How it all started...
Icelanders have a long connection to North America, dating back to the late 10th century AD. In fact, the Snorri Programs are named after Snorri Þorfinnsson, the first Icelander born in North America circa 1004 AD at the area now known as L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. His parents, Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir and Þorfinnur "karlsefni" Þórðarson were Icelandic explorers who appear in the Grœnlendinga saga (Saga of the Greenlanders´) and Eiríks saga rauða (Saga of Eirik the Red).
The idea for the Snorri Program was based on a similar program called Nordjobb, a Nordic exchange program that arranges summer jobs for young people in the Nordic countries. The Nordic Association and the Icelandic National League Iceland (INL Iceland) became cooperative partners in implementing Snorri, and in its inaugural year, a group of 19 young people participated in a six-week program during the summer of 1999. The program was sponsored by the Leifur Eiríksson Millenium Commission in 1999 and DeCODE Genetics Inc. in 2000. To read more about the full history of the creation of the Snorri Programs, see My Snorri Story by Almar Grímsson - static1.squarespace.com/static/5d7afa0b1b6d925d3778d9c6/t/5e6dcb20f26ba22b99720caa/1584253733646/AlmarsSnorriStoryFinaldoc.rev7Nov.2019.pdf.
At the bottom of this page you will see the timeline of events of the Snorri Programs since our founding. To read the detailed story as well see photographs across the years and read anecdotes from participants, hosts, and organizers, check out the "20 Years of Snorri" magazine here.
The idea for the Snorri Program was based on a similar program called Nordjobb, a Nordic exchange program that arranges summer jobs for young people in the Nordic countries. The Nordic Association and the Icelandic National League Iceland (INL Iceland) became cooperative partners in implementing Snorri, and in its inaugural year, a group of 19 young people participated in a six-week program during the summer of 1999. The program was sponsored by the Leifur Eiríksson Millenium Commission in 1999 and DeCODE Genetics Inc. in 2000. To read more about the full history of the creation of the Snorri Programs, see My Snorri Story by Almar Grímsson - static1.squarespace.com/static/5d7afa0b1b6d925d3778d9c6/t/5e6dcb20f26ba22b99720caa/1584253733646/AlmarsSnorriStoryFinaldoc.rev7Nov.2019.pdf.
At the bottom of this page you will see the timeline of events of the Snorri Programs since our founding. To read the detailed story as well see photographs across the years and read anecdotes from participants, hosts, and organizers, check out the "20 Years of Snorri" magazine here.
Aims & Objectives of the Snorri Programs:
The primary purpose of The Snorri Programs is to strengthen the bonds between the people of Iceland and people of Icelandic descent in North America (Western Icelanders).
In addition, the programs seek to encourage people of Icelandic descent to preserve and nurture their Icelandic heritage within the multicultural societies of Canada and the United States. The programs also aim to strengthen ties between Icelanders in Iceland and Icelandic communities abroad.
In addition, the programs seek to encourage people of Icelandic descent to preserve and nurture their Icelandic heritage within the multicultural societies of Canada and the United States. The programs also aim to strengthen ties between Icelanders in Iceland and Icelandic communities abroad.
Snorri West
One of the original objectives of the Snorri Program was to establish a reciprocal program for young Icelanders to visit Icelandic communities in North America. 2001 marked the beginning of this enterprise when two Snorri West participants visited Manitoba under the direction of Wanda Anderson (Canada) and the United Icelandic Appeal. This continued through 2010, with an additional program organized to Ontario in 2008.
In 2012, under the guidance of Gail Einarson-McCleery (Canada), the Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA) took on the leadership and organizational roles for Snorri West and visited Minnesota, Manitoba and North Dakota on a new four-week trip. There are now four North American corridors (East, Central, Mountain and Pacific) and Snorri West visits each corridor once every four years in rotation.
Jody Arman-Jones (USA) joined Gail in 2015 and is the current Director (Project Manager) in North America. The Icelandic National League of the United States (INLUS) joined the INLNA in supporting Snorri West in 2020. Blair Lockhart (Canada) became a Co-director of Snorri West in 2020.
In 2012, under the guidance of Gail Einarson-McCleery (Canada), the Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA) took on the leadership and organizational roles for Snorri West and visited Minnesota, Manitoba and North Dakota on a new four-week trip. There are now four North American corridors (East, Central, Mountain and Pacific) and Snorri West visits each corridor once every four years in rotation.
Jody Arman-Jones (USA) joined Gail in 2015 and is the current Director (Project Manager) in North America. The Icelandic National League of the United States (INLUS) joined the INLNA in supporting Snorri West in 2020. Blair Lockhart (Canada) became a Co-director of Snorri West in 2020.
Snorri Plus
In 2003 the Snorri family of programs was expanded to include a program for those older than 30, for those who may be traveling solo, as a couple or family, or prefer a shorter visit. The two-week Snorri Plus program is held in August of each year, coinciding with Menningarnótt, the Reykjavík Marathon, and the Icelandic National League of Iceland’s annual conference.
As we celebrated our 20 years of Snorri in 2019, over 500 North Americans of Icelandic descent have participated in the Snorri Programs, about 60% in Snorri and 40% in Snorri Plus. Some 100 Icelanders have visited North America as part of Snorri West.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all programs were canceled in 2020 and 2021, though Snorri West was able to provide an abbreviated, alternative Snorri West in Iceland trip in 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all programs were canceled in 2020 and 2021, though Snorri West was able to provide an abbreviated, alternative Snorri West in Iceland trip in 2021.
The Snorri Programs through time:
This timeline highlights some of the important milestones in the history of the Snorri Programs. To read anecdotes from the founders, organizers, and participants, see the "20 Years of Snorri" magazine, here.
