Note: On January 29, Icelandic Roots will host a public webinar featuring Julianna Roberts, the executive director of the New Iceland Heritage Museum. Roberts will speak about the unique history of New Iceland in Canada, giving us a glimpse into the story of New Iceland, the challenges and achievements of its people, and their relationship with the land and the lake. The link to the webinar is in the Icelandic Roots Event Calendar listing.
By Jason Doctor
New Iceland, a short-lived autonomous region on the southwestern shores of Lake
Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, celebrates 150 years since its inception. Lasting until
1887, this colony, often viewed as a cultural center for descendants of Icelandic immigrants, served as a crucial stepping stone for Icelandic immigrants seeking a new
life in the New World. While New Iceland is widely recognized among North Americans
of Icelandic descent, its story remains largely unknown to the broader Canadian and
American public.
Several factors contributed to the establishment of New Iceland. In the late 19th century, Iceland, particularly its northern and northeastern fjords, experienced
harsh conditions. A prolonged period of subnormal temperatures negatively impacted
fishing and sheep raising, the primary livelihoods of the Icelandic people. This period
also witnessed volcanic eruptions that blanketed vast areas with lava and ash.
Compounding these challenges, Denmark's trade monopoly over Iceland further
strained the island's already struggling economy. News of free land and promising
opportunities in North America reached Iceland, sparking a wave of emigration. The Gimli colonists, the first to arrive in New Iceland, initially settled in Ontario. However, they faced hardships due to inadequate housing, sickness, limited job prospects, and low wages. Recognizing their plight, the Canadian government appointed John Taylor, the Icelandic Agent in Ontario, to assist them in finding suitable land for resettlement. A delegation, accompanied by Taylor, embarked on an inspection tour, ultimately choosing a tract along the southwestern shore of Lake Winnipeg in the then-Northwest Territories.
The selection of the wooded lands of the Interlake area over the seemingly fertile prairies might seem surprising. However, the decision was influenced by several factors. Grasshoppers had ravaged the prairies around Winnipeg for several years, devastating crops. The wooded lands, on the other hand, remained unaffected. The Lake Winnipeg shoreline offered advantages such as an abundance of fish, readily available timber for construction and fuel, scattered meadowlands for hay and livestock grazing, and a water route to Winnipeg.
The establishment of the colony began in earnest upon the arrival of the first group of
Icelandic settlers on October 21, 1875. In Norse mythology, Gimli is a hall in Asgard, the
home of the gods, where the righteous will live after Ragnarök (an epic battle between
Giants and Gods that marks the destruction of the world). Gimli is thus Icelandic for pre-Christian notion of paradise. Gimli became the name of their first settlement.
The Canadian government provided financial aid, transportation, and supplies to assist the colonists. However, the Icelandic pioneers were ill-prepared for the challenges they faced. They lacked experience in land clearing, drainage, logging, and freshwater fishing. The harsh winters and the variability of climatic conditions in the region were also unexpected hurdles.
The initial years of the colony were marked by hardship. A smallpox epidemic in the winter of 1876-1877 resulted in numerous deaths and led to a quarantine imposed by Manitoba, isolating the Icelanders from their primary supply base and source of external employment. Land clearing and cultivation proved arduous, and a series of wet years from 1877 through 1880 further hampered their agricultural efforts. The colonists struggled to subsist, relying on limited government aid, fishing, and occasional employment outside the Reserve.
Despite these difficulties, New Iceland played a pivotal role as a temporary haven for
Icelandic immigrants who eventually settled elsewhere in Canada and the United States. Discouraged by the challenging conditions in New Iceland, many colonists sought better opportunities in other Icelandic settlements, such as Pembina County, North Dakota, and the Argyle settlement northwest of Winnipeg. By 1887, when New Iceland ceased to be a self-governing entity, Icelandic settlements had sprung up around Lake Manitoba, in eastern Saskatchewan, and the Shoal Lake area.
Although New Iceland faced numerous challenges, it left an enduring legacy. It served
as a testing ground for agricultural practices in the forested lands of the region and was a beacon for settlers. The lessons learned from the struggles of the Icelandic pioneers provided valuable insights for subsequent settlement efforts in similar areas. More importantly, New Iceland became a cultural hearth for Icelandic-Canadians, providing a sense of identity and shared history for generations to come.
Today, the former New Iceland tract is home to a diverse population, with the Icelandic
element remaining distinct. While the land retains some of its limitations, drainage
systems have improved its agricultural viability. The region is now part of the Winnipeg
milk shed, with dairying being a primary occupation. The story of New Iceland, though
relatively obscure, offers a compelling example of resilience, adaptation, and the
enduring impact of ethnic group settlement in shaping the cultural landscape of North
America. Many descendants take a pilgrimage to Gimli, Manitoba to visit the New Iceland Heritage Museum or to attend the annual Islendingadagurinn (Icelandic Day Festival) which is held every summer.
Sources: Vanderhill, B. G., & Christensen, D. E. (1963). The Settlement of New Iceland. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 53(3), 350-363.