海角社区

The (IIS) and the Vinland Society of PEI present a talk by archaeologist Dr. Helen Kristmanson about Osland, a historical Icelandic village in northern British Columbia, on October 21, 2025, at 7 pm, in the Faculty Lounge (Room 201), SDU Main Building, 海角社区.

Dr. Helen Kristmanson鈥檚 talk is part of the Institute鈥檚 2025 Island Lecture Series.

Hidden along the Skeena River鈥檚 shores in British Columbia are the remains of a small historical village known as Osland. Settled by Icelanders who migrated west between 1870 and 1914, Osland was part of a thriving network of communities that formed an economic hub supported by fishing and canneries. Today, although a few families preserve their ancestral houses at Osland, these historical buildings are interspersed with the fading remains of those long gone. This presentation draws on a range of primary sources, including memories gathered about 30 years ago from the children and grandchildren of Osland.

Dr. Helen Kristmanson was PEI鈥檚 first provincial archaeologist, serving in this role from 2009 until 2021 when she joined the L鈥檔uey team as senior archaeologist. L鈥檔uey is an Epekwitk-based initiative focused on protecting and implementing the constitutionally entrenched rights of the PEI Mi鈥檏maq. She is a member of the IIS鈥檚 executive committee, past president of the Canadian Archaeological Association, and president of the Vinland Society of PEI. Her current scholarly research includes an examination of the underrepresentation of historical Mi鈥檏maq archaeological sites on Epekwitk through collections, archival, and field research.

She descends from Fri冒rik August Kristmansson and El铆n Jonasdottir, first-generation Osland settlers, and Gu冒mundur Bjornsson and Thorbjorg Gu冒ny Bjornrdottir, also vesturfarars, who settled in southern British Columbia. In her spare time, she researches Icelandic and Scottish history.

The lecture is free, and all are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. Laurie Brinklow at 902-894-2881 or brinklow@upei.ca.