Accueil Paysage Social The Way of Hope: The Vonin Ladies Aid Society

The Way of Hope: The Vonin Ladies Aid Society¹

par Dorothy Murray

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In addition to bringing in essential revenue for the community, these functions were the hub of social activity in the early years. The annual Icelandic picnic celebration in Markerville has always been an important occasion for Vonin. In the 1920s, special badges with photographs of prominent Icelandic residents were sold by Vonin, with all profits given to the Innisfail Hospital. Vonin ladies took care of the booth at the picnics; sales of refreshments and baked treats brought in significant profits.

In 1967, Canada’s centennial year, Vonin ladies participated in the Folk Festival in Red Deer, and began another aspect of community involvement. In subsequent years, Vonin has promoted Icelandic treats such as vinarterta (a multi-layered prune-filled cake) , ponnukokur (thin crepes sprinkled with sugar and rolled up), kleinur (twisted sour cream doughnuts), and rosettes (small pastry shells fried in hot oil), or by appearing in national dress and explaining our heritage. Now we have many co-operative projects with the Stephan G. Stephansson Society and the staff at Stephansson House Historic Site. In 1987, with the help of the Stephansson Society, Vonin arranged for the sewing of the Fjallkona “Maid of the Mountains” costume and the purchase of a crown from Iceland for our local Fjallkona to wear. Since 1990, our Vonin members have mended, cleaned and pressed the historic costumes worn by the interpretive staff at Stephansson House. We prepare some of the Icelandic sweets for the Kaffistofa (coffee shop in the historic Markerville Creamery), and still provide the coffee, cream and sugar for the Icelandic picnic, now called the Islandingamot. At events like the Tombola at Stephansson House, Cream Day at the Creamery, and the annual Julestue (Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar) in Innisfail, Vonin members assist with baking and encourage awareness of Icelandic culture and traditions.

December finds us all delivering our tins of Scandinavian cookies and visiting with seniors on our Christmas list. The Markerville area now has a complicated web of organizations that provide for the needs of its residents, but Vonin is still a significant strand in supporting structure. It is a blessing to continue the traditions that were initiated over 100 years ago by the handful of Icelandic women of faith. We are thankful for their example.

Psalm 146

Hallelujah
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord
as long as I live,
I will sing praises to my God
while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers
nor in any child of earth,
for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last,
they return to earth,
and in that day their thoughts perish.
Happy are they who
have the God of Jacob for their help,
whose hope is in the Lord
their God;
who made heaven and earth, the seas,
and all that is in them;
who keeps his promise forever;
who gives justice to those
who are oppressed,
and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
the Lord lifts up those
who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger;
he sustains the orphan and the widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion,
throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!

Salmarnir 146

Haleluja
Lofa_u Drottin, sala min!
Eg vil lofa Drottin me_an lifi
lofsyngja Gu_I minum, me_an eg er til
Treysti_eigi tignarmennum
manni, sem enga hjalp getur veitt;
andi hans li_ur burt, hann ver_ur aftur a_jor_u,
a_eim degi ver_a aform hans a_engu.
Sall er sa a Jakobs Gu_ser til hjalpar,
sem setur von sina a Drottin, Gu_sinn,
hann sem skapa_hefir himin og jor_,
hafi_og alt, sem I _eim er,
hann sem var_veitir trufesti sina a_eilifu,
sem rekur rettar kuga_ra,
veitir brau_hungru_um.
Drottinn leysir hina bundnu,
Drottinn opnar augu blindra.
Drottinn reisir upp ni_urbeyg_a,
Drottinn elskar rettlata.
Drottinn var_veitir utlendingana,
hann annast ekkjur og fo_urlausa,
en ogu_lega latur hann fara villa vegar.
Drottinn er konungor a_eilifu,
Gu_ _inn, Zion, fra kyni til kyns.

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D'Aspenland 1988 — Local Knowledge and Sense of Place
Edité par: David J. Goa et David Ridley
Publié par: Le Central Alberta Regional Museums Network (CARMN) avec l'assistance du Provincial Museum of Alberta et le Red Deer and District Museum.