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THE LONG FRIDAY is a documentary-in-progress capturing a transformative moment in Iceland’s history. Three years ago, on a family trip to Iceland, I was leafing through Lonely Planet’s Guide to Iceland and a story leapt off the page: one crisp Fall day in 1975, 90% of Iceland’s women walked off the job and out of their homes – and brought their country to its knees. This “Women’s Day Off” began a transformation that has catapulted Iceland to the forefront of today’s push for gender equality. “Women’s Day Off” demonstration Reykjavik, Iceland | October 24, 1975 I’m a documentary filmmaker, and I thought someone must have already made a film about this amazing story! But they hadn’t. So, I wrote a proposal and won a small foundation grant to get started. And now, we’ve had two wonderful shoots in Iceland with some of the unstoppable women behind this untold moment of history, including a rare interview with Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the world’s first democratically elected female president. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir with director Pamela Hogan | November 2017 Our film-in-progress, THE LONG FRIDAY, is a true US-Icelandic collaboration. Co-produced with Reykjavik-based Krumma Films, and advised by several leading Icelandic scholars, all of the filmed material will be donated at the end of the project to the Women’s History Archives at the University of Iceland where it will become a permanent part of the country’s historical record. The story resonates deeply for me because my sister and I were raised by a single mom, a writer for a Boston ad agency, who discovered she had been striving to support our family on half the wages the men in her office earned for the same job. She became the first Director of Massachusetts’ National Organization for Women; and in 1972, as a high school student, I spent afternoons with her at the Massachusetts State House, lobbying for passage of our own Equal Rights Amendment. We had no idea that 3,000 miles away, on an island in the North Atlantic, the women of Iceland were dreaming up – and pulling off – a gender revolution that would eclipse our own and continue to this day. This is such an exciting moment, from the #metoo and Time’s Up movements to the unprecedented numbers of women running for political office in the U.S., and we believe that sharing women’s stories and documenting their impact on society is more important than ever. But we must move quickly to capture the voices of these Icelandic women to ensure that their story will be told and shared with audiences all over the world! Fundraising for a major shoot this spring is now underway. To see a trailer, and to make a tax-deductible donation to the project, please visit: www.thelongfriday.com And, if you or someone you know was there in 1975 – we want to know your story! We will be interviewing more people as production continues and would love to hear from you. To share some of your memories, please email us. Thanks to Sunna, Icelandic Roots, and to all of you, from all of us on THE LONG FRIDAY team who are trying to get this inspiring story out into the world. -- Pamela Hogan | Director | The Long Friday | Email us #TheLongFriday #WomensDayOff #GenderEquality #IcelandHistory

Icelandic Roots has a large and varied community. Our volunteers live in Iceland, USA, Canada, and Australia. Today, we share some insight into a very special person on our team. Please read about Bryndís in the following Volunteer Spotlight! What prompted you to volunteer with Icelandic Roots? I was granted a scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa when I was a young person. That entire year was a life changing experience. I was surrounded by good, knowledgeable and caring people, the kind of people who made America great and have kept it great. At the end of the academic year two of my professors invited me on a trip cross country and showed me the wonders of your beautiful country. I believe one is not the same person after having gone on a mule back into the Grand Canyon, stood by the giant Sequoias and breathed their scent or walked in the petrified forest. These experiences and a thousand more were mine because there were people who cared to bring young people over to North America to share their culture and spirit. Twice again I was given scholarships to study in your country that lead to teaching many years at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. There my professional character was molded. None of this would have happened without the generosity of the good people of your country who invited me – and many more- to your country. When I began to hear about Sunna, and learned about her passionate idealism and all the fine and capable people working towards realizing the ideals of the same nature as I have described above, I simply knew I wished to be part of this team. When I learned about the Icelandic Language scholarships and the scholarships and support to the Snorri programs that IR is giving. I realized that IR is building a bridge between Iceland and North America, facilitating the connection between Icelanders on both sides of the Atlantic. What is your favorite aspect of this program? The main goal of the IR is connecting people of Icelandic descent in N-America (and other parts of the world) and their relatives in Iceland. I think this is a most interesting and noble goal. What the volunteer team members of IR do with the revenue of the database is most commendable. The revenue goes to scholarships to students learning Icelandic in N-America or to young people of Icelandic descent wanting to study Icelandic in Iceland. When you are a young person studying, getting a stipend may make the difference. The Snorri programs are also being supported by the IR. That support may make the difference for some of the young people wishing to become a Snorri and the new Snorri Deaf Program. What advice would you give others who are seeking to research and preserve family history? I would advise them to become a supporting member of the IR Database to find their family story. Having made the connection, the next step would be to contact your relatives for a further connection and hopefully cultivating friendship and ties to your newfound relatives. Furthermore, I would advise people to share with the IR team such information they have about their families who emigrated. Thus, the data base becomes more meaningful to you yourself, your relatives, and in fact everyone else. Finally, I would like to say to those who might be reading this: If you have found the family you didn't know about until you found it on www.icelandicroots.com, do tell others. Tell people about this wonderful data base, spread the good news! This photo depicts a common site. In a warm and cozy Reykjavík home, you will find various groups of people meeting with Bryndís around her table. It is always filled to overflowing with delicious food, wonderful smiles, laughter, and boundless ideas. There are always various people at this table, who soon become friends, working with a passion as volunteers. Whether it is "Children's Emigration Stories," new exhibits, programs, teaching, connections, and much more. The atmosphere is positive and uplifting. Here we are, brainstorming about ideas for Snorri Deaf and how we can improve the lives of others, strengthen education, and keep the connections strong. Bryndís is a retired teacher. She leads by example and a dedication to high quality work, collaboration, and education. She is a great leader. The entire team at Icelandic Roots thanks her for her friendship, kindness, support, translating documents and letters, teaching Icelandic, promoting the work of IR, writing news articles, and the positive influence she has throughout our volunteer organization. Icelandic Roots is not just for genealogy. There is so much more. One of the best is creating these lifelong friendships. Thanks, Bryndís! Read more about Bryndis and more about the Snorri Deaf Program Are you interested in volunteering with Icelandic Roots? We’d love to have you join us! There is something for everyone! Please let us know: https://www.icelandicroots.com/contact-us #volunteer #SnorriDeaf #Snorri #ChildrensEmigrationStories

Stronger Together is not just a cute slogan. It means something and is practiced in our Icelandic Roots Community. Our recent blog posts have been about the emigration journey from Iceland. In one blog, we casually asked people to share any family stories, letters or documents about that journey. Sure enough – a wonderful 4-page translated account of an 1873 emigration journey was provided by one of our generous members. Now that document is preserved and linked to the pages of those noted in the story, and accessible so everyone in our community can enjoy and learn from this tremendous account. Its vivid descriptions include details about deplorable ship conditions, watching Icelandic farms disappear from view, a child’s death at sea, experiencing a railroad train for the first time, hooligans and thugs along the way, and finally arriving in North America. This particular story describes travel from Iceland to Scotland aboard the ship Queen and then from Scotland to Quebec aboard the ship Manitoban. Enjoy the read and imagine your ancestors having similar experiences. "Departure from Akureyri in northern Iceland When all the 200 horses and our belongings had been set on board, we Icelanders went on board the ship Queen, 153 in all including the children. We were told to go down to the lower deck and settle down there. It was a terrible place, cramped, hot and intolerably smelly because of all the horses. They were packed tightly together the whole length of the hold and up on the deck in pens both sides of the canvas partition. They were exposed to the force of the open sea and were sometimes knocked over, though they managed to stand up again. There we were, as I have mentioned, on board as well as many of our countrymen who had accompanied us on board at 2 o'clock on the morning of 4th of August. Then the engine was started, causing the ship to shudder and move. We were about to say our last goodbyes to our relatives, but unfortunately, there was no time. They all rushed into the boats and made for land. The ship took off at great speed out along the fjord. I leaned against the stern of the ship and ill-humouredly watched the sad farms that I had known so well disappear from view for the last time. It was a painful experience. We steamed straight out to sea, so by the morning I saw Tjörnes, the last trace of my native land. It was now the 5 August and the sea was rather rough causing many to feel seasick and vomit. I felt ill but did not throw up much. On 6 August, the weather got worse. Most people were throwing up and some very ill. On 7 August the weather improved. Many passengers had totally recovered and all felt better. That day we saw the Faroe Isles, though just in the distance. On 8 August at 4 o'clock, land was sighted, but as we got nearer we realized it was the Shetland Islands. They are barren, and yet inhabited. We saw farms on both sides of the ship, as it steered through channels between the islands. A flag was raised asking for a guide into the harbour. It was not easy for him to approach us because of the force of the wind and tide. It looked as though his little boat would capsize and in the meantime our ship waited. He finally reached us; he had another man on board. At 9 o'clock we reached Leirwick and the anchor was thrown overboard. Leirwick was a very attractive little town, not much bigger than Reykjavík, but it had many more inhabitants. Walker, Lambertsen and several Icelanders went into town. By now horses had started dying off as a result of disgraceful treatment (** see note.) I often wished that they would all die. Hay was thrown in to them once every 24 hours, and perhaps some got some nourishment, but it was insufficient and the most docile ones got nothing. They were never given water - it upset me terribly to see them straining their necks whenever water was being carried along the deck - but neither I nor any other could alter this situation. The crew did not allow us to interfere; they simply left the horses to struggle until they collapsed and died. The carcasses were left lying a long time before they were hauled up and thrown overboard. I counted six dead horses, beautiful creatures. You can imagine the stench in our eating and sleeping quarters. I continually wished that the horses that I had sold the Company would perish, but unfortunately they did not. Here in Leirwick 15 horses were put on land, because Walker had a farm and there they were sent. Later the same day the anchor was heaved up. **Note:The Icelanders had sold off many of their possessions, including their prized Icelandichorsesto pay for their trip to North America. They felt quite badly to see the animals, which had been purchased by farmers in Scotland, so badly treated en route. Arrival in Aberdeen, Scotland On 9 August at midday, we arrived at Aberdeen, and the ship sailed right into town. It was a very big place, with a man-made harbour where the ship lay beside the pier. Another little pier, or broad plank was placed between the deck and the main pier, so the horses would not loose their footing before they reached dry land. Then the horses were driven on land, beginning with those that were on deck. They were sent one by one, in single file, into a fenced-in space just beyond the pier. There were crowds of people gathered on either side as the horses came up, including a group of rough youngsters armed with staves and sticks and each horse suffered no less than two blows on either flank. When the deck had been emptied of horses, those in the hold were hauled up to the mast, lowered on to the deck and then steered off the ship where they received the same treatment. Finally they were all driven away behind a large building and that was the last I saw of them. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon we set sail and put in to land at Granton at 2 o'clock in the morning. Here we were meant to leave the damned horse transporter. The ship was positioned with its broadside against the pier just below the custom's building where our belongings were to be examined. Early in the morning a man came on board the ship. He was a sly character, who asked the women for brennivín and tobacco but we had very little of either. Two or three little chests lay open and in one he found a piece of tobacco, marked it with chalk and walked away. We were sensible enough to wipe the mark off and divide up the tobacco amongst ourselves. A little later another man appeared who spoke Danish. He said he was to examine our luggage and that the former man had been his colleague. Quite a while passed before we were told to leave the ship with all our belongings. The women and children were allowed to go first and the men were told to bring the luggage. It was hard work, as the ship lay so low on account of the tide that a ladder had to be placed from the deck up to the pier and we had to clamber up with the luggage. We were driven on without mercy. When everything was on land the examination began. They found nothing of any particular value and soon gave up, so most of us escaped from this nit-picking. We were left to wait there by our luggage until we were told that a steam engine had arrived to take us to Glasgow. That was the first time I saw a steam engine. It is no easy task to describe this gigantic monster, which kills everything that gets in its way. It glistens beautifully, all made of iron with a funnel poking up from it for the steam. Behind the funnel was another pipe, much narrower, with a string attached. When the string is pulled, the pipe lets out a terrifying hoot that can be heard miles away. Anyone who has not heard it before is scared out of his wits. This hoot means "look out" and if the warning is not heeded, the creature that does not obey is death's prey. Behind the engine comes the coal wagon, then the luggage cars, which are full of goods and possessions belonging to emigrants. Then come the passenger carriages, which are very long. Here I can describe their width: along the length of the carriage is a passage wide enough for one person. On both sides of it are seats, like those in churches, wide enough for two. We were then told to hurry up on board. The train headed for Edinburgh, where there was another long wait. We got off the train and walked around the town a little with Lambertsen (the Allan Line agent). Then we set off again and for a while we traveled underground in pitch darkness, then came out into daylight again. The view of the countryside was beautiful: attractive fields and bushes made a pretty scene that flew past as the train tore on ahead. In a short while we were told to get off the train as we had arrived in Glasgow. The street lamps had been lit. It was a long walk to the inn where we were to stay. We were followed by an enormous crowd of locals. Never before have I seen so many people gathered in one place. There were all sorts of ruffians who made fun of us and generally misbehaved, sometimes trying to break up our ranks but we showed them our tempers and they backed off. At last we reached the inn building where we were counted like sheep as we entered. Here we were fed and had a bed for the night. We stayed here all day. I did not wander far; there are many traps, treachery and stealing. The horses here are the biggest I have ever seen. They tower over me, though you will not believe it. The next morning we were to go on board the ship that would transport us across the Atlantic. We had to walk almost as far as we had done the day we arrived in Glasgow. At last we reached the ship that lay beside the pier so we only had to step on board. It was an enormous ship, named Manitoban, and made entirely of iron, except for occasional structures inside. There were so many people of all nationalities, who were on their way to America: Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Scotsmen, English, Germans, French; we were all to be fellow passengers. We were told to go below deck and make ourselves comfortable. We Icelanders were all together in one room. It was tolerable, though rather cramped. An hour later we were ordered up on deck to be counted and have our tickets examined. Then we were ordered back down again. We were 720 passengers in all. Along the sides of the ship were toilets, one side for men, the other for women; each toilet had space for seven at once, and everything fell straight down into the sea. That day we sailed to Grenvik, a small town. Here Lambertsenleft us and went back in a steamboat - he was not missed. Next we sailed to Liverpool, where Lambertsen had told us we would get tickets for Milwaukee, which we had paid for in Akureyri. That did not turn out to be the case and we realized we had been cheated. It was all reported to Allan. I doubt if Lambertsen will ever be used again as an agent for the Icelanders as Allan wants everything to as reliable as possible. When we had been there a while, a man came down and informed us that he was to be our interpreter on the way over the ocean, said his name was Bentsen and came from Norway. It was difficult for us to understand him. He did not allow Icelanders to go into town. He said it was dangerous, but offered to accompany as many as 10, if they needed to buy something. They agreed to this; and were soon back again. Departure for Canada from Liverpool, England On 14 August, we left Liverpool and headed west out to the ocean. I shall not waste many words on our voyage. The services on board were tolerable. The two Sundays we were on board we Icelanders spent reading from the Bible as we would have done at home. Not much happened on the way. One child died; its parents came from Dalasýsla. A while after the child died, two of the ship's crew came down and placed sheets of metal on either side of the corpse, wound canvas tightly around it and sewed it tight. Then they carried it up on to the deck, placed it in a quiet spot and spread a cover over. An hour later many collected up on the deck, some of them ship's officers. Two of them took the corpse and carried it down into the ship; many followed them. There, the openable gates on the side of the ship were removed and some official made a speech, with closed eyes and uplifted hands. They then threw the corpse overboard. Our interpreter proved to be very useful and we went to him often when we needed his help. On the 25 August, we arrived at Quebec. Our luggage was quickly removed from the ship. It was then driven on horse-drawn wagons up to the custom's building. Here Páll Þorláksson came to welcome the Icelanders. Our chests and baggage were marked once again. Those who intended to carry on to Milwaukee had to pay a second time for the fare from Quebec, although we had already paid it in Akureyri. Páll thought it was much better for the Ontario-bound men to go west; but they could not make any changes. Now we were told to get into the wagons and the train set off at lightning speed. It is not a good idea to carry food on trains, as the wagons are narrow, so the people became rather hungry. But early in the morning the supervisor on the train comes to ask if we want to eat. He writes down the number of persons and sends a message with the metal wires that always lie alongside the railway to the next post office. The train rushes on, covering the equivalent of many days travel on horseback, until we are told to get out and enter a building where the food is ready and we are to have dinner. had to pay one dollar for the four of us wherever we bought food, and we were lucky if we left feeling full. One evening in the dark, while the train rushed along at full speed,Kristinn's wife from Eyjafjörður gave birth. The train stopped while she was carried into a house with the unwashed baby. The family stayed behind there; the Icelanders pooled together a few dollars to help them out. The following day the train was taken apart and the Ontario men separated from us. It all happened so quickly that we had no time to say goodbye and we were quite sad." Short Biographical Note on the diary writer, Gudmundur Stephansson: Born: April 15, 1818 at Arnarstaðir, Hólasókn, Saurbæjarhreppur, Eyjafjarðarsýsla, Iceland Died: November 24, 1881 at Gardar, North Dakota, USA Emigration Year: 1873 - Came with wife (Helga), daughter (Sigurlaug) and son (Stefan Gudmundur Stephansson, who became a noted writer and poet)

Icelandic Roots will be busy at the upcoming Icelandic celebrations and are offering many FREE opportunities. We will be in Mountain, North Dakota for the 120th annual Deuce of August and in Gimli, Manitoba for the 130th Íslendingadagurinn. Thursday in Mountain 1-4 pm: IR Seminar and open house 1-1:30 pm: Tips and Tricks of using the IR Database. Find your famous ancestors including Vikings, cousins in Iceland and anywhere in the world, interactive maps, and more. 1:30-4 pm: Free access to the site with help from the IR Team. Bring your own Wi-Fi capable device or follow along as the IR Team shows the very fun ‘Cousins Across the Ocean’ features. Come anytime during these hours – open house atmosphere Friday in Mountain 1-4:30 pm: Open House and East Iceland Emigration Center Presentation 1-4 pm: Open House – come visit with a genealogist, ask questions, connect with the database, have fun in an open house atmosphere 4-4:30 pm: ‘Sails, Rails, Rivers, and Trails’ This is a special presentation by Cathy Josephson, Director of the East Iceland Emigration Center in Vopnafjörður. Don´t miss out on this fascinating presentation! Saturday in Mountain 11-4: Open House Genealogy Center Come visit with a genealogist and ask questions. Sunday in Gimli 1-5 pm: Special presentation from Vopnafjörður and IR seminar 1-1:30 pm: ‘Sails, Rails, Rivers, and Trails’ This is a special presentation by Cathy Josephson, Director of the East Iceland Emigration Center in Vopnafjörður. Don´t miss out on this fascinating presentation! 1:30-2 pm: Tips and Tricks of using the IR Database. Find your famous ancestors including Vikings, cousins in Iceland and anywhere in the world, interactive maps, and more. 2-4 pm: IR Open House – Free access to the Database and Genealogy Assistance from the IR Volunteer Team who will be here from Iceland, Canada, and the USA. Bring your own Wi-Fi capable device or follow along as the IR Team shows the very fun ‘Cousins Across the Ocean’ features. Come anytime during these hours – open house atmosphere. This will be the 17th year of a Genealogy Center at The Deuce with many thanks to the Icelandic Communities Association in Mountain, North Dakota. This will be the 1st year IR will have a seminar during Íslendingadagurinn. Thanks to the New Iceland Heritage Museum and the director, Juliana, for hosting the IR team and giving this special gift to those in Gimli on Sunday. Icelanders from all over North America and Iceland attend these two important events during the ''2nd of August Icelandic weekend.'' Do you know WHY we celebrate? By 1874, Iceland had been under harsh Danish rule for hundreds of years and the people wanted their freedom. Jón Sigurðsson was determined to make this happen. The following is excerpted from a booklet called “Solving the Mystery of the 2nd of August” by Sir Magnus Olafson. He discovered the information in a book, Reflections by the Quill. That article was by Oscar G Johnson and published by the Quill Historical Society of Wynyard, Saskatchewan, researched and edited by Lillian Thorsteinsson Thorlacius. “Jón Sigurðsson wanted freedom for Iceland from Denmark. He wanted schools in Iceland-a medical college, an agricultural college and other schools. Up to this time, little consideration had been given the people of Iceland by the Danish government. Jón Sigurðsson had moved to Denmark around the year 1830 where he was educated and became a librarian at the King’s Library. He became a member of the Parliament in Iceland. There he became President of the assembly. **(See below)** He hammered away at the Danish government until finally, in January 1874, King Christian IX made the announcement that he would visit Iceland during the summer of 1874, and that he would bring a new constitution for Iceland. For that purpose, the King decreed that the Icelandic Parliament should be called into session from August the first to the seventh. On August the Second, he asked the Icelandic clergy to have services in every church in the land. On that day, he would hand over the New Constitution to Parliament. Jón Sigurðsson did not attend that session of Parliament but he advised the leaders to accept the constitution, even though it was inadequate, because it was a step in the right direction. But he cautioned the people never to down their desire for independence. His by word was “Aldrei ad vikja” (Never let down). It is known that a small group of Icelandic people who immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA in the early 1870s held a celebration on August 2, 1874, to celebrate this event. It is also known that the Icelandic community of Winnipeg held the first celebration on the second of August in the year 1890 and called it, “The Day of the Icelanders.” While August the second was never declared a legal national holiday in Iceland, this day was celebrated whenever and however small the settlement was, whether in Canada or the United States by the Icelandic settlers who called the second of August, 'The Day of the Icelanders.' Iceland officially declared its independence from Denmark on June 17, 1944 and became a republic.” ** Jón served as a member of parliament most of the years between 1845-1879. He was president of the Althingi in 1849, 1853, short time in 1857, and 1865-1877. However, he was named 'forseti' - which means 'President' because he was President of the Literary Society in Copenhagen, where he lived for most of his adult life. ** To read more about the celebrations: www.thedeuce.org www.icelandicfestival.com Hope to see you soon!

Touching the hearts of the Icelandic people The Hymns of the Passion by Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614-1674) have been loved by the Icelanders more than any other literary work. They have been published in almost 100 editions and translated into various languages. These fifty meditations on the sufferings of Christ have touched the hearts of the people by their spiritual depth and command of language, simplicity and wisdom. They are admired and enjoyed regardless of religious and philosophical outlooks. In the Hymns of the Passion we find the first prayers children learn and words of comfort in the face of suffering and death. To this day composers and other artists seek inspiration in the Hymns. For many they are still a source of consolation, strength and guidance. The original manuscript in the poet’s own hand is kept in The National Library of Iceland and is listed in Unesco’s Memory of the World Register for Iceland. Hallgrímur Pétursson – Life and Legacy In his introduction Bishop Emeritus Karl Sigurbjörnsson outlines the role of Hallgrímur Pétursson in the history of Icelandic spirituality and culture. He highlights, among other things, the extraordinary life story of Hallgrímur and his wife Guðríður Símonardóttir. Translator Gracia Grindal has a master’s degree in theology and history and is a prolific writer and poet. In addition to her work as a professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, she has published numerous books on hymnody, women’s biographies as well as her own poems. Her hymns and translations are found in many hymnbooks of several churches in America, and her poems and hymns have also been published. In her teaching and writings she has stressed the importance of seeing our own stories from within the context of the biblical story and how this is conveyed in hymns. As is indeed evident in Hallgrímur Pétursson’s Hymns of the Passion. INTERESTED IN THE BOOK? Price $35 USD – $46 CAD – shipping from Iceland costs $12 USD extra. Soon available on amazon.com You can also order a book directly from: Gracia Grinda - email ggrindal@luthersem.edu Sunna Pam Furstenau – email sunna@icelandicroots.com Skalholt Publishing – email skalholtsutgafan@skalholtsutgafan.is OR Visit our Online shop (kirkjuhusid.is/languages/en_EN) Publisher: Skalholt Publishing, Reykjavik, Iceland and Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík.

Egill Skallagrímsson is considered the greatest Icelandic poet from the settlement period in Iceland. He was a chieftain and heathen priest. His home was called Borg at Mýrar. This is near the town of Borgarnes. A wonderful saga has been written about his life called, “Egill’s Saga.” This story about the violent Viking and thoughtful poet makes for a wonderful combination of bloody battles and obsessive love connections combined with pagan lore. His father, Skalla-Grímur Kveldúlfsson, was a prominent man and landowner in Norway but the entire family left during the time of King Harald the Fair-Hair. Skallagrímur arrived in Iceland about ten years after the first settlers began taking land. He worked as a farmer and blacksmith at Borg. The saga tells how they settled on the southwest coast of Iceland where Egill was born. At the age of seven, he killed his older friend with an axe. The saga tells of Egill’s Viking raids, travels, buried treasure, outlaws, and killings all around northern Europe. Egill was legendary as a warrior but the stories about his poetry and kindness show a complex and interesting hero during the great settlement age of Iceland. His most beloved poem was about the drowning of his son and this sculpture is also found in Borgarnes. Some experts have theorized that Egill had Paget’s Disease or Van Buchem Disease because of his unusually large and strong head. Stories say that his skull could resist blows from an axe. We learn in the saga that Egill went blind and became deaf. He had bad headaches, lethargy, and cold feet. He is portrayed as an angry and ugly person compared to all the other kinfolk of his day that are described as fair and attractive. His father and grandfather shared these same distinctive facial features. Why would the saga describe the hero of the saga this way if it were not a prominent part of the story? The last part of the saga portrays the end of our ancestor’s life and what happens with some of his descendants. Iceland converted to Christianity in the year 1000, which was ten years after the death of Egill. Visitors can go to the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes and see the exhibits which cover the settlement and Egill's Saga. In and around Borgarnes, visitors can see cairns that have been erected on nine of the most significant sites from Egill’s Saga as well as the burial site of Skalla-grímur and Egill’s son, Böðvar. Egill is my 25th Great Grandfather and if you are Icelandic, he is your ancestor, too! You can learn much more about Egill and his family on the IR database. To see how you are related to Egill, go to the Icelandic Roots Database and use the very fun relationship calculator. He is IR #I135557 To read Egill's Saga in English, click on this link: https://sagadb.org/egils_saga.en #EgillSkallagrimsson #Borgarnes #EgillsSaga

14 March 1828 - the true story of a horrible double murder takes place on the farm, Illugastaðir. The people in this story lived at various locations shown on the map below. The place of the murders, Illugastaðir, shown with the letter "I"; the place where the criminals were beheaded at Vatnsdalshólar - the "V"; and the burial location, Tjörn - the "T." Illugastaðir (I), Vatnshólar (V), Tjörn (T) Hannah Kent, has authored a brilliant, 5-star novel called Burial Rites. You should read it whether you are Icelandic or not. The skilled blending of fiction and fact is on the same level as the books written by Iceland's Nobel Prize author, Halldór Laxness. In this book, Hannah fashions a story about actual events that led to the last public executions in Iceland. Agnes Magnúsdóttir is the main character in the book and actually the last person beheaded in Iceland. I am haunted by the memory of Agnes. I want to learn more! The writing in the novel is very illuminating. The wind, darkness, smells, and sights are vividly described and so very chilling, gut-wrenching, and raw. The loneliness, hunger, and cold are just totally heart-breaking. How she portrays family, government, neighbor, and servant relationships is so interesting. I continually had thoughts about my own ancestors in Iceland. How did their lives compare? Did they know Agnes or any of the other characters in this story? The burning of peat and dung for heat, the smoky and dirty turf houses -- it is the stark reality of that time period. Our ancestors lived in such difficult times and endured such tragedy, heartache, and loss. Two quotes that stick out for me: In the beginning, we learn that Agnes was “raised on a porridge of moss and poverty.”At the end of the story, Margret says to Agnes, "There's more than one way a body can die" as Margrét is dying of tuberculosis and Agnes is awaiting her death sentence. The interplay and turmoil of the personal relationships and the descriptions of their lives kept me riveted until the very end. It was not depressing or scary - it was interesting and amazing that anyone survived the extreme conditions and hardships. Because this novel is based on a true story, we know the ending. Agnes and Friðrik are beheaded because of their crimes. But the way this author tells the story is brilliant as she weaves the personal thoughts, actions, details of their life, and especially the ''WHY they did it'' into the novel. She brings you into the story. You undergo empathy, horror, thrills, and extreme sorrow. Here are a few interesting, real-life facts that Hannah Kent left out of her novel: This was the first execution in Iceland since 1790 when a woman in Skagafjörður was killed for secretly giving birth to a child out of wedlock. People were sentenced to death during the time between 1790 and 1830 but the deed had not been carried out in Iceland until Agnes and Friðrik. The severed heads of Agnes and Friðrik were put on display on wooden posts, facing the road, to serve as a reminder to the people of Iceland. Later that night, the heads disappeared. Legends claim that one of the women in the neighborhood convinced her farmhands to secretly bury the heads. About 100 years later, a woman living in Reykjavík - but with ties to the area, claimed she was having dreams and getting messages from Agnes. The spirit told this woman where the heads were buried. Eventually, the two skulls were found near the burial spots of the headless bodies. Apparently, the skulls were found exactly as described by the woman from Reykjavík. Wood splinters were even found in the skull of Agnes as her head had been jammed onto a wooden post along the roadside. The bodies and heads of Agnes and Friðrik are now buried at the churchyard at Tjörn. The decorations from Agnes's clothes, along with the wood block and the axe sent to Iceland from Denmark to perform the dastardly deed, are in Iceland's National Museum. As many of you know, I've had a bout with a brain infection that affected my eyesight (but this is almost resolved and is healing). A thoughtful friend, Christina Sunley, sent me an audio-book version of the novel, Burial Rites. Christina is the author of another favorite novel, The Tricking of Freya. I do enjoy some audio books while driving but usually find them too slow-moving and boring compared to my own imaginative and speedy reading. But at home, I prefer a real book. However, this audio-book had me riveted! Morven Christie does a wonderful job narrating this book. At first, I felt the urgency for her to read faster and wished I could just grab the novel and read it myself. In a short while, though, I was thankful for her tempo and tone. The slower narration is actually very important. The story has so many details about life in Iceland. I even rewound it several times to re-listen and try to absorb all the details. At the end, the author explains her research and throughout includes court records and transcripts from the true events. This is one of the best books I have ever listened to and want to read the book now to gain more insight. I highly recommend this book or audio-book. It is brilliant! Genealogy of Agnes: Agnes Magnúsdóttir was born 27 Oct 1795 to a poor servant woman í Flaga, Undirfellssókn, Húnavatnssýsla with either an unmarried, poor farm hand or with the neighboring married farmer. Agnes was put into the foster/pauper system at the age of 6 and lived on various farms throughout her life as an unmarried servant. She was executed by beheading on 12 Jan 1830 á Þrístapar, Húnavatnssýsla and many years later, her bones were moved to the cemetery at Tjörn called Tjarnarkirkjugarður Vatnsnesi where she is buried with the other convicted criminal, Friðrik Sigurðsson.

Here we are at the end of March with snow on the ground and bitter cold in the forecast. The following is a true story about a pioneer Icelandic mother named Guðrún and her two children in March of 1880 - 1883. They set out on foot to visit with friends. However, Guðrún ends up dying. Her children survive. Guðrún did not have the Weather Channel, the news, an app on her cell phone, or other such modern alert systems. Such a tragic story -- one of many in the sagas of the Icelandic Pioneers to North America. NO GREATER LOVE (4) By Lauga Geir The following story was submitted to me by the late J. J. Erlendson of Cavalier. He has sought all available sources to verify his statements including an interview with Jon Olason, nephew of Mrs. Long. Miss Kristbjörg Kristjanson of Mountain, N. D., also contributed information from the Thorgeirson Almanac for the year 1929, pages 58-59. This is the most authentic record now available of this incident which happened in March, 1881 or 1882. The day dawned mild and calm. A blanket of snow shrouded the Village of Mountain, N. Dak., and covered the roofs of pioneer cabins, little houses, yet so big that there was always room for the homeless. Such a place was that of Hallgrímur Jónsson and his wife, Nybjörg, living on what is now the Johannes Anderson farm, half mile west of Mountain. Sharing their home was a comely woman in her early thirties, Guðrún Long, with her two children, Borghildur, age 9 and Vilhjálmur, age 7. She had been in this country only a few years, having come to America in 1878. She was born in Norður Múlasýsla, Iceland, in 1850. At the age of 20, she was married to Sigmundur Long. For some time her husband was an innkeeper at Seyðísfjördur, but in a comparatively short time, they were separated, and Guðrún with her two children sailed for America, going directly to New Iceland near Gimli, Manitoba, where her half-brother, Metúsalem Olason was located. Later he and his brother, Guðni, became homesteaders near Akra, N. Dak. After the first winter in Canada Guðrún brought her children to Mountain, N. Dak., finding refuge with Hallgrímur and Nybjörg Jónsson. On this particular day Guðrún seemed somewhat depressed. This mood probably prompted a desire to see her intimate friends. Looking through the window she announced, “This being such a mild day I have a mind to go visiting. I plan to walk with the children to Gardar. I want to see my good friend, Ásta, wife of Benedikt Jóhannesson.” (Many photos, stories, and documents are about this family are in the member database - see tab at top right) “I hate to see you go that distance of foot,” replied Nýbjörg. “Why not wait til later?” “No, this is a good day,” insisted Guðrún. “I shall first stop awhile in Mountain at Þorlákur Jónsson’s place.” Among the notable homes in the community was that of Þorlákur Jónsson and his wife, Lovísa Níelsdóttir. (The parents of Pastor Þáll Þorláksson.) Guðrún Long with her children made a short visit there but soon prepared to leave for Gardar. Lovísa Jónsson protested. “Walk to Gardar? My dear, do you realize that it is six miles to Gardar and the snow still on the ground.” “I agree,” echoed her husband, Þorlákur. “The weather is uncertain and traveling on foot with children this time of year isn't good. Why not wait til later?” “Yes, Gudrún, why not wait? Perhaps you can catch a ride with someone later,” suggested Lovísa. Guðrún’s reply was positive. “No, Lovísa, I am used to walking and the children are healthy, the weather mild. Don't worry about us; we will get there.“ So it was; no persuasion could stop her. Late that afternoon Guðrún Long and her children trudged the road south, bound for Gardar. Not long after they left the wind began to howl. Threatening clouds overcast the sky, and snowflakes were falling fast. A North Dakota blizzard in all its fury was sweeping the prairies. Soon it was pitch dark. No one knew whether Guðrún and the children had reached Gardar. One hope remained, that she might have reached some home not too far from the road. That night Nybjörg Jónsson woke up with a start calling her husband. “Hallgrímur, wake up. Guðrún Long is dead. She is dead I say.” “What are you saying, woman? Dead? How do you know she is dead?” “She is. I know it. I had a dream. I saw her coming in through the doorway, snow clinging to her garments. She stood at the foot of our bed, but said nothing. Then she put her hand under the bedcovers and touched my foot. It was an icy hand, so cold it sent shivers through me. Just now I saw her fade through the doorway.” “There is nothing we can do now,” replied Hallgrímur. “It is still dark; we must wait for daylight.” At daybreak Hallgrímur was out summoning Þorlákur Jónsson and other neighbors to search the road to Gardar. The storm had then abated. They followed the road south, stopping at the home of Kristján Backman, which is now the Arni V. Johnson’s residence. No one there had seen the wayfarers. The men continued their search southward, seeing nothing till they came to Sigmundur Laxdal’s quarter section, about three miles north of Gardar. There they noticed a stick with a handkerchief tied to it emerging from a snowdrift. On investigation they found the children buried in the snow but unharmed. A short distance away, by a boulder, was the scantily-clad body of the mother, frozen to death. The bereaved children told how their mother had removed her own coat and other wraps to bundle them up in and then buried them in the snow, admonishing them not to stir until she returned. She was going to find her bearing before going farther. “It was such a long night,” wailed the tearful children. “We were so scared we couldn't sleep and we prayed constantly as Mother told us to do.” Now the long night was over, but there was no living mother to cling to. Thorlákur Jónsson assured the nine-year-old Borghildur that she could be a member of his household. She remained there until she married at the age of 18. The seven-year-old Vilhjálmur was adopted by Björn Thórlaksson. Guðrún Long’s story remains a symbol of the purest motherly devotion. The curtain separating the living from the dead, so seldom penetrated, was opened by a mother's love -- a love stronger than death. Guðrún is buried in the historic Vikur Cemetery in Mountain, ND. To learn more about the people in this true story: Guðrún Einarsdóttir is #I37593 in the Icelandic Roots Database. She was born, as the fourth child, 7 Apr 1841 at Höfða to Einar Skúlason (1799-1843) and Salný Guðmundsdóttir (1814-1866). Unfortunately, the little girl was just two-years-old when her father died. Ten months later, her mother, 30-year-old Salný, married 37-year-old Óli Ísleifsson and they had more children together. You can see much more information in the IR Database about the family. Sigmundur Matthíasson Long is IR #I37587 had eight children with five women including Guðrún. She was his third relationship with children. He was not married to Guðrún Einarsdóttir. Their two children were born in 1872 and 1874. In 1878, Guðrún, age 37, and her two children, Borghildur - age 5 and Vilhjálmur - age 3, emigrated from the port of Seyðisfjarðarhreppur. Their last residence is listed as the farm, Fjarðaralda, Seyðisfjarðarhreppur in Nórður Múlasýsla. Their destination is Quebec. (2) Here is the fishing village of Seyðisfjörður in 1885. They immigrated to New Iceland. On 3. January 1880, she wrote a letter to Sigmundur and told him that she was going to North Dakota where many Icelanders had settled. (5) She was staying the winter with her half-brother, Metúsalem Olason (1850-1935). Metúsalem and his family immigrated in 1876 with the large group. They lived in New Iceland until March of 1881 when they moved to North Dakota between Hensel and Hallson. There are some discrepancies in when exactly Guðrún Einarsdóttir and her two children went to North Dakota. The letter comes in January 1880 to Sigmundur that she is moving to North Dakota that same winter. This is about 18 months after leaving Iceland. She states in the letter that she is staying with her half-brother ''for the winter.'' (5) Metúselem Olason (her half-brother) moves to North Dakota in March of 1881. Is it before or after the death of Guðrún? The story by Lauga Geir says, ''After the first winter in Canada, Guðrún brought her children to Mountain, N. Dak.'' However, Guðrún came to Canada in 1878. Earlier in the article, Lauga writes, ''This is the most authentic record now available of this incident which happened in March, 1881 or 1882.'' (4) I have not found a death notice in the old Icelandic newspapers located online. So, did Guðrún Long come to ND in 1880 as the diary of Sigmundur says? (5) Was it that same winter of 1880, when she was staying with the Jónsson family that she set off for Gardar or was it the following March in 1881? If anyone has any evidence of the exact death date, please let me know. Guðrún's daughter, Borghildur Sigmundsdóttir Long was born 28 Oct 1872 in Hamragerði. She is the daughter of Sigmundur Matthíasson Long (1841 - 1924) and Guðrún Einarsdóttir (1841 - 1881) - the mother that died in this story when Borghildur was nine years old. Borghildur married Metúselem Vigfússon. Metúsalem Vigfússon was born 20 Jun 1855 at Háreksstöðum in Norður Múlasýsla. His parents were, Vigfús Pétursson (1830-1872) of the Hákonarstaðarætt and Anna Sigríður Jónsdóttir (1832-1865). Nine days after his 10th birthday, Metúsalem lost his mother. He moved with his father to Klausturseli á Kökuldal and they lived there for two years with his half-sister, Pálina (1851-1915). She was married to Einar Hinríksson (1832-1910) and they lived at Miðhúsum í Suður Múlasýsla. Soon afterwards, Metúsalem went to Seydisfjördur, and after that he did not see his father. His father, Vigfús, died about six weeks before Metúsalem turned 17-years-old. (1) Metúsalem Vigfússon lived and worked in various places until he was twenty years old with the last place of residence at Grófargerði in Vallnahreppur, Suður Múlasýsla(2). He left for America in 1876 traveling along with the family of Einar Bjarnason age 37 and his 53-year-old wife, Ólöf Einarsdóttir, and her four children from a previous marriage to Þorkell Árnason Scheving (1820-1866). They left from the port of Seyðisfjörður on the ship Verona with the destination as Quebec. In America, Metúsalem Vigfússon was called Charles Peterson. For a while, Metúsalem (Charles) lived in a small village then named Stone Fort. We now know this area as Lower Fort Garry, Manitoba. He worked there for eight months for $8.00 a month. He paid his debt to Arni Scheving for his travel to North America. Arni and some family members are buried in the Vidalin Cemetery near Hensel. Many of his descendants went to Seattle and Blaine, Washington. Metúsalem (Charles) worked at various locations in Manitoba but mostly in Winnipeg. Metúsalem Vigfússon (Charles Peterson) and Borghildur Long married and bought and 80 acre farm southeast of Mountain. They spent $2,200.00 for the farm. They lived there for seven years, but then gave it all up and moved to Roseau, Minnesota to start over. "During those years, Metúsalem worked at being a judge, was on the school board, was a road manager, and worked with the mail service. He had those jobs for many years. He also was a census taker. For all those jobs, he made about $6.00 per day. After 11 years of being in Roseau, Metúsalem again sold his land and homestead. He moved with his family to Blaine, Washington. They were there for the next 10 years. In 1917, he moved to Yakima, Washington. Metúsalem and Borghildur had seven children and they lived in Saskatchewan (Anna Sigrun (Peterson) Fosse; Lovisa Vilborg (Peterson) Womack lived in San Fernando, California; and Peter Vigfus and Gudmundur Kristin lived in Yakima. A very long article about Sigmundur Matthíasson Long - including photos of him, his family, and his diary is found HERE. (5) If you are a living descendant of Sigmundur Matthíasson Long, please fill out a 'Cousins Across the Ocean' form (free service), so we can make sure you are connected to your family story and it is preserved for the generations to come. (1) Icelandic Roots Genealogy Database (Previously Hálfdan Helgason Database) (2) Vesturfaraskrá (3) Almanak Ólafs S. Thorgeirsson, volume 1, 1929. Pages 58-59. (4) Lögberg-Heimskringla. Föstudagur 11, desember 1992. Page 2. Story by Lauga Geir, Mountain, ND. www.timarit.is (5) Ritmennt, 6. árgangur 2001. 1. tölublað. www.timarit.is L-H article used with permission from Joan Eyjolfson-Cadham, Editor (3. 30. 2014). Much research by the Icelandic Roots Team of genealogists with this family in addition to mapping of the areas they lived and died, timarit news articles, and many other sources. #VikurChurch #IcelandicGenealogy #Emigration

Some of the attributes that make Icelandic Roots unique among genealogy resources are the stories, maps and photos which enhance the genealogy experience. We are especially fortunate to have hundreds of spectacular aerial photographs of Icelandic farms by Mats Wibe Lund. One of the most accomplished photographers in Iceland, Mats has devoted his life to capturing the stunning natural beauty of Iceland on film and digital media. He first visited Iceland in 1954 as a student and settled permanently in 1966 following his marriage to Arndís Ellertsdóttir. His aerial photography experience with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and NATO served him well in Iceland, where he has assembled a collection of more than 300,000 photographs over the span of fifty years. In the autumn of 2011, Mats and Arndís visited eleven chapters of the Icelandic National League of North America as the International Visits Program speaker and shared many of his amazing photographs of Icelandic farms and landscapes. Thanks to Mats’ generosity, we have now been able to include most of those photographs, as well as many others, in the Icelandic Roots database. These images are also linked to the farm locations, so you can explore the maps and associated records. We encourage all our readers to visit Mats’ website and to explore his extensive collection of photographs. He offers his images for sale, so you can easily acquire high resolution photos of ancestral farms for your own collection. If you do not see a specific farm or location, send Mats an email and you will receive sample photos online. www.Mats.is mats.photoshelter.com Vindbelgur, Skútustaðahreppur, S-Þingeyjarsýsla (Image © Mats Wibe Lund) Thank you, Mats, for creating a lasting visual record of the Icelandic landscape and for your generous support of Icelandic Roots. We hope that our readers will visit your website and order these high quality, unique photos of their ancestral farms or beautiful Icelandic landscape photos. His son, Christopher, is also a talented landscape photographer and their collection is phenomenal. If you live in Iceland, Mats will be one of the volunteer teachers at an upcoming course April 10, 11, and 12 at Háskóli Íslands. He will show and explain his photography and his cooperation with the team at Icelandic Roots. You can register and read about the course at Endurmenntun: more here. #MatsWibeLund #IcelandicPhotography #IcelandFarms

A few days ago, I met with the founders of a nonprofit organization called “Á allra vörum” , which translates to “On everybody´s lips.” Gróa, Elísabet, and Guðný told me of the many projects needing assistance in Iceland. Their nonprofit was founded in 2008 and the mission is to help women and children. They began by selling lip glosses to raise money for breast cancer equipment. Through the years, they have raised funds to construct buildings, buy equipment, focus on mental health issues, and much more. They want people talking about (on everybody's lips) these important issues and hope to gain more donations for worthy projects. Since 2008, the Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA) has been collecting money from member clubs to help our cousins in Iceland. People are more likely to give to a nonprofit when they know their donation will make a difference. These women have been making a difference in Iceland and were highly recommended as a trustworthy organization making an impact in the projects they support. In 2017, the INLNA board of directors voted to support Á allra vörum. All donations were sent in one wire transfer. Whether you are donating your time, talents, or finances, it is so motivating when you are helping others and have an altruistic concern for the well-being of our fellow humans. To donate via the INLNA, click on this link: http://www.inlofna.org/Donations and choose the Christmas fund for Iceland. If you would like to join the INLNA and the many projects they support, please send an email to the INLNA office. The team at Icelandic Roots is glad to be an Associate Member of the INLNA. If you have an Icelandic organization, club, or business, come and join the INLNA. Thanks to all who have contributed. Have a wonderful day! Sunna

Dear friends, A wonderful team in Iceland has been collaborating on a very important project. Their plan is to produce a documentary that focuses on the experiences of children from the 1855-1915 emigration period. Each person on the team is volunteering their time and talents. The goal is to teach modern day children and young adults the history of Iceland during these year and have them understand the personal stories of heartache and triumph. This documentary will show how even today, the descendants of the immigrants in North America and those who live in Iceland are keeping the stories alive and connections strong. The IR Documentary Team wants to gather special stories of children and young adolescents who went to North America and those who were left behind in Iceland. Questions to consider in the story: What was it like to be a child who left for America and about their life in America? What was it like to be a child left in Iceland and to grow up here? What did they think about their new environment in America or with different family members here in Iceland? How did they feel? Did they have any new fears? What was fun? Were there any games? What were new games in America? Did they feel different than when they were in Iceland? Did the family stay in touch with those left behind in Iceland? What are examples of very children with extreme poverty in Iceland who were able to rise up through education or working hard in North America? Are there any letters or writings from the children (as a child or as an adult) that exist today? The focus will be on the voice of the child. The documentary stories will include a variety of experiences and all submissions are important. Those not included in the documentary will be preserved as part of the Children’s Stories and will be made into Podcasts, which will be published online by the Icelandic Roots team and also joined to that person in the database. What we need from you: Stories that fit this request A Shared Interest – have you heard or read about an interesting story? Can you tell others about this project? Please remember to send stories, questions, and comments to the IR Children's Stories Documentary. Thank you so very much, Sunna #IcelandicGenealogy #IcelandHistory #Emigration

Dear friends, This newsletter is for all people with Icelandic connections in North America. There are two projects started by our team in Iceland - The Snorri Deaf project and The Children's Stories Documentary. We are asking you to please read about both projects. What about your family? Is there information you can send to help keep connections strong and preserve our shared family stories. Your participation is important and greatly appreciated. #1) “Snorri Deaf,” the name chosen by those in Iceland involved with The Deaf Association. The inaugural tour is scheduled for September 2018 to Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba. A reciprical tour will be to Iceland in the summer of 2019. More information is HERE. Please see the bolded section below. We need connections with others who are deaf and hard of hearing all over North America. Please send an email to us with contact information. They could be eligible to visit Iceland next summer through Snorri Deaf. We also need to add all Icelandic people to the database so we can find the Snorri Program participant's cousins. If you have not filled out a 'Cousins' form yet, please do so at this link: Cousins Across the Ocean. #2) The Children's Stories Documentary is an important project and we need more stories. Please see the letter from Bryndis below. Kæru vinir í N-Ameríku- Dear friends in N-America. Many of you already know that there is a small group of people in Reykjavík working at gathering information about the children who emigrated to N-America with their parents or without their parents. Some of you have already sent us stories of your families which we are very grateful for. We do however, really need some more tales, anecdotes, stories of the every day life of the children who found themselves in a totally new environmnet. Below are some questions to help jog your memory and have you answer one, two, or all the following questions. Have you e.g. heard any stories of: Did they come with their family or alone? How old were they when they arrived? Did they stay in one place or did they move around to other communities? What happened to their family? Did some die in the Smallpox epidemic in New Iceland? How was their health? Any stories about health-care, midwives, doctors in the area that assisted children? Illnesses they may have had? Did they live in Markland? Were they on the train that crashed? How many people lived in one house? What was their home like? What was their reaction to trees? Tall trees belonged to the world of the hidden people (huldufólk) in the Icelandic mind. What stories do you know of the interactions and the reaction of these children when they first saw darker skinned people? Did the Icelandic children befriend children of the First Nation? Do any of you remember hearing any stories? How did our Icelandic children play? How about work? Were the children expected to do some chores? Did they help with the farming and the fishing? What about other occupations? Were the parents strict or lenient? How were their homes different than in Iceland? Did their names change? To what and why? What naming traditions were kept to Icelandic in your family or did the names change to English? Did they maintain their Icelandic Language or change to English immediately? What stories do you know about the language? Did they attend school? Tell us about their education, the schools, and any stories related to education in the home or school. Please help us by looking for information/stories of the children in your family. We want to preserve the story of our Icelandic children in N-America. Any story relating to the emigrating children, be it long or short, will be appreciated. Even if it is bullet points or incomplete sentences, this is fine. If you would rather someone take notes while we ask you questions, that is okay, too. Just let us know. We are not looking for your writing style, we are not looking for literary master pieces, we are looking for stories of our children in order to keep their memory vividly alive in this documentary or for future podcasts. We are grateful for any tidbits of such stories/accounts of the Icelandic emigrant children. Send an email for the documentary and fill out a Cousins Across the Ocean form if you have not done it yet. Með góðum kveðjum, With good greetings, Bryndís Víglundsdóttir (on the documentary team) #SnorriDeaf #ChildrensEmigrationStories #IcelandDocumentary #IcelandicAssociationoftheDeaf