Saga Connections #5: Our Stories

ICCT Saga Connection: Our Stories.   Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 7:30pm EST Zoom

by Gwen Sigrid Morgan & Katrine Handley-Derry

Saga Connections emerged about one third of the way into our forced isolation during the Pandemic.  Set afloat in our islands of house and home, we had more time for reflection and a reconfiguring of priorities. Have you noticed how there were more families out walking together?  And how moments of gathering within our families or social ‘bubbles’ became more precious? This was the gift of the pandemic: leading us to treasure little moments of being together with friends and family, placing a higher value on family and community.

One way to connect more deeply is to uncover the stories of our own families and our shared community.  From the Saga Connection series,  I already have a greater appreciation for the courage and resilience of the Icelanders who came west to settle Canada and North America.  We heard about how they met heart-breaking hardships of a harsh, cold climate first settling in Kinmount.  The dual sentiment of loss and determination of providing a better future in Gudrun Girgis’ Kinmount monument. Furthermore, William Valgardson opened our eyes to the breadth of creativity our ancestors brought to building new communities fostering connections between our past and our future.

Your parents and grand-parents have stories too. Maybe some you know, but maybe there are some you don’t know. Now is the time to connect – to talk, ask questions, show pictures, tell tales and listen to stories. We ask you to find out :

• Who were your ancestors? 
• Where did they come from in Iceland? 
• Where did they move to and eventually settle?  
• What creativity did they bring to making a life for themselves and family? 
• Is there a diary or memoir? 
• How did music or literature figure in their lives?

On May 5th, 2021 at 7:30 EST, the ICCT Saga Connections will be devoted to a Zoom conversation about our family ancestors and our stories. Join in with your story.  Bring along a cup of coffee (or glass of something) and let’s recreate the feeling of gathering around home & hearth, sharing our family sagas and connecting with what is strongest and true in our past; kindling hope in these darker times with stories of hope and courage from the past.

Details:  The event is on Zoom from 7:30 pm on May 5th, 2021.  Register on the ICCT website at www.icct.info. You will have 5-10 minutes to share a saga.  It’s great if you have a picture or two.  There will be time to have questions and answers with participants. 

Join us May 5th to hear stories or listen to others. You might find out more about your own relatives, where and how they lived and discover some new cousins!