Sagas, Settlers, & Wild Weather: A Mini-Conference at The Deuce
- Sunna Olafson Furstenau
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
by Sunna Olafson Furstenau
Join Us for the Icelandic Roots mini-conference on Friday, August 1, 2025, with a fabulous lineup of speakers at the Mountain Community Center.
Each year, the Deuce of August Icelandic Celebration brings together people from near and far to honor our shared heritage — and this year, Icelandic Roots is proud to host a special Friday afternoon schedule you won’t want to miss!
Come for the FREE lunch — stay for the heritage, history, and connection.
🍽️ 12:00 PM – Welcome & Lunch at the Deuce
Enjoy a delicious free lunch provided by Chalet Café and the Vikur Lutheran Church Women, sponsored by Icelandic Roots. NOTE: This lunch is only for those attending the afternoon presentations.
🟩 Please RSVP - pre-register so we can prepare!
🎤 12:15 PM – Presentations Begin
🔹 "The Icelandic Emigration Journey" – Sunna Olafson Furstenau Discover the story of Icelandic emigration from turf houses in Iceland to prairie homesteads in North America. This presentation focuses on North Dakota and Minnesota.
🔹 "Bloodlines and Ballads: Finding Ourselves in the Icelandic Sagas" – Jason Doctor
Explore how ancient sagas still shape our identities and connections today.
🔹 "Weaving History with Njal’s Saga Tapestry" – Claudia Petursson
Experience the power of visual storytelling through the traveling tapestry of Iceland’s most iconic saga.
🔹 "The Wild Weather of North Dakota and Iceland" – Dr. Aaron Kennedy
Compare two stormy homelands with a University of North Dakota atmospheric scientist fresh from a Fulbright Scholarship in Iceland. Expect fascinating visuals, Icelandic weather words, and real snowflake images from cutting-edge research.
🧬 2:00 PM – Visit with Claudia, Jason, and Aaron. Take part in the Free Icelandic Roots Database Seminar
We’ll wrap up with an informal session where you can visit with the speakers, look at the tapestry projects, and purchase sewing kits from Claudia. Volunteers will be on hand to help you navigate and find how you’re related to people around you, famous Icelanders, and even our ancestors in the Sagas!
*Bring your laptop, tablet, or even an internet-ready smartphone to access the database for the entire weekend - for free! (Privacy Policies Apply)*
📝 Pre-register before July 28th to receive free, full access to the database for the weekend AND the FREE LUNCH. Didn’t register for lunch or special access to the database before July 28th? You can still attend the presentations and get a generic login to the database for a limited time access (policies apply)!
This event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Let’s come together to celebrate our shared Icelandic heritage, meet new cousins, and learn more about our shared stories.
We also invite you to view the exhibit: "The Icelandic Emigration Journey, From Turfhouses to Prairie Homesteads." The captivating story of our ancestors who emigrated from Iceland to North Dakota and Minnesota will be on display at the Gardar Pioneer Church from Sunday, July 27th - Monday, August 9th. It showcases fourteen large panels filled with photographs and drawings. Each piece is accompanied by a narrative online or through the accompanying book which will be available at the Icelandic Roots Genealogy Center on Friday and Saturday of the celebration or you can find it on Amazon or by contacting me (Sunna).
Icelandic Roots volunteers will also be available for a visit on Saturday from 11-2. To see the full lineup of events organized by the Icelandic Communities Association, go to the website for TheDeuce.org
We can’t wait to see you for this fun and interesting afternoon of speakers and connections. Questions? Contact me (Sunna) or the Icelandic Roots team at https://www.icelandicroots.com/contact-us
