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By Phyllis Smith   Many of us are immigrants—not personally—but through our ancestors. It is because they left Iceland that we’re here today. By telling their stories, we uncover themes of resilience, determination, strength, and even suffering. Unless we knew our immigrant ancestors personally, we must trace their journeys through records and research. Our family lore can add colour and context, but it may not be enough to answer every question.   I never knew my Icelandic i

Icelandic Roots - Bridging the Past into the Future

By Shaune Jonasson   Storytelling is as old as time itself. The progression of time has afforded us storytelling through various mediums. It is easy to lose track of time while reading a good story or listening to a talented storyteller. Summertime often gives us the opportunity to do just that: take out that book that you’ve been longing to read, or open that audiobook and plug in your earbuds. Curl up on a comfy chair in the shade and enjoy the adventure that awaits you. Th

By Claudia Pétursson Claudia has enjoyed Hulda’s stories about her remarkable life and career for the past forty-two years, as she is...

Writers' Group Series "Changes"

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...

By Bryndís Viglundsdóttir The Icelandic Roots Writers' Group submits short stories about Icelandic life and lore after given a prompt for...

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

The richness of Samtal Hour discussions with Icelandic Roots members

IR Writers' Group short story "Changes"

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

Icelandic Roots Book Club returns on January 9, 2025. Our host, Heather, will be featuring The Writing Place with the author, Sharron...

A ghostly nuisance in the mid-1800s Iceland.

By Dennis McLane The Icelandic Roots Database is one of the greatest sources for what could be called your “instant Icelandic family...

The first Fall session of the IR Book Club returns on October 3rd.

The Icelandic Roots Writers Group used an exercise to create a dialogue between two people planning to emigrate. By Doreen Borgfjord...

The cousins, the excitement, the noise and roar of stock car racing, all are unforgettable.

We’ve been working on a mystery, and for now … it remains unsolved. Where is the exact burial location? The secrets are beneath the earth.

by Gay Strandemo The Icelandic Roots Writers Group wrote about summer memories for their April assignment. Summer childhood reminds me of...