JAIALDI 2000 BOISE, Jaialdi 2000 activities

Angel Arroside Aurkia and Floren Nazabel Leiza to write their autographs on them. The premises proved finally too small and many people had to climb to the chairs and sound equipment in order to watch the contest. The Mutriku Soka-Tira Taldea made exhibitions of lift of hay bales with pulleys, sokatira, lift of wagons and weight transport. The originality of these sports surprised even those who were not Basque among the public, especially several local television crews and there were also Representatives of Gernika-Luno Town Council with Pete Cenarrusa, Secretary of the State of . some reports in the newspapers. On Friday, the Culture Consultant The Jaialdi celebrations started music from Oskorri, Kepa Junkera of the Basque Government, Mari informally the week before the and Imanol. Lots of visitors watched Karmen Garmendia, officially chosen date, with the arrival of the photograph and history inaugurated the Basque Block and authorities from Euskal Herria, Peru, exhibitions of the Basque Museum the sculptures by Laiak. The day Australia, Uruguay, Canada and of and Cultural Center, and the Basque included pala and pelota matches, the friends and relatives from the United Center and the Gernika Bar were performances of the accordion States. The Basque Block was full of permanently overflowing. players Iker Laucirica and Unai people speaking euskera, and of from all over the world met for the Mezo, Roberto eta Kepa, Tapia eta first time, while others renewed their Leturia and the Txorimaloak Soinu friendship from the Jaialdi 1995. Taldea. The public visited the Dantza taldea, Boiseko gazteak. Some met their relatives and all of Euzkaldunak Basque Center, the them made new friends. Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Anduiza Pelota Court, the IMPRESSIVE EXHIBITION OF BASQUE Gernika Bar, and the different tents SPORTS where the performances took place. The official program started on On Friday night the show in the Thursday, July 27, with a Special theatre included the performances of Sports Ceremony, with the big the bertsolaris Jon Enbeitia and exhibition premises absolutely full. Irineo Ajuria, the Donostia Arkaitz Stones were lifted and pushed, there Dantza Taldea, the Boise Oinkari were aizkolaris, sokatira, weight Basque Dancers and the transport… The athletes from Euskal Txorimaloak Soinu Taldea, Tapia eta Herria exhibited Ðas they always doÐ Leturia and Arkaitz Minor and an impressive amount of strength. Roberto eta Kepa. «Zelai» Gizazola, Jose Ramón On Saturday the celebrations Iruretagoyena and ÇGoenatxoÈ started with a parade of the Unanue amazed the attendants, participants and followed with a especially those who had never seen whole day dedicated to concerts, them perform before. sports, dances, songs, card games The audience dedicated an and a popular lunch. There was a ovation to the aizkolaris and the stand from the Basque Book, from children picked wood strips and the University of Nevada Press in asked Donato Larretxea Lizardi, Reno, as well as information on the

20 BASQUE CULTURE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Jaialdi 2000 activities their parents, visited the camp mass. Music was provided by the with great interest. Seeing the bands of San Francisco, Chino and tears some of them shed, we Bakersfield (California), which could perceive that many of interpreted the Iparralde Klika them understood there for the Marches. The religious dances of the first time the suffering and Oñati Corpus Christi were performed hardships endured by the by the Boise Oinkaris; the Boise shepherds. Those who had Biotzetik Choir provided choral come from Euskadi were very music from the different provinces impressed by the hard life during the mass. Mª Carmen Garmendia placing flowers on the tomb of the Bieter family. conditions of those men, for in Father Martxel Tillous, designed the Basque Country there is still by the Bishop of Baiona as Basque on-line courses on the Internet on the idea that the emigrants Chaplain in the , travels Basque subjects, organised by the reached America and Basque Studies Center. Information immediately became wealthy. on the subject can be found in: At present there are very few www.dce.unr.edu/istudy_ or in the Basque shepherds in the Center’s web page: United States, however the www.sesr.nevada.edu/-bstudies. shepherding culture is still an Photograph exhibitions by Linda identity factor in the Dufurrena and Marianne Uberuaga collective history of the Schaffeld could be admired, and American Basques. there were also crafts and books For seven uninterrupted stands to visit. The gift and souvenirs hours, more than 20 dance tents had a true avalanche of buyers. and music groups, sports stars and singers performed MEMORIES OF THE HARD TIMES OF in the different stages, while Visit to the shepherding places. EMIGRATION the audience, families and One of the most attractive groups of friends enjoyed the exhibitions of the festival recreated party. The scent of chorizo, peppers, almost 100,000 miles a year in order the camp of a Basque shepherd with lamb and croquetas tempted the to celebrate weddings, christenings, four wagons and the tent where they majority to sample these Basque funerals and masses during Basque used to live, surrounded by a recipes. These same activities began festivals. This year he was assisted landscape replica of a poplar forest. again on Sunday. by father Mikel Urresti Esturo It was designed and built by Ramón (Bilbao) and by Monsignor Karmelo Ysursa and George Totorica (the «Jaialdian zehar ikusten Etxenagusia Uribe, Suffragan Bishop descendants of old shepherds). dena da makinatxo bat of Bilbao. The United States Basques Former shepherds and those who era dagoela euskaldun were specially proud and honored to knew shepherding only through the have these representatives of the izateko» pictures and through the memories of Church assisting in the celebration of the San Ignacio de Loyola Mass on The San Ignacio de Loyola Jaialdi day. Mass, organised by Janice The farewell dinner for the Mainvil, congregated all the foreign artists and guests took place attendants to the party, as a on Monday night. There was music homage from Boise to the and dance after dinner, as well as patron saint of the Basques. A exchanges of addresses and representation of the seven invitations. A typical cowboy provinces symbolising the barbecue officially closed the Jaialdi unified Baque People of the 2000 Festival. Hurrengo arte! United States, went to the Gloria Pilar Totoricagüena The Basque representation with Pete Euzkaldunak Incorporated Boise, Cenarrusa in Idaho Senate. Idaho (USA)

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