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February‘s IR Book Club with Guest Karen Gummo Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter by Laura Goodman Salverson Born in Winnipeg on December 9, 1890, Icelandic Roots members can locate the author in the Icelandic Roots database as Lára Gudmundsson IR# I22876736. Her parents emigrated from Reykjavík in 1887. Laura won the prestigious Canadian Governor General’s literary award in 1939 for Confessions of an Immigrant's Daughter . This book describes her family’s struggles an

By Shaune Jonasson Some ancestral stories of the crossings were captured in family diaries, a real treasure to possess today. Despite any trepidation to leave their homes and families, most believed in a better life ahead. They were resolute. We are here as a testament to their hope.   When our Icelandic ancestors left their homeland bound for North America, many unknowns lay ahead of them. The reasons for emigrating are many and we’ve heard or read the accounts of life in Ic

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 Shaune Jonasson Welcome to Icelandic Roots Interesting Icelanders for 2026. This year, we will focus on those who emigrated to North America or their descendants, that became accomplished or well known within the area. Our first profile is honouring the memory and achievements of Sir William Stephenson from Winnipeg, Manitoba.   William Samuel Clouston Stanger/Stephenson (I523046) was born on 23 January 1897 in the Point Douglas area of Winnipeg, Manitoba to a Scottish fa

By Blair Swanson and Becky Byerly-Adams During November Icelandic Roots pays tribute to our ancestors who arrived in North America from Iceland just years before the call came to support World War One. We honor the dedication and commitment these soldiers gave, some paying the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget. Many people of Icelandic descent have served in the military of Canada and the United States. Respect is paid annually in honour of our militaries on Remembrance Day

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

Two busloads of IR volunteers and members have just returned from Iceland as we traveled for twelve unforgettable days of heritage,...

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

By Cathy Josephson Cathy volunteers for Icelandic Roots and also at the East Iceland Emigration Center in Vopnafjörður. She also serves...

Beth remembers the Icelandic Festivals she attended in August 2025

What did you do on Iceland's National Day - an archive of how we spent this day is being kept for future interest.

Jakobína Sigurbjörnsdóttir Johnson an accomplished writer in N America and Iceland

INLNA Convention in 2025 in Gimli - recap of events.

The richness of Samtal Hour discussions with Icelandic Roots members

Historian Ryan Eyford (I564866) is a keynote speaker at the 2025 Icelandic National League of North America Convention held in Gimli,...

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

by Gerry Stefanson   Image from https://www.redriverancestry.ca/SUZANNE-E.php At about 9 p.m. on September 24, 1965, the Suzanne-E , a...

Richard Beck noted Icelandic-American scholar, teacher, writer and poet

By Sharron Arksey For more than 30 years, Christmas Eve meant going to Amma and Afi’s house. My maternal grandparents Skapti and Runa...