The grave of a 19th century Icelandic pioneer is the focus of much discussion in the Interlake lately. Friðrika Björnsdóttir was buried in 1884 on private property in the Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton, about half of a mile north of what is now the town of Riverton. A group of Björnsdóttir's descendents are now investigating memorializing the site, while also discussing the possibility of making the grave a designated heritage site.

Joel Fridfinnsson has been helping the group with research, and setting up meetings with Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton's council, through his role with Icelandic River Heritage Sites Inc. He notes while the two groups aren't affiliated, they are interested in assisting the group of descendents. He notes one of the main interests in the case of this grave is Björnsdóttir's possible family ties to royalty.

"This grave is the grave of an Icelandic pioneer woman by the name of Friðrika Björnsdóttir, who immigrated to Canada with her husband in 1876. The significance behind this grave is the legend of her family ties to the Danish royal family. It has to be stated that it is a legend, we don't have definitive DNA or genealogical proof that she is descended from King Friðrik VI. It's a legend, but the story has persisted nonetheless."

The grave of Björnsdóttir, and the possibility of her royal ties was first publicized in 1985, in Nelson Gerrard's Icelandic River Saga. However, Fridfinnsson says interest was recently rekindled in the history of the site, after contact was made with some of the woman's descendents.

"Descendents of Friðrika Björnsdóttir, who's buried at this farm, struck up a small committee that's not affiliated with Icelandic River Heritage Sites, and they've started moving this process forward."

The descendents are also working to restore the gravesite, which consists of the headstone and white picket fence surrounding it. The entire process is also the focus of a documentary, through As It Happened Productions out of Winnipeg.

Fridfinnsson says while much of the interest in the site is based on possible royal ties, he believes the gravesite deserves to be a designated heritage site regardless of the woman's bloodline.

"Not just because of the connections this woman may have with the Danish royal family, but just to honour this strong pioneer woman who was buried in a lonely field. Someone who has experienced hardship, overcame tremendous struggle in Iceland to move to and search for a better life for her and her family."

Confirmation of Björnsdóttir's royal bloodline is something difficult to achieve, as the legend stems from the fact her grandfather was fathered outside of marriage by Denmark's king.