North America. 2024 saw us focusing on the Settlement Era of Iceland around the first millennium. We inaugurated the idea of focusing on a specific topic in 2023 when we explored Icelandic emigration to North America and other continents. The idea of examining a focus topic each year doesn’

by Doreen Borgford McFarlane This is an excerpt from a yet unpublished book Leirarskotta  by Doreen Borgfjord McFarlane. Author's Note: This book that I wrote tells the story of an Icelandic girl ghost who, according to Icelandic records, lived and followed the Borgfjord family for no less than eight generations. I learned about her quite accidentally around 2015 by reading a lecture on "Icelandic Immigrant Ghosts" that was delivered at the University of Victoria, B.C. in 200

Minneota: Celebrating 150 years since the 1875 Icelandic Immigration By Elaine Olafson Henry Photos provided by the author The Minneota...

My mother once, after reading one of my short stories, said, “How did you know that?” “That” was a description of ice forming on rocks...

by Anne Brydon Department of Anthropology McGill University, Montreal, Quebec   ** Reprinted from Icelandic Canadian v.48 n.2 Winter...

Beth remembers the Icelandic Festivals she attended in August 2025

by Anne Brydon Department of Anthropology McGill University, Montreal, Quebec   ** Reprinted from Icelandic Canadian v.48 n.2 Winter...

By Sharron Arksey A book review is the best way to get an overview to see if you would like to read a book. This review comes from...

Bill tells of his ancestral arrival to New Iceland and his memories.

By Rob Olason ÞÓ LÍÐÍ ÁR OG ÖLD   – THOUGH YEARS AND CENTURIES PASS INLNA Convention is May 1-4, 2025 The theme of the 2025 Icelandic...

By Jason Doctor At family reunions and visits with relatives in Watertown, South Dakota, a rich history of Icelanders from the area was hidden in plain sight. Jason recounts the story of Kristín Þorkelsdóttir, a well known writer, and other Watertown ancestors. Recounting this history and their stories is vital to keeping the past alive. Growing up, the family reunions I attended alternated between the Black Hills and Lake Kampeska in Watertown, South Dakota. We would typical

Note: On January 29, Icelandic Roots will host a public webinar featuring Julianna Roberts, the executive director of the New Iceland...