BASQUE PEOPLE IN BOISE, IDAHO (aidajo)

PRESENTATION: Hello, we are Nahia Zalakain, Izaro Lozano, Saioa Larrazabal and me,
Mikel Calafel, students from DBH 4. We are going to present you the Basque community in
Idaho (aidajo), in Basque and English. Lana egiteko, Boiseko neska batekin hitz egin dugu,
Madalen, beraz, hark emandako informazioa txertatuko dugu. Hope you enjoy it. Mikel

BASQUE DIASPORA: The Basque diaspora is the dispersion of Basque people who get
together in communities abroad. Basque people go away from the Basque Country and
then, get together and form communities. So we are going to tell you about the Basque
community of Boise, Idaho. Euskal diasporak esan nahi du Euskal Herritik migratzen duten
Euskaldunek, atzerrian sortzen dituzten komunitateak.Saioa

Euzkaldunak Basque Center is located in Boise, a town from the state of Idaho in USA. This
state is the most associated with Basque people and culture. In other words, this is the state
where Basque culture and language is concentrated. Over 7900 Basque people live there.
Idaho ez da euskaldun gehien dituen komunitatea, baina bai euskaldun kontzentrazio
handiena dagoena. Saioa

1. When did the basques first go there?

Basques first arrived in Boise in 1890. But it wasnt until 1949 that they built
Euzkaldunak basque center. A center where Basque people meet and support each other.
There are also Basque museums and restaurants. As Madalen says, Basque food is really
famous in the town. izaro

2. Who are they - and which part of the Basque Country did they come
from?
People came (keim) from all over the Basque country, but most people came
(keim) from Gernika. Thats why it is said that Boise and Gernika are sister cities. Nahia

3. Why did they come?

Basques went there initially (inixiali) because of the discovery of silver, to
achieve (atxif) the American Dream and because of family links. First, men went to
Boise, and then, women and the rest of the family joined them. Mikel

What are they doing there now? Do they have jobs?

When the Basques first arrived there, most of them found jobs as shepherds. But
others became miners or ranchers. The ranchers sold beef and lamb products to those
shepherds or miners. While some returned to Basque Country because they didnt achieve
their goals, many remained, later to be joined by their families. That means that the families
of those Basques who stayed in Boise went there too. Women worked mainly at home.
Hasieran, gehienak artzaiak ziren. Asko Euskal Herrira itzuli arren, jende asko ez zen itzuli,
eta gelditu ziren horien familiak ere Boisera joan ziren. Saioa
But nowadays, Basque people in there have all sort of jobs. And all are members of the
basque center. Even the major of the town is Basque. Orain bizitza normalak dituzte eta
alkatea euskalduna da, baita gobernuko kide asko ere. Alkatea, Madalenen osaba da. Saioa

4. What sort of Basque things do they do?

To help maintain their Basque identities, they organise events to support it such as
dancing events and concerts. Some people teach Basque dances to children from 4 to 13
years, and theres a dance group for people over 14 years. The Center is also home for a
Basque music group, Txantxangorriak, that plays traditional music at many of the Basque
festivals. 6min- 7;30 min izaro

The Basque Center organises several events for the Basques in there during the
year. For instance, in december they organise a dinner and dance to help raise money for
their Basque charities which allow them to help Basque people in Idaho who need financial
help. The money earned with the center membership is also used to the charity. Nahia

5. What can we find about their identities now? How Basques are they
still?
Although people have American lives, their Basque origin is remarkable, most of
them are members of the Basque Center and attend the events. They are still Basques.
Euskaldunak eta amerikarrak sentitzen dira. Saioa

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Every 5 years Idaho (aidajo) celebrates a Basque

culture and history party. Between 35.000 (thirty five thousands) and 50.000 (fifty thousands)
people are estimated to attend to this festival each time they celebrate it. The event also
includes , sports, choirs (kuaiers), and folk dancing as religious (reliyus) services for the
large (lartx) Catholic Basque Community. Izaro

FAMILY:
Her grand mother came when she was a child and she married an American man. She did a
lot to help Boises Basque Community. Saioa

Her father, who worked in The Boise University, created an erasmus program, that way,
Basque students from Boise could study in Oati.
Her mother, studied in the University of Boise and her parents, built an Ikastola, it is the only
Ikastola in United States. Nahia

THE END: This was all for today, thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed our
presentation. Mikel