issue 70 year - lehendakaritza.ejgv.euskadi.eus€¦ · 31 • pedro subijana. restaurante...

Issue 70 Year

Estatu batuetakoeuskaldunakBasque pride

Estatu batuetakoeuskaldunakBasque pride

BOISEJaialdi ’05BOISEJaialdi ’05

CURRENT EVENTS: Jaialdi’05

3 • Opening letter Mary Gaztambide. President of NABO

4 • Amerikanuak. A glimpse of Basque

presence in the USA

8 • Rock Springs hosts the NABO convention

10 • BOISE. JAILADI’05

12 • The Basque Studies Program at Boise State University gets under way

14 • Interview with Joseba Zulaika. Director of the Basque Studies Program,Universityof Nevada

16 • Lagun Onari Award to State of Idaho

17 • Laiak Awards

18 • Solemn mass held at the cathedral

19 • The new Euskadi

20 • The Basque Block

22 • Jaialdi ’05, Basque pride in pictures

24 • Jaialdi 2005: international meeting place

29 • Interview with Dave Eiguren. Chairman, Jaialdi '05 OrganizingCommittee

30 • Gaztemundu’05

CUISINE 31 • Pedro Subijana. Restaurante Akelarre.Tenderloin of Veal on a Bed of Mustard Greens

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOREusko Jaurlaritza-KanpoHarremanetarako IdazkaritzaNagusiaBasque Government-GeneralSecretariat for Foreign Action

C/ Navarra, 201007 VITORIA-GASTEIZTelephone: 945 01 [email protected]

DIRECTORJosu Legarreta Bilbao

COORDINATION AND EDITORIALOFFICE A. Zugasti (Kazeta5 Komunikazioa)

PHOTOGRAPHS Jon BernárdezA. ZugastiArchive photographs: New YorkVolume. Urazandi.

EDITOREusko Jaurlaritzaren ArgitalpenZerbitzu NagusiaBasque Government CentralPublication Service

LAYOUT AND DESIGN O. Pagola (Didart)

PRINTINGXxxxxxxxxxx

ISSN: 1579-4210

Issue 70 Year 2005

Issue 70 Year

Estatu batuetakoeuskaldunak

Basque pride

Estatu batuetakoeuskaldunak

Basque pride

BOISEJaialdi ’05BOISEJaialdi ’05

Having been reelec tedPresident of NABO (theNorth American BasqueOrganizations) in 2005,

I can proudly say that this yearwe are witnessing a renaissanceof Basque culture in the UnitedStates. There are a number ofreasons behind this new trend.

Back in January ofthis year a seminarwas held for the firsttime in Boise, Idaho,aimed at trainingteachers for the Bogaonline Euskaralanguage program.We must not forgetthe fact that Euskara is the mostimpor tant aspect in terms ofcultural heritage for those of uswho reside outside the BasqueCountry. Concepts of Euskarahave been passed down fromgeneration to generation in theUnited States more so than inother countries. We can even go sofar as to say that Euskara is alivein the United States. However, allof the efforts made here are stillnot enough if we fail to exploit theoppor tunities offered by newtechnologies.

Two cultural events of the highestorder took place this past July. Thefirst was the annual NABOConvention, hosted this year for thefirst time in Rock Springs,Wyoming. The Alkartasuna BasqueClub took on the major task oforganizing the event, which alsoincluded a delightful tribute to theBasque sheepherders who onceearned their livelihood in the statebut now live in other parts of theAmerican West.

The second event, based around thereligious feast day of Saint Ignatiusof Loyola, took place in Boise:Jaialdi 2005, the internationalBasque cultural festival held everyfive years in Idaho's capital. Thisyear's Jaialdi brought in crowds likenever before (according to someaccounts,35,000 including all of thedifferent scheduled activities).

The presence of the official BasqueGovernment delegation, headed byLehendakari Juan José Ibarretxeand Minister for Culture MirenAzkarate—who also took part in theNABO convention—helped raise theprofile of the event, which wasfollowed closely by Basque press aswell as a number of local mediaoutfits throughout the westernUnited States.

We can see that Basque culture in theUnited States is being discovered bya growing number of people inEuskal Herria. Figures show thataround one thousand Basques fromEuskadi came to the Boise festivities

this year, in addition to Basquesfrom other countries such asMexico, Puerto Rico, Canada,Argentina and Australia.

The outward implications ofBasque pride include aproliferation of Basqueprograms and presence in new

areas. Examples includean agreement signed byBoise State University andBasque Governmentauthorities during theirvisit to create a BasqueStudies Program in Idaho,and the Lagun OnariAward bestowed on theGovernor of Idaho.

Lastly, I would like to say that wemust not let ourselves get drunkwith the success of these importantevents, but instead continue towork daily on the little things, eachof us in our own area of expertiseand from our own local clubs. Weare in the process of weaving astronger fabric and we want tomake the most of the supportprovided by Basque institutions.Therefore, I would like to wrap upthis letter by inviting theLehendakari to make good on hisBoise promise and visit the othersignificant Basque communities inthe North American West: Renoand San Francisco. San Franciscofor its creative youth initiatives,and Reno for the University ofNevada Center for Basque Studies,with its academic and researchprojects aimed at promotingBasque culture and understandingaround the globe. Participation onall levels adds to the culturalrichness of being Basque in theUnited States. Eskerrik asko.

The Basque movementin the United States

today

MARY GAZTAMBIDE President of NABO

Opening letterAurkezpena

Issue 70 Year 2005 3

The Basque community in the United States is one

of the largest of the diaspora, its heaviestpopulations located in several states in theAmerican West (Idaho, Nevada, California,

Wyoming), as well as New York City. In total figures,California has the greatest number of Basque-Americans,and in proportion to the rest of the population the State ofIdaho accounts for the most inhabitants of Basque origin.Primarily the product of late nineteenth and early twentiethcentury immigrations, the Basque-Americans quicklyintegrated into North American society. However, theystayed connected to their roots and, although somewhatfeeble, the Basque language is still spoken to this day.

In search of California's gold

Basque immigration to the U.S. rose sharply in the secondhalf of the nineteenth century following the discovery ofgold in California, thus coinciding with the colonization ofthe American West. Gold fever was the driving force behindthe first wave of Basque immigration, as people made theirway to the Pacific coast via a number of routes: some wentoverland to California, while others sailed up the Pacificcoast from Southern Cone countries such as Chile.

Proof of the importance of the first Basque colony inSouthern California was seen by the fact that the firstBasque language newspapers to be published anywhere inthe world, "Escualdun Gazeta" and "Californiako Eskual

4 Issue 70 Year 2005

A GLIMPSE OF BASQUE PRESENCE IN THE USA

Urrearen atzetik joan zirenIpar Amerikara lehenengoeuskaldunak eta ehun urtebaino gehiagopasa ondoren,oraindik ereeuskarak etaeuskal kulturakbizirik dirauEstatu Batuetakomendebaldean.Egun, Kaliforniada euskaldun kopuruhandiena duena baina Idahonere garrantzi handia lortudute bertan biztanlegoarenportzentai esanguratsu batizatea lortu baitute. Izan ere,Idahoko hiriburua den Boisehirian dago Euskal Herritikkanpo dagoen ikastolabakarra.

Amerikanuak[PHOTOGRAPHS: NEW YORK VOLUME. URAZANDI]

Herria," came out in Los Angeles, California, in the 1880sand 90s. Both newspapers produced quality journalism andincluded a substantial amount of advertising within theirpages.The style of language used demonstrated a crisp,fluent and expressive use of Euskara, still perfectly readable120 years later.

The immigrants from the first wave, and throughout thetwentieth century, were from both Ipar and Hego EuskalHerria (mainly Bizkaia and Navarra), intermixing fromearly on as they arrived at the same destinations. After thegold fever, the Basque people who had come to theAmerican West eventually settled in the states of California,Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Oregon and Wyoming.

At the end of the nineteenth century immigration wasprimarily a temporary phenomenon, with Basques eventuallyreturning to their homeland. However, soon Basques beganto settle in rangeland areas of the Western states to workas sheepherders. It should be pointed out that immigrantsincluded both men and women, thus promoting the creationof a Basque community in the United States.The areas inwhich they settled—the inland western states were verysparsely populated at the time—and the type of work theydid—sheepherding, hotel and shopkeeping—made it easierto create tight-knit communities.The children of the originalsettlers easily integrated into American society whilemaintaining their signs of Basque identity, including Euskara.

Emigration until the 1970s

The flow of immigration continued into the twentiethcentury, the numbers standing unchanged through the sixtiesand early seventies. Sheepherding, cattle-raising andforestry work were the initial occupations of the newimmigrants. At the same time, inns, and boardinghouseswere started up, providing work for the women and playinga fundamental role in strengthening social cohesion amongthe Basque community. Many of the boardinghousesbecame the permanent living quarters for a number ofimmigrants—particularly unmarried sheepherders—andserved as community centers and gathering places for theBasque population.The second generation, American-bornBasques played a vital role in the tumultuous twentieth

century history of the United States; many of the sons ofthe first Basque immigrants voluntarily enlisted to fight inWorld War II, and Euskara was one of the encryptedlanguages used by the U.S. forces to transmit secretmessages during the war. The generations of Basque-Americans began to make a name for themselves in NorthAmerican society, taking on positions of responsibility in anumber of different activities of public life and business.Some examples include the Laxalt brothers, PeteCenarrusa, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ysursa, the Bieter family anda long list of others.

The immigration trend remained active and open for thefirst seventy years of the twentieth century, even when U.S.authorities put the immigration quota system into force.Although the belt was tightened on immigration, the specificwork and area of specialization of the Basque people madeit possible for young Basque sheepherders to continuesettling in the American West.The United States civilianadministration acknowledges the origins of the Basquepeople and recognizes the Basques as one of the ethnicgroups that helped build the nation.

Today, the Basque-Americans, amerikanuak, immigrantsand their descendents make up a solid, stable communitywhich has successfully integrated into U.S. society whileadhering to their own cultural roots. The festivitiesorganized in honor of the feast day of Saint Ignatius ofLoyola on July 31st have become an exercise in celebratingBasque identity. Euskara has been kept alive among theimmigrants and their descendents, although the vitality ofthe language has declined in the younger generations.Customs, traditions, dances, music and lifestyles have beenhanded down from generation to generation, showing thatthey are still very much alive and well in the early years ofthe twenty-first century.

Idaho is one of the states where Basque presence is felt themost. Although the total number of Basque descendents isgreater in other states such as California, Idaho representsthe most significant community of Basques, taking intoaccount the state's overall population. In fact, Idaho'scapital city, Boise, is the only place outside of Euskal Herriawhere since 1998 there has been an ikastola in operation.


A GLIMPSE OF BASQUE PRESENCE IN THE USA

Coinciding with the 15th anniversary of theAlkartasuna Basque Center of Rock Springs, theWyoming town played this year's host to theannual North American Basque Organizations

Convention held from July 15-17, 2005.

Members of the Alkartasuna Basque Club, althoughstill few in numbers, demonstrated their tenacity andknow-how, by bringing together hundreds of peoplefrom all of the Western American states with Basquecommunities.

Members of the Alkartasuna Basque Club, althoughstill few in numbers, demonstrated their tenacity andknow-how, by bringing together hundreds of peoplefrom all of the Western American states with Basquecommunities.


NABO CONVENTION

Ameriketako Estatu Batuetara joandakoaskok Wyoming-eko parajeetan eginzituzten lehengo urteak, artzaimoduan. NABO Convention honetan80tik gora euskaldun omendu ziren;sasoi bateko lanbideak utzi eta gauregun beste toki batzuetan bizi diragehienak.

Rock Springs hosts the NABO convention

The main event on the cultural calendar was a formaltribute to Wyoming Basque shepherds. Formersheepherders and their families came to a specialceremony in their honor, featuring music by zuberotarraMixel Etxekopar.

The weekend event also included performances byXabier Euzkitze and the musical group Alboka, both ofwhom traveled from Euskal Herria for the event. Agroup from the San Fermin Ikastola in Pamplona, atthe time on a student exchange program at their sisterschool in Colorado, entertained the audience with songand dance.

All of the cultural activities, including the tribute toWyoming Basque Shepherds, the parade, danceperformances, rural sportsexhibitions and handicraftsdisplay, as well as the banquetand Sunday Mass celebrated byMartxel Tillous and WyomingBishop David Ricken, took placeat the Sweetwater County EventsComplex.The fact that the venuewas not centrally located in RockSprings did not keep the crowdsfrom attending the events, thehighlight being the BasqueShepherd Recognition Banquet,which brought in over 800people.

In addition to the performers fromEuskal Herria, dance groups fromother western states included:Zaharrer Segi from Buffalo;

Zazpiak Bat Klika and the San Francisco dance group;Utah´ko Triskalariak from Salt Lake City; Oinkari BasqueDancers from Boise.

The weekend event also included a small delegation ofBasque Government officials headed by Basque Ministerfor Culture, Miren Azkarate, who attended the NABOconvention as part of a more extensive tour of Basquecenters and organizations in the United States.

Some forty NABO delegates from the forty NABO partnerclubs met on Friday, July 15th, thus allowing them to getdown to business before taking part in the excellentlyorganized social and cultural events that followed.

Zorionak to the organizers!!!!


NABO CONVENTION

Minister for Culture, Miren Azkarate, speaking at the meeting. Martin Goicoechea, NABO's Euskara chairman and convention organizer.

The youngsters didn't want to miss out on having their picture taken with Alboka and Euzkitze.

NABO ConventionThe meeting with the delegates, which got under waywith the local club describing the events scheduledfor the weekend, covered all 28 agenda items inrigorous order. Delegates were brought up to datewith reports on all of the different committees:Euskara, Mus, the Ikasi program, Kantari Eguna,Pelota, Hizketa, Website, Calendar, Bertsu Book, theAurrera Goaz committee, etc. As a novelty, theColorado Euskal Etxea talked about its culturalinterchange program with the San Fermin Ikastolain Pamplona.

Apart from presentations on regular meeting topics,Benan Oregi from the Basque Government was presentto inform delegates about the different grantannouncements in place for 2005, and to stress theneed for Basque centers to update their information, inaccordance with regulations, in the official Register ofBasque Centers.

One of the most controversial subjects was whether theNABO articles of association needed to be amended inorder to take into account the number of members ineach club when assigning representation. Modificationswere proposed for future editions of the Udalekuchildren's summer camp, which continues to be NABO'sstellar program. There was also debate on whether thecoordination of NABO activities in their entirety shouldbe put in the hands of a hired professional; delegatesagreed that this decision would be postponed until theupcoming September meeting held in Winnemucca,Nevada.

NABO bestowed the Bizi Emankorra Award on AitaJean Pierre Cachenaut and Mike Olano, both fromWinnemuca, for their lifetime contribution inpromoting Basque culture in their area.

The convention ended with the reelection of MaryGaztambide as NABO President for another year,until next year's convention, which will be held nextsummer in Buffalo, Wyoming.


NABO CONVENTION

Martin and VeronicaGoicoechea were given specialmention by the local club. Left,each one of the WyomingBasque shepherds received aspecial distinction award.Above, Sunday Mass.

"The Last Link" is anhour long educationalfilm made under theauspices of the ArtemisWildlife Foundation bybrothers Tim and BenKahn and narrated byWillie Nelson. TheBasque Governmenthelped finance theproject since its aimfrom the outset was toeducate people.

The film is now beingshown in schools in theUnited States to teachyoung people about away of life that wasvery much present in alarge part of theAmerican Westuntil recentyears, and inwhich the Basquepeople played af u n d a m e n t a lrole: sheepherding.

The documentary captures the rich and dramaticstory of the Basque and Béarnais sheepherdingcultures in Wyoming and throughout theAmerican West. Johnny Camino, the son ofBasque immigrants, leads his flock of sheep forthe last time.The next day they will be sold andhis exit from the world of agriculture will becomplete. At 83, his cousin Pete looks on,contemplating his position as one of the lastBasque sheep ranchers in the area.

Pete has one last dream: tosee the land of his parentsbefore his death. At thismoment, he has no ideathat within six months hewill embark on the trip ofhis life.

The documentary wasscreened for the first timeat the Western HeritageCenter in July 2003 andlater presented to thepublic at the SonomaValley Film Festival inCalifornia and at theVermont InternationalFilm Festival on the EastCoast.

The French versionof "The Last Link"was premieredunder the title "LesBergers Basques duNouveau Monde" inPau in April of last

year, and later shown in a number of NorthAmerican Basque centers in San Francisco,Seattle and Colorado. The film was thendistributed to a number of U.S. schools, and itwas even broadcast on French televisionstations. We look forward to seeing thedocumentary in the Basque Country shortly onEuskal Telebista.

Anyone interested in acquiring the DVD can do soonline through the North American BasqueOrganizations website (www.basqueclubs.com).


the end of an eraThe Last Link,


BOISE. JBOISE.

BOISE. JAIALDI ’05


JAIALDI ’05JAIALDI ’05




The first official stop on Lehendakari Ibarretxe'sU.S. agenda (connected to his visit in celebrationof Jaialdi ’05) was Boise State University, wherehe met with top university officials. University

President Bob Kustra; Provost Sona Andrews; BoiseMayor Dave Bieter; Basque President Juan José Ibarretxe;Basque Minister for Culture Miren Azkarate; President

of the Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies, PeteCenarrusa; Boise State University professors John Bieterand Nere Lete, and a long list of illustrious guests andrepresentatives from other universities were present at theformal signing of the first Basque Studies Program atBoise State University, initiated in partnership with theBasque Government and the Cenarrusa Center for BasqueStudies.

The agreement, which will enter into force in the 2005-2006 academic year, will include classes in language andculture offered at the University of Boise in the state ofIdaho.The courses will be part of a Basque Studies minor,pursuant to the North American university system, andwill raise awareness about the Basque culture throughclasses in language and culture, as well as Basqueimmigration in the United States.These activities will bedeveloped in cooperation with the Boise's Basque Museumand Cultural Center and in close collaboration with theCenter for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada,Reno.

To support the activities, the Department of Culture ofthe Basque Government has earmarked 126,000 euros($154,000) for the 2005-2008 academic years; a

Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Kultura Sailak, BoiseState Universityk eta Cenarrusa Center forBasque Studies Fundazioak elkarlanhitzarmena sinatu dute datorrenikasturtetik aurrera bertako unibertsitateaneuskara ikastaroak eta euskal kulturarekinzerikusia duten kurtsoak eskeintzeko etabaita euskal emigrazioari buruzko kulturjarduerak garatzeko. Boise Unibertsitateestatalean martxan jartzen den lehenengoEuskal Ikerketen Programarenaurkezpenean Ibarretxe Lehendakariak etaIdahoko zenbait pertsonai ospetsuk hartuzuten parte.

The Basque Studies Program at BoiseState University gets under way

From left to right: John Pieter, Pete Cenarrusa, Juan José Ibarretxe, Bob Kustra, Sona Andrews and MirenAzkarate.



similar amount will be funded by cultural and academicdepartments of the U.S. government. In addition tofinancial backing, academic activities will be bolsteredwith a Basque library set up in the Boise BasqueMuseum and Cultural Center, which will also receivecontributions by the Basque Government.

Looking toward the future

The agreement signing ceremony was surrounded by anoverall feeling of optimism and satisfaction. The newBasque Studies Program opens up positive expectationsfor the future, paving the way for a deeper understandingof the roots of an emerging community in the UnitedStates. In the words of University President Bob Kustra,"as part of the incredible role minorities have played inthe United States and in the development of the state ofIdaho, we should underscore the work of the Basquecommunity. And the Jaialdi celebration is a clearreflection of its achievements. But a university is a placefor educating new generations, and this program aimsto celebrate the proud history of the Basque people."Kustra also commended the Basque community's abilityto stay connected in spite of being scattered around theglobe, and said he was "very proud" to be launching thisuniversity program in a state with such a strong Basquepresence.

Based on the words used by Professor Joseba Zulaikafrom the University of Nevada at Reno, to describeBasque culture as "rooted in the past, and looking towardthe future," John Bieter in English and Nere Lete inEuskara, gave a brief history of the agreement,underscoring the importance making sure that "theculture which has been handed down through the yearsdoes not disappear." Nere Lete concluded herpresentation in Euskara saying that "Thirty years agothis university launched the first academic initiativeconnected with Basque culture in Oñate, in whichhundreds of young people took part.Three decades laterthis program has opened a new chapter in therelationship between the two countries. I am sure nobodyever thought we would ever come this far. It is withoutdoubt that this program will serve to benefit futuregenerations.

Pete Cenarrusa, the man behind a number of culturalinitiatives and promoter of this university program usedthe Basque Government slogan "Aurrera doan herria"("A country on the move") to emphasize the need to joinforces in order to move forward in spreading Basqueculture. "There are a great number of Basques living inall corners of the globe, from Australia to Mexico andthe rest of Latin America; we have to stick together ifwe want to move forward in our goals," he added.

In her address, Basque Minister for Culture, MirenAzkarate, whose department is in charge of coordinating

the Basque Studies Program with Boise State University,spoke of the fact that the agreement is being carried outin a state whose development throughout the nineteenthand twentieth centuries was greatly affected by theBasque community. "In Idaho, those women and menwho came from Bizkaia created their own communityand were able to keep their language and culture aliveover several generations.Therefore it is not surprisingthat in the state's capital, Boise, we find the only Basqueikastola outside Euskal Herria." Azkarate described thesigning of the agreement as "a historical moment," giventhe doors that it opens to further collaboration. "FromEuskal Herria in Europe, the ancient land of the Basquepeople, it is an honor to meet with Basque-Americansto work together to benefit our common culture.

Lehendakari Juan José Ibarrtexe brought the event to aclose with a presentation in English and Euskara inwhich he expressed great satisfaction with the launchingof the Basque Studies Program. "This agreement meansa great deal to the Basque people, precisely because ofthe growing international dimension of the age-oldBasque language and culture." There are several Basquestudies programs in different places around the worldincluding Poland, Germany and Chile, which, in theLehendakari's words, "shows the interest that exists inour language, in all certainty the only remaining vestigeof early European history. But the Boise agreement isalso a symbol of the relationship and mutual interestbetween our two peoples: the Basques and the NorthAmericans.

The Lehendakari wrapped up his speech with thefollowing words: "Euskara and Basque culture in generalare part of world heritage. Such values should not onlybe defended by Basques, as they are one of the world'scultural treasures.


BBoise State University, the Basque Government andthe Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies have justsigned an agreement to start up the Basque StudiesProgram. What do you think of this initiative?Until now only the University of Nevada at Renooffered a Basque Studies Program. What that meantwas that by accumulating a certain number of credits,students could earn a minor in Basque Studies. Now,with two U.S. universities working together to offerthis program, the efforts will be doubled, thus makingthe Basque Studies Program an institution. This is avery big step for us. Plus, if we take into account thatBoise has the greatest concentration of Basque

families in the U.S., the program will allow theuniversity to significantly expand its course offer inBasque studies.

Are you seeing a growing interest in Basque relatedsubjects?Yes, I think so. The idea is for Basque studies to beregular academic subjects, much the same as Italianor Portuguese studies. We try to make sure that thesubjects covered (film, literature, museums,economics...) are of general interest in terms ofuniversity studies in North America. And since booksare being published, a good library is being set up and

Joseba Zulaika EuskalIkerketen Programarenburu da Reno, NevadakoUnibertsitatean etadiaspora eta emigrazioagaietan aditu bat dela esandaiteke. Ongi etorri beroaegin zion BoisekoUnibertsitatean jorratukoden hitzarmenari, elkarlanabehar-beharrezkoa baitabere ustez. “Orain biunibertsitate izango garagai berdinak jorratzen etahorrek aukerak zabaltzendizkigu” adierazi digu.

JOSEBA ZULAIKA Director of the Basque Studies Program, University of Nevada

«Defining what it means to be Basque without takinginto account those of us who live outside Euskadi is

to reduce Basqueness to only a part»

ElkarrizketaInterview


quality research projects are being conducted, we cansay that there is indeed a growing interest in Basquestudies.

Bearing in mind the enormous wave of immigrationto the United States in the early part of the lastcentury, how might we define the contribution ofBasques here?In that enormous wave of immigration, we Basquesare a relatively small part. But there is still a lot to bestudied among that small part—how many of us areliving here today, how the emigration networks weredeveloped, and what was life like for the Basques whosettled in the Americas, both the United States andSouth America.

What types of work are being developed at theUniversity of Nevada, Reno?One of our most characteristic projectsis our emigration study, following theresearch initially undertaken by BillDouglas and Jon Bilbao, and morerecently by Gloria Totoricagüena andgraduate students working in the area.We are also working on materialknown as "culture studies," which focuson film, literature and so on. Anotherarea concentrates on issues that areparticularly important to Basqueculture on a global level, such asviolence, terrorism, the changes in thecity of Bilbao, etc. Those are the areasthat have received the most attentionin recent years.

One of the things that always comes up wheneverwe talk about Basques in the U.S. or in other partsof the world is the matter of identity. How do youbroach the issue of identity and what thoughts canyou share with our readers to shed light on thesituation in Euskadi today?I think that one of the things the diaspora offers interms of identity is the realization that hard and fastdefinitions of Basque identity are no longer valid intoday's world: we are living in times of hybrid,compartmentalized identities. It's inevitable when youmarry a gringo or when your children are NorthAmerican; it forces you to rethink whether beingBasque means having sixteen Basque surnames.Thereis no future in that sort of thing; it simply doesn'thave to be that way in today's world because ouridentity is partly defined by the things we feelconnected with. We come here and in five years' timewe realize we're already Americans. As soon as youspeak English and become adapted to the place,you're a full-fledged American. So, why does being

Basque have to unalterable? Why can'tit chang? You realize that in fact, youcan have many identities, and that themore you have, the more enriching lifeis. Instead of having an exclusivenotion of one identity or another, youcome to the realization that beingBasque is compatible with beingAmerican or any other nationality.Given the times we live in, this diversityof identities is more interesting. Peoplefeel they are Basque because they areinterested in Basque culture andhistory, not because they were born onBasque land and have Basque lastnames. These are the signs of identity

that really matter, more so than the essentialistinterpretations rooted in the past.

Life for the Basque population in the United Statesis still somewhat of an enigma in Euskal Herria.That's right. We don't realize that there are moreBasques, or people of Basque origin, living outside ofEuskadi than within its borders. So, if there are more ofus, defining what it means to be Basque without takingus into account is to reduce Basqueness to only a part.In this sense, redefining Basqueness from the viewpointof the diaspora means that many of the things that areessential to being Basque in Euskadi are not essentialhere, such as borders or other things that have becomeidolized over there. From here you realize that you canbe Basque and maintain that identity because you wantto.When it comes to defining what it means to be Basque,the diaspora should carry more weight than it does now.Being Basque does not mean living in the Basque Country.It is a way of living in the world and having an overallvision and feeling of being Basque.

ElkarrizketaInterview

«When it comes to

defining what it

means to be

Basque, the

diaspora should

carry more weight

than it does now»

“


LAGUNA ONARI • BOISE JAIALDI ’05 • LAGUNA ONARI • BOISE JAIALDI ’05 • LAGUNA ONARI

The steps of the Idaho State Capitalbuilding provided the backdrop for themost important political event at

Jaialdi, with the two highest-rankingpolitical figures from Euskadi and theState of Idaho as central figures. OnJune 12th the Basque Cabinet ofMinisters agreed to bestow the LagunOnari Award on the State of Idaho inrecognition of the state's role, ever since thenineteenth century, in providinga home for the considerableamount of Basques whosettled there. The Basquecommunity "adopted theBasque-American culture astheir own and has worked tocreate bonds of friendship inaddition to cultural, politicaland commercial ties whichhave benefitted Euskadi."Basque Minister for Culture,Miren Azkarate, addressed the audience, adding that"the Basque cultural legacy that the emigrants handeddown to their children has experienced a revival in thisstate in recent decades thanks to the efforts of whatanthropologists call third-generation Basques. Thisphenomenon involves a rediscovery of cultural identitythat serves to enrich American culture.

The Lehendakari wanted to visit Boise personally topresent the award. Considering the high-ranking politicalfigures present, the ceremony turned out to be a majorevent. The Governor of the State of Idaho, Dirk

Kempthorne, expressed his thanks, pointing outthat members of the Basque community have

held important positions of influence overthe past 100 years. "It is no coincidencethat the flag that flies in this squarebeside the American flag is the ikurriña,"he added, and immediately went on to say

that the best thing about this state are thepeople who live and work there, and

"standing out among those people are theBasques." The Governor brought hisaddress to a close with anenthusiastic "Gora euskaldunak!"

Boise Mayor Dave Bieter delivereda highly political speech. Afterwelcoming the Basque delegationwith "this land is your land too," hereminded those present that fouryears ago a declaration was passedin the same Capitol Building indefense of the Basque people's

right to self-determination. "If we don't remember suchfundamental rights as this, then we wouldn't be defendingthe pillars upon which a country like the United Stateswas built."

The Lagun Onari Award was created in 2001, and sincethat time the recipients to date have been Vaclav Havel(former President of the Czech Republic), FrancescoCossiga (former President of Italy), Professor WilliamDouglas (University of Nevada, Reno), Eduardo Frei(former President of Chile) and Julio Mª Sanguinetti(former President of Uruguay).

LagunOnari

Award toState ofIdaho

Lehen aldia da “Lagunonari” Saria erakunde batiematen zaiona, eta ez dakasualitatea izan Idahoko

Estatuari ematea


LAIAK • BOISE JAIALDI’05 • LAIAK • BOISE JAIALDI’05 • LAIAK • BOISE JAIALDI’05 • LAIAK

In the heart of the capital of Idaho, the EgyptianTheatre was filled to the brim for the Laiak awardsceremony. The Laiak awards

are presented to differentinstitutions, organizations orindividuals in recognition of theircontributions to the defense andpromotion of Basque culture inthe region. This award marksanother milestone in the extensivework carried out on this side ofthe U.S. in recovering andmaintaining Basque culture andidentity. In this first edition Laiaawards were presented to theBasque Government "for itssupport in promoting Basqueculture"; Boise State Universityfor setting into motion the Basque Studies Program;and Euzkaldunak in recognition of the extensive effortsmade by Boise's oldest Basque organization.

Master of Ceremonies Joseba Chertudi explained to theaudience why the awards were named laia: "becausethe work we want to recognize is how this tool is usedwhen plowing a field—hand over hand and step bystep." Pete Cenarrusa was invited to the stage towelcome the packed audience gathered at the theater.

Over the years Mr. Cenarrusa has been a witness to thedevelopment of Basque culture in the United States,

sponsoring many of theactivities. He encouraged peopleto keep up the work in favor of acommon identity. Each of theaward-winners came on stage toreceive their laiak statuettes.Lehendakari Juan JoséIbarretxe accepted the award onbehalf of the BasqueGovernment, dedicating theaward to all of the peoplebeyond the borders of Euskadiwho continue to work for thepromotion of Basque culture."It's is fantastic that there arestill thousands of Basque men

and women living outside Euskadi who defend Euskaraand our common Basque culture."

The highlight of the event at the Egyptian Theatre wasa presentation by Joseba Zulaika, Director of theUniversity of Nevada Center for Basque Studies, whochampioned the common identity of the Basque peoplein an address entitled "From Gernika a Boise,Santimamiñe to Bilbao: we are all Basques andAmerikanuak.”

Laiak Awards

Saria eman bakarrik ez,jaso ere egin zuen

Lehendakariak, bestebatzuen artean,

Ameriketako euskalkulturari laguntzearren

Eusko Jaurlaritzatikburutzen diren hainbatekimenen eskerronez


ST. IGNATIUS MASS • BOISE JAIALDI ’05 • ST. IGNATIUS MASS • BOISE JAIALDI ’05 •

Much like other placesaround the world withBasque communities, the

feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyolais one of the most important dateson the calendar. The Idaho Basquecommunity once again celebratedmass on the eve of the 31st withall of the solemnity one wouldexpect for the patron saint ofGipuzkoa and Bizkaia, one of thecommunity's most highly veneratedreligious figures.

Around seven o'clock in the evening the SaintIgnatius day procession arrived at the steps of theCathedral of St. John the Evangelist, led by a groupof dantzaris, who danced the Kontrapaz de SanMiguel in honor of the people gathered in front of thechurch. Later the dantzaris headed one of the mostmoving moments of the religious event when they

performed the second dance ofCorpus Chris ti before the altar.Representatives of the Boise Basquecommunity, au thorit ies and theentire official Basque delegationfrom Euskadi , presided byLehendakari Ibarretxe, attended theevent. A number of priests, includingthe Bishop of Idaho and AitaMar txel , officiated the mass,celebrated in Euskara and English.Thousands of voices joined together

as one to sing the most characteristic songs of theBasque hymnal. It was particularly inspiring to seeso many Basques from all corners of the globegathered together in a packed cathedral in theAmerican West singing the same songs passed downfrom generation to generation with the same sense ofemotion. Hearing the sounds of the March of St.Ignatius, Inazio, gure patrio haundia. . . wassomething very special indeed.

Euskal meza da

Estatu Batuetako

euskaldunen

bereizgarrietako bat:

euskaldun fededun

ugari da Ameriketan

Solemn mass held at the cathedral


• BOISE JAIALDI ’05 • MEETING OF BASQUE COMMUNITIES • BOISE JAIALDI ’05 •

Before the Jaialdi festivities entered fullswing, Lehendakari Ibarretxe calledtogether representatives from the

Basque clubs to meet at the Boise Center onthe Grove. This was the first of a series ofheartwarming scenes that would be seenagain and again in the following days.People from all over the world, many ofwhom who hadn't seen each other in years,greeting one other in emotional embrace. TheLehendakari gathered together an audience of over600, who had the chance to see the public debut of avideo on life in Euskadi today. The event was hosted byjournalist Jasone Aretxabaleta, who described theBasque Country as "a country that has managed tosuccessfully combine the past and the present."Lehendakari Ibarretxe delivered wordsof appreciation to the many Basquespresent at the event, who representedthe pioneers that left their homes tostart a new life in different parts ofworld. He insisted that "we are allBasques, whether we were born inAustralia, American or anywhere else.However, there is still a lot of workahead if we want to keep our identityalive." Ibarretxe described Euskaditoday as "a modern, supportive countryconcerned with achieving equal rightsbetween men and women and a betterquality of life for all citizens," adding

that Euskadi also has "the best educated generation inour history." He emphasized that the Basque Countrystill needs to achieve peace to continue to moveforward "But we are intelligent people and I amconvinced that we will find peace and politicalstability," he added. The Lehendakari thanked thepeople present for the job they have outside of the

homeland and for letting the rest of theworld know that "the Basques are apeaceful and hard-working people." "Letthere be no doubt," he added "that weare extremely proud of you." Thesewords received the loudest applause.

The event came to a close with twotraditional Basque songs performed bythe Biotzetik Basque Choir, followed bya cocktail party, laying claim to theBasque people's fame for celebratingany type of event around the dinnertable. The event turned out to be a totalsuccess.

The new Euskadi

Lehendakariak

bertako

euskaldunei

eskainitako

harrera ekitaldira

jende ugari

bertaratu zen



It would be impossible to understand life in Idaho'sBasque community, nor the enthusiasm and energythat goes into their cultural events, without taking

a walking down the Basque Block. In fact, Boise is theonly city in the world outside of Euskadi where peoplecan stroll down the middle of a Basque street forpedestrians only. The Basque Block is the name givento part of Grove Street, an otherwise typicallyAmerican downtown city street if it weren't for thepaving stones decorated with Basque lauburus,wastepaper baskets with writing in Euskara andEnglish, and groups of aitonas wearing txapelas talkingon the street corner. No, ladies and gentlemen, it's not adream ... welcome to the Basque Block!

Two monumental laiak (traditional tools used inBasque farmhouses to till the earth) welcome visitorsas they enter the Basque Block from the main entranceon Grove St. The first surprise is when we find apedestrian only street in the midst of a culture soaddicted to cars they are used to go everywhere. Butthe Basque Block is a delightful change, an open, car-free space with its own special character designed as aplace where business and pleasure, private and sociallife all come together. Not surprisingly, this streetserves as a stage for the Boise and Western U.S.Basque community to dance, sing and celebrate acommon identity. It is a space planned for coexistenceand gatherings.

The Basque

EUZKALDUNAK, INC. THE BASQUECENTERBuilt in the 1940s and 1950s as agathering place for Basque people inthis part of the Western UnitedStates. It is a place where Basquescan share their thoughts andfeelings, and a venue for countlesscultural activities throughout theyear. The building was purchased bybrothers José and HermenegildoUberuaga after collecting $40,000 inbonds, and the center was opened in1951 with blessings from BishopEdward Kelly and four otherclergymen. For over fifty years generations ofBasques have preserved theirlanguage, gastronomy, history,dances, instrumental and vocal musicand sports, as well as ties withEuskal Herria through activities andrelations sponsored by Euzkaldunak.

THE JACOBS-UBERUAGA HOUSEBuilt in 1864, this house in the oldestbuilding in Boise today. It was aBasque pioneer family home used byBasques who came to work in Idaho.In 1917 the Uberuaga familypurchased the building to set up aboarding house, which was activeuntil 1969. In 1983 Adelia GarroSimplot managed to prevent thestructure from being torn down, andthe Basque Museum sponsored itsrefurbishing. Just prior to theinauguration of Jaialdi, the building,whose interior was faithfullyreconstructed, was opened to thepublic to show the Basquegenerations of today and tomorrowhow their ancestors once lived.

THE BASQUE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTERBasque immigrants came to Idahoover a century ago. Their heritage andway of life is depicted here inphotographs and objects associatedwith their lifestyle and dailyactivities. The Basque Museum is morethan just an exhibition hall orsouvenir shop. It provides an activegathering place for events andeducational activities, such as Euskaraclasses, and houses a library andgeneology research center, as well asa record and tape collection and oralhistory archives. The Basque Museumalso sponsors the Boise Ikastola,located in another part of the city.With her tireless perseverance,director Patty Miller is the heart andsoul of the museum.

Following the street from one end to the other wehave: the Basque Center-Euzkaldunak (inaugurated in1951); Jacobs-Uberuaga boarding house with a saplingfrom the Tree of Gernika planted in the yard; theBasque Museum & Cultural Center, which also housesthe Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies; the AnduizaFronton building (the only covered Basque ball court inthe American West) in the former Anduiza BoardingHouse; the Gernika Pub & Eatery; The Basque Market(a store selling traditional food products fromEuskadi); and lastly, a Basque hotel and restaurant areslated to open soon in an old building currently beingrestored just opposite the Basque Center. Many peoplewho know very little about Basque culture enjoy the

Basque Block because of its pleasant environment, orperhaps because they like to hear the interesting storiestold by the people there and taste the delicious Basquefoods served in the establishments. But the BasqueBlock means a lot more to the Basque community inthis part of the United States. In the evening when thestreets come alive with girls and boys from the BoisekoGazteak,Txikitxuak or Azkarrak dance groups, and theair fills with the Txantxangorriak accordion playerspracticing their centuries-old tunes, there is little doubtthat thousands of miles from their homeland, thisBasque community is making every effort to cultivateand maintain a thriving culture. The cultural centerswith addresses on the Basque Block are living proof.



Block

THE FRONTONThe fronton was built as aboarding house by the Anduizafamily in 1912. The building isespecially unique because thehotel facilities were built aroundthe Basque handball courtinside, thus allowing guests towatch the games from theirrooms. The structure hasn't beenmodified since the time it wasbuilt, although it has been putto a number of uses. It iscurrently set aside for officespace. The building also housesthe Fronton Association, formedto preserve the Basque sport bysponsoring competitions andgames geared toward theyounger generations of Basques.

BAR GERNIKAOfficially called the Gernika Basque Puband Eatery, the establishment is morecommonly known Bar Gernika. The eateryfeatures foods which in this part of theAmerican West have traditionally beenassociated with Basque cuisine: croquetas,chorizo sausage, flan, rice pudding ... andreal espresso coffee! The building, savedfrom demolition by the Basque Museum, isrun by proprietor, host and chef, DanAnsotegui. In keeping with the Basquecommunity's efforts to make their cultureand language more accessible to non-Basques, Ansotegui uses phonetic spellingon his menus so that his English-speakingguests can more easily pronounce thenames.

BASQUE MARKETDan Ansotegui of Bar Gernika famealso runs a curious shop that sellsBasque products just opposite theBasque Museum. The shelves arefilled with Txakoli and Rioja Alavesawines, Idiazabal cheese and otherproducts such as paella pans andcondiments. Cooking classes are alsooffered at the commercial kitchenlocated on-site, allowing the publicto learn more about traditionalBasque dishes and providing IdahoBasque families with new ideas andingredients.



In the summer of 1972 the BasqueStudies Program in Idaho, spurredon by Joe Eiguren, organized thefirst Jaialdi, or Basque HolidayFestival, pumping new life into afestival that had its origins in inSparks, Nevada, in 1959. The nextedition took place in 1987 andsince 1990 has been held in Boiseevery five years. Recenteditions have drawn toge-ther an average of 35,000people. The event hastaken on special meaningnot only because familiesand friends are broughttogether from all over theUnited States, but alsobecause Jaialdi has be-come a gathering place forBasques from around theworld. The event is not theonly summer activitygeared toward the Basquecommunity. One of themost outstanding pro-grams, the "Udaleku"summer Basque musiccamp, is hosted on a rota-ting basis in differentstates with strong Basquepresence. Hundreds of young people take part inthe camps, later going on to occupy positions ofimportance and responsibility in Americaninstitutions. The first observers of the Basquecommunity in Idaho predicted a bleek future forBasque culture in the state. Seventy years laterthey have been proven wrong. Far fromdisappearing, Basque culture is experiencing adramatic renaissance. The Jaialdi festival andother activities throughout the year havebecome important dates on the calendar for thethousands of people who feel proud to be Basque...Estatu Batuetako euskaldunak.

BASQUE PRIDE,Estatu Batuetako euskaldunak



Jaialdi 05: international

meeting placeITSASOZ HANDIK ETORRITAKO BERTSOAK

Ume baten ilusinoz gazte baten emozinoz (bis)itxasoz handik gatoz zuek agurtu asmozbesarkada bero batezeuskal herriaren partez.

Lehen be etorriak gara zuen euskal jaietara (bis)herri jatorrik bada, Boise zu bat bazarabeti zu bisitatzeansentitzen gara etxean.

Anai-arrebak milaka bananduak hor hemenka(bis)batzen gara noizbehinka herri minez gainezkaJaialdi honeri eskerzorionak mila bider.

Jon Lopategi eta Ireneo Ajuria

Dave Bieter, one of the leading figures of theIdaho Basque community, was one of the

voices that accompanied each and every event ofJaialdi '05.Either in official acts, tending to themedia, or accompanying the Lehendakari in hisvisits and presentations, Bieter's presence andwarm words were felt throughout the program.Dave Bieter gave a highly political speech at theLagun Onari Awards ceremony which tookplace in the Idaho State Capitol Building in thepresence of Governor Dirk Kempthorne. Hechampioned the memorial passed by the Idaholegislature four years ago, which recognizes theright of the Basques to self-determination andsupports the efforts carried out by the BasqueGovernment in that area. The House ofRepresentatives voted unanimously in favor. "Iam convinced that the Basques good reputationcarried a lot of weight," said Bieter, adding that"we are always willing to do whatever we can tosupport the rights of Euskadi as a people."

DAVE BIETER

Mayor of Boise

Xiberotarra, "from Eskiula, thesmallest and most beautiful town in

Zuberoa," has been serving the Basquecommunity scattered over twelve statesof the American West for twelve years.Aita Martxel spends many nightssleeping in his car,which everyone knowsas "Pottoka," but he never complains.Quite the contrary. He is a happy,outgoing man with a permanent smile onhis face. His ministry includes religiousservices at over 40 so-called Basquepicnic events in the greater WesternUnited States. "13 in California, seven inNevada, three in Idaho, four in Oregón,two in Washington State, two inWyoming, one in Montana, two inColorado, one in Arizona..." and so on,seeing to the religious needs of thousandsof Basques families. "I'm always on theroad but I can't possibly make it to all ofthose places in a single year. Most of theBasque immigrants who came to theUnited States have held on to theirCatholic faith, and according to AitaMartxel, "they go to church here morethan they do in the homeland. It's a partof their identity;The churches are alwaysfull." The biggest concern for theXiberotarra priest is who will take pickup where he leaves off. "There aren'tmany priests available, but at least we'dlike there to be a deacon, and euskaldun,of course.There's a person in Californiawho could do the job... I'd really like tosee him take it." Does Aita Martxeldream about returning to his homeland?" No,no,I no longer know Euskal Herria;I left there when I was 16,spent 26 yearsin Africa and another 16 in Paris aschaplain for the Basque community therebefore I came here."

MARTXEL TILLOUS “AITA MARTXEL”Priest and chaplain for

the Basque-American community



85 years old and born in Boise.Euskaldun and one of the most

beloved figures in Idaho's Basquecommunity, "because his door is alwaysopen," as a very appreciative neighbor fromBizkaia adds. Ramon is also the father of anumber of sons and daughters who havebecome prominent figures in local cultureand politics. In fact, his son, Ben Ysura,"Benito," is the Idaho Secretary of State anda man who has made considerablecontributions in educating people in theUnited States about Basques. "Ask me easyquestions," Ysursa pleaded as soon as theinterview got under way. But his fearsquickly dissipated, since Ramon speaks

fluent Bizkaian Euskara taught to him byparents at an early age. "I was brought up inostatuak (taverns) and couldn't help butlearn Euskara. It was my first language; Ilearned English at school." Ramon Ysursawas one of the men who enlisted in the U.S.Army in World War II,and later worked as asheepherder for many years.After a long lifeof hard work, he now enjoys a well-deservedretirement, satisfied at the level of well-being the younger generations haveachieved. "I'm happy because our childrenhave good jobs and lives."But I tell my wifethat Euskadi is going to heaven, and that Ihave one foot here and another one overthere—in Gernika,ha,ha,ha."

RAMON YSURSA"Uncle Ramon" Boise

When we interviewed Jaione she was veryupset at the way the Mexican delegation

to Boise was treated by the authorities at theChicago airport.The group was detained forseveral hours and two of its members wereforced to return. In any event, the U.S.neighbor came to strengthen bonds ofcooperation and to see old friends. "In Mexicowe're seeing a different set of circumstanceswith second- and third-generation Basques,and the signs of identity are gradually fading.There are many Basque men who come andmarry Mexicans, but the Mexican women feelstrongly about things Mexican,which tends todistance the Basques from the Euskal Etxeak;Mexican women don't seem to get hooked onBasque traditions; I don't know why that is."Jaione explains that there is another

important stumbling block when it comes tounderstanding the situation of the Basquecommunity in her country. "Mexico City ishuge. In city with a population of 20 million,there is only one Euskal Etxea,which makes ithard to get together regularly and shareexperiences." But that does not discourage thepeople in charge of the Basque center. "Wehave a lot of activities: dances, Euskaraclasses, lunches ... plus,we celebrate all of thefeast days and Aberri Eguna.We do a little ofeverything,but there's a lot of work involved."This is exactly why Jaione was so suprised tosee the number of people who come to Jaialdi."There are Basques coming out of thewoodwork here. It would be really hard for usto get so many people involved in ouractivities."

JAIONE ARRIETAEuskal Etxea of Mexico

This errenteritarra came to Boise severalyears ago to teach Euskara and ended up

staying.She married Chris Bieter,from one ofthe the Basque community's most prominentfamilies,and the two of them formed a familyof their own. She then taught Spanish atBoise State University for a number of yearsbefore being offered to do the same withEuskara through the Basque StudiesProgram. Lete was the host at the signingceremony for the new program.In addition toher professional life, Nere Lete is also amother of two boys and a girl, and says thathaving children has changed her Jaialdiexperience. "I have to keep an eye on the kidsand make sure their dancing outfits are clean

and that they have everything they need. Inthe end I realize I'm so wrapped up in thosethings that I forget to have fun." Five yearsago, at the previous Jaialdi, only our eldestson was a dantzari. The others were stillyoung. But now all three of them are in adance group and play the trikitixa." Nerethinks that a lot of things at Jaialdi haveimproved over time, such as the children'sactivities,but "the overall structure is more orless the same. My husband often says thathe'd like to see the festival moved todowntown Boise so that everyone would knowabout it and take part, but the organizersthink we're fine where we are. And since theydo an excellent job,we all have a good time."

NERE LETEBoise State University


Born in Fruniz, Julian Legarreta came tothe United States in 1962 at the age of 19.

"I didn't know where I wanted to go, but backhome I was forced to join the military and Ididn't want to have anything to do with Franco.I left the country to avoid serving in the militaryand since then I've been living here.Every otheryear I visit my family—last year my motherdied while I was there—but my life is herenow." When he first arrived in what would behis new home, everything was different fromanything he had known before—the customs,lifestyle, etc.—but, as he said "you adaptquickly." He found an already establishedBasque community, including his brother, whohad come earlier,so he found work easily."FirstI worked on a ranch for three years,and when Ilearned English, I went to school and studiedChemistry here at the University of Idaho."Was America the land of opportunity?"Without a doubt, and it still is today. I'd evengo so far as to say that Basques have greateropportunities here than they do in Europe."

JULIAN LEGARRETA Euskal Etxea of Gooding,

Idaho

Anita's grandfather emigrated from Ondarroa in1901, raised in a farmhouse called Anakabe.

At home she continues to speak Euskara with herdaughters. Her father worked for many years as aranch hand on a cattle ranch before opening up agarments and supplies store.Today Anacabe's ElkoGeneral Merchandise sells clothing and implementsof all types for miners, sheepherders and ranchers."At the store we always speak English,some Paiute

and Shoshone—the local Native American Indian languages—and Spanish. Butwhen we get home we speak in Euskara. She was also one of the people who tookpart in the Boise State University Basque Studies program in Oñati,organized in the1970s to enable Basque-American youngsters to improve their Euskara andexperience life in Euskadi. Anita's face fills with emotion when asked what Jaialdimeans to her: "It's such a special thing, it's almost impossible to explain ...." Verymuch involved with NABO,her mind is always busy with new projects.She's alreadythinking about coordinating a new exchange program aimed at providing Basquefamilies on either side of the ocean an opportunity to meet.

Her maiden name is Eskoz, but even though shetook on her husband's last name when she

married, her family preserves the Basque culturepassed down from her Navarra-born father. "When Iwas five I joined a dance group and now I belong to theWyoming Basque dance group, Zaharrer segi. I havethree children aged 3 to 9,Ana,Thomas and Elisa,andthey also dance at Jaialdi. I'm really glad they likeBasque dance because I have a lot of fun with themand they have a good time too. What does Jaialdimean to Teresa? "An opportunity to experienceBasque culture and to be with other Basque-Americans."


Born in Boise,Totoricagüena is one of theleading experts on the Basque diaspora.

Attending the event with her family, shewasn't about to miss out on a single event inthis year's Jaialdi.Above all, the festival forher is a chance to get together with old friendsand to have a good time. "The Lehendakari'swelcome by the public was really quiteextraordinary. Since most of the diasporaBasques left Euskal Herria before there wasa democracy in place,the very fact that thereis a 'Lehendakari' has a huge impact on them.Seeing how thrilled people are to have thechance to meet him and shake his hand,or tohave their picture taken with him knowingthat it will hang in a place of honor on the wall...this gives us an idea of what it's like to be adiaspora Basque, whether they emigratedbecause of political, economic or religiousreasons." According to Totoricagüena,Jaialdi is not just a folkloric event; it issomething much deeper. It is a way of"connecting the memory of the past with thepresent and future, in hopes of developingdemocracy—among everyone—andensuring peace for their homeland."

DWith regard to the future, ProfessorTotoricagüena would like to see moreactivities included in the future Jaialdis. "In2010 I'd like to see more expressions ofBasque culture, including films, poetry,literature and art.And of course,there shouldalso be more educational stands withinformation from official Basqueorganizations in Euskal Herria and Basqueclubs from around the world. The centralBasque Government and Eusko Ikaskuntzatook part this year,but otherwise there was norepresentation from any of the seventerritories.Organizations might include theuniversities, museums, tourism offices,Government of Nafarroa,Elkarri,Provincialgovernments,Euskal Kultur Erakundea,etc."

GLORIA TOTORICAGÜENAUniversity of Nevada, Reno

ANITA ANAKABEElko, Nevada


These two cousins from New York came to Boise ready to take in all of theJaialdi events.And there they were in the front row at the sports events,

at the cathedral for the Basque mass, strolling through the fairgrounds ..."We always come; it's a very special, very exciting event.When Ibarretxespoke, I actually cried," said Emilia. "There aren't many Basques in NewYork, and when you say your Euskaldun, you have to explain what thatmeans.So we have the job and the responsibility of telling people what beingBasque is." That is the role these two women play in the Big Apple. "TheEuskal Etxea in Brooklyn is for the Basque community,but we want to createanother center in Manhattan that's not only for Basques, but for everyone."They are also promotors of the Society of Basque Studies in America."There's a lot of work to do and a lot to research. As we say in Euskara, zergaren eta zer izan nahi dugun (what are we,what do we want to be).Havingaccess to reliable information is essential.All of the news we get on Euskadiis filtered through Washington.That's why we think it's important to create acenter that can provide us with information on the actual conditions andcircustances in the Basque Country. It'll take a while, because everything inNew York is very expensive."

EMILIA IDOIAGA SARRIUGARTEANA MARI AGUIRRE RENTERIA

NEW YORK

Alegion of volunteers, all dressed in their green shirts,worked non-stop during the Jaialdi festival and the

months leading up to the event. Rosi Andueza was one ofthem. Mother of Sebastian and Olivia, two Boise ikastolastudents,Rosi worked at the stand sponsored by the ikastolaat the fairgrounds. "Jaialdi is a major event. It couldn't bedone without the help of volunteers. My job was pretty easy,but there are people here who've been working on this projectfor years." Andueza lives in Boise but was born in Oregon.Since her parents emigrated from the towns of Lesaka andEtxalar in Navarra, her Euskara is alive with expressionsfrom that part of Euskal Herria.When complemented on herEuskara, she insits that "I was born here, so my Euskara'sreally not that good; but fortunately my kids speak it at theikastola." "Family,friends,food,music,people..." That's whatJaialdi means to Rosi. "We look forward to this event foryears. It's great!"

ROSI ANDUEZABoise volunteer

TERESA FIELDGROVEBuffalo, Wyoming

His establishments on the Basque Block (Basque Pub & Eatery Gernika and TheBasque Market) have become a central point for the Basque community in

Idaho. Besides serving meals, he and his sister offer cooking classes in whichparticipants learn the keys to preparing some of the most traditional Basque dishes,including fish, tongue, meatballs, sauces ... and, of course, the famous croquetas.Daniel welcomes and serves his guests in Euskara, which he learned both at homeand through a special program which brought hundreds of American youngsters toOñati to learn Spanish or to improve their Euskara. "After that I also took moreEuskara classes in Euskadi and follow closely all of the events that go on in theBasque Country." Although his places play a major role in the social life on theBasque Block, he attributes the overall success of the street to the efforts of theBasque Museum, calling it "the cornerstone of the Basque Block." I think they'vedone an excellent job.What we have today is the result of a project that got startedonly a few years ago.The thing is there's a lot of energy to get things done. It'simportant for us not to lose our Basque roots,especially the language,Euskara."

DANIEL ANSOTEGI INTXAUSTIPropietor of Bar Gernika on the

Basque Block and trikitilari


Issue 70 Year 2005


His father is from Aulestia andhis mother from Markina. He

was born in Lekeitio but at the ageof four emigrated with his family toAustralia, where he has lived eversince. He built up a successfulconstruction business which is nowrun by his sons. Everywhere hecould, Jose Mari left his mark as aBasque; virtually all of hisprofessional projects bear namesreminiscent of Euskadi: MendiConstructions, Goikoetxea Drive,Gernika Drive … "the streets ofQueensland will have those namesforever.You know what they say—blood runs deep." Although nowretired, he is still full of energy. Alot of it goes toward building up theBasque center that opened twoyears ago in his part of Australiaand which now has fifty members.Carrying both flags andaccompanied by a delegation ofBasque-Australians, Jose Marimarched proudly in the Jaialdi ’05inaugural parade. This was hissecond Jaialdi and, in his words,"I'll be leaving here with a heavyheart (bihotza gogor)".

JOSE MARI GOIKOETXEANorth Queensland BasqueAssociation. Townsville,Queensland. Australia

Eighteen months of hard workpaid with a highly successful

festival. Behind the scenes of anevent of this magnitude are always anumber of people who invest a lot oftime and energy to making sureeverything goes smoothly. One ofthese people is Ana Mendiola,member of the ten-person Jaialdi '05Organizing Committee. "It's been alot of work, but it was worth it."Some 35,000 participants took partin this year's event,and days before itgot under way Ana was overwhelmedat the expectation created aroundthe festival's fifth edition. "It's reallymade an impression on us.We're alittle nervous because we didn'texpect so many people." Ana speaksfluent Euskara; her family is fromForua, Gernika, Zeberio andUsansolo, and she was brought upspeaking Basque. "We're the future;we have to keep the language alive.It's our responsibility." Ana hasvisited her family's homeland fourtimes already.The first time she wentshe found that Euskadi was verymuch like her parents had describedit to her. "The language, the food mymother used to cook for us at homeeveryday ....When you get there yourealize that that's how life really is.".

ANA MENDIOLAMember of the Jaialdi ’05 organizational committee

Twelve years ago Boise and Gernikabecame sister cities.The two cities

have a special relationship becausemany generations of Basqueimmigrants who came to live in this partof the United States were originallyfrom the Gernika area of Bizkaia. "Wecame to Jaialdi to celebrate and also torenew the sister-city relationship thatbegan in '93," explained Juan FelixArejita, delighted by the encouragingatmosphere at all of the Jaialdi events."I've felt at home from the time I gothere. I wouldn't have believed anythinglike this could exist if I hadn't seen itwith my own eyes." Surprised at thenumber of bizkaitarras he ran intoeverywhere, one of the things thatimpressed Arejita the most was theabiltiy of the Basque-Americancommunity to keep Euskara alive overso many generations. "To have leftEuskal Herria and gone so far fromhome,to have worked so hard to make aliving,and still maintain their roots andtheir language—that is what amazesme the most." So far, the Boise—Gernika sister city relationship has ledto cultural initiatives, but plans are inthe works to expand activities to otherareas, such as economic and industrialcooperation.

JUAN FELIX AREJITA ALKORDAGOITIA

Deputy Maor of Gernika(Bizkaia)

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How did Jaialdi ’05 go?We're thrilled at how successful it was. It was asuccess because it drew in a lot of visitors from allover the world. In addition, our local organizationwas given another shot in the arm by seeing theprincipal idea behind our work reinforced: that wecan be Americans and still be very Basque at thesame time.

What did Lehendakari Ibarretxe's participation meanfor Jaialdi?For us the fact that the Lehendakari joined us atJaialdi is a sign that we're doing a good job, bothrecovering culture and tradition, as well as having theonly ikastola in the U.S. where kids are taught inEuskara. His presence has supported us in all of our

activities; it showed that our efforts have beenworthwhile and that we're doing things right.

When you designing the activities for this year'sedition of Jaialdi, what new ideas were included?What goals did you set? We think a number of our goals were met. First ofall, Professor Zulaika presented an academicseminar; there were also sports events, song anddance performances at the Morrison Center, and, ofcourse, the festival itself at the fairgrounds. Peoplehave a lot of different ideas of what Jaialdi should beand we try to make everyone happy.

After the past few editions of Jaialdi, would you saythat there's a growing interest in this event and whatit stands for?Yes, I would. It's growing in numbers of participants,activities and reputation; people from around theworld are beginning to hear about it. So we really dohave the feeling we're moving in the right direction,given the outcome of the event.

At this point, starting tomorrow, what's left to bedone?We still plan to host Jaialdi every five years, andJaialdi is an ongoing project. So, starting tomorrow,we'll get started on the next edition.

DAVE EIGUREN. Jaialdi '05 Organizing Committee

Dave Eigurenek 13 lagunez osatutakolan taldearen zeregina zuzendu duazken hiru urteotan Jaialdiarenprograma prestatu eta gauzatzeko.Lan gogorra izan den arren, ezdirudi nekatuta dagoenik etaazkeneko egunean egindakoelkarrizketan azaldutako umoreaikusirik, kemen handiko gizona deladirudi. “Oso pozik gaude egindakolanarekin, jende asko etorri da etaLehendakaria gurekin egotea ere osogarrantzitsua izan da guretzat.Gauzak ondo egiten ari garela ustedut eta jasotako erantzuna da lanhonen emaitzarik adierazgarriena”.

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*JAIALDI IN NUMBERS�� EDITION: 5TH

�� ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: 13 people (fromEuzkaldunak, Boise’s Basque Organization)

�� VOLUNTEERS: nearly 900

�� PARTICIPANTS: approximately 30,000

�� CROQUETAS made and sold: 32,000

«Jaialdi is expanding in numbers, activities and international impact»

GAZTEMUNDU

30 Issue 70 Year 2005BASQUE YOUTH

FFrom July 4th through 16th thisyear, the Directorate for Relationswith Basque Communities and theBasque Ins titu te of PhysicalEducation sponsored anotheredition of Gaztemundu. This year'sprogram centered on trainingteachers working with Basque clubchildren and teenagers.

The main purpose for Gaztemundu2005 was to familiarizeparticipants with children's gamesand activites in the BasqueCountry and to educate the futuregenerations in the values of

Basque cultural. Classes focusedon traditional dance and games.

Most of the activities took placein Vitoria-Gasteiz, rounded outwith excursions to the nearbymountains and reservoir, and fieldtrips to Donostia-San Sebastiánand Lesaka.

The central elements of this year'sedition were dance, pelota, musicand song. Also included were suchactivities as traditional sports(herri kirolak), Basque rowing(traineras), hiking and outdoor

skills, and children's party games.The idea was to teach participantsthe rules and characteristics ofeach type of activity or game andto think about what role thedifferent varieties of jokoa etajolasa can play in Basquecommunities outside of Euskadi.

34 people took par t inGaztemundu this year (30 ofwhom were women), mainly fromArgentina, although there werealso representatives from Basquecenters in Chile and the UnitedStates.

Gaztemundu ’05Gaztemundu 2005 participants join the Lehendakari at a reception held at the Office of the President.

Issue 70 Year 2005

P R E P A R A T I O N:

For the oil:Mix the sunflower oil with the turmeric andkeep temperature at 75ºC.

For the mustard seeds:

Boil the mustard seeds for 15minutes. Add the oil mixture and set aside.

P R E S E N T A T I O N:

Cook the veal for 10-15 minutes in theturmeric oil.

Sauté the mustard greensin the olive oil and add thedrops of vinegar. Place theveal tenderloin in the center ofa dish and top with mustardsprouts and seeds.Slice the veal and place one slice on aplate over a bed of mustard greens.

Serve with a bit of veal juice in a sauce dishon the side.

N E W B A S Q U E C U I S I N E

I N G R E D I E N T S

800 gr. milk-fed vealtenderloin

For the oil:1 liter sunflower oil15 gr. turmeric

For the mustard greens:16 fresh mustard greens4 drops balsamic vinegar1 dl. olive oil 20 gr. mustard sprouts

For the mustard seeds:40 gr. mustard seeds120 gr. water2 cl. olive oil

8

Pedro SubijanaRestaurante AkelarrePº Padre Orcolaga 56, Igeldo. Donostia-San Sebastián• www.akelarre.net

PHOTOGRAPHS: Y. GALIANA

C O L L E C T I B L E

Since 1975 Donostia-born Pedro Subijana has been at the helm of Akelarre, arestaurant located near the top of San Sebastián's Monte Igeldo, and since 1980has been the sole owner. Akelarre boasts some of the most prestigiousdistinctions in the world of culinary arts: two Michelin stars, a 9.5 rating fromGourmetour 2002, and four suns from Guía Campsa 2002. His restaurant is amember of the Relais Châteaux association. Since 1986 he has beenrepresenting Spain for Euro-Toques, the European community of chefs, and in2003 was elected chair for what has now become known as Euro-ToquesInternational. Pedro Subijana has taught cooking classes at several Americanand European universities and is consultant for two Gipuzkoa-based cookingschools. He also serves as consultant to companies in the food and cateringindustry. "La cocina de Pedro Subijana", a program broadcast on EuskalTelebista, have combined Subijana's teaching skills and creativity to bring usover 1,400 editions since 1992. As a result of the program, and in collaborationwith other organizations, Subijana has published eight cookbooks so far: twoeditions of "Menú del Día," "Denok sukaldari," "Cocina Riojana," (co-authoredwith Lorenzo Cañas), "Mis Recetas de la Tele," "Pedro Subijana cocinando paraInasmet," "La cocina vasca de Pedro Subijana," "La cocina vasca para el grupoIngeteam," and more recently, "La cocina de Akelarre, El sueño de PedroSubijana" and "La cocina doméstica de Pedro Subijana."

T E N D E R L O I N O F V E A LO N A B E D O F M U S T A R D G R E E N S

31

Memories from BOISEMemories from BOISE

Basque Government Central Publication Service

Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia

issue 70 year - lehendakaritza.ejgv.euskadi.eus€¦ · 31 • pedro subijana. restaurante...

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