Euskal Kazeta

Voices of the Diaspora: Basque Country Symposium Explores U.S. Sheepherder Immigration History

Michael McCay, Writer — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:49:11 +0000

I’ve known Basque American Rafael Gamboa for a number of years, mainly from attending the same Basque picnics in California over the years. We’ve had some great conversations, in English, of course, and he even hauled me and my bike back to the hotel after a late night at the Bakersfield picnic some years ago.

Then, in June, while attending a symposium about Basque immigration to the U.S. in the Basque Country, I was surprised to see him speaking in the Basque language (Euskara) in a video interview. Gamboa, whose father immigrated to the U.S. to herd sheep, told a funny story about how during his childhood, his family sometimes butchered sheep inside his house in Southern California. Even though I am fluent in Euskara, I never knew Gamboa was a Euskara speaker.

Gamboa’s interview was part of a presentation by Laura Igantzi describing the work of Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan (Basque Sheepherders in the Americas), a Basque Country group dedicated to promoting the history of Basques from the province of Nafarroa who went to the U.S. as sheepherders.

This organization is known particularly for organizing trips for former sheepherders back to the U.S., facilitating reunions among family members and friends who may not have seen each other for many years. The organization also has a museum in the town of Elgorriaga, Nafarroa, .

The session presented by Igantzi was part of a ground-breaking two-day symposium at the Iortia Cultural Center in Altsasu, Nafarroa, “Voices of the Diaspora: Basque Emigration to the Americas – Testimonies, Routes and Contexts (19th and 20th Centuries).” The event, held June 19 and 20, is the first such symposium organized by Laia Ikerketa Taldea, a local research group that specializes in the Basque sheepherder immigration from Nafarroa and formed in 2022. (Laia is a manual farming implement known in English as a foot-plough.) The sessions were presented in Euskara and Spanish.

What I found particularly noteworthy about this symposium was having the actual Basque Country as its choice of venue. A number of Basque Studies programs exist in various universities in the U.S., and they have sponsored a great deal of research and conferences about Basque immigration. But a focus on Basque immigration to the U.S. from a Basque Country perspective possibly points to a new trend of research and conferences taking place on the other side of the pond. It was noteworthy that several of the speakers came from the U.S. to make presentation, such as Dr. Xabier Irujo, professor at University of Nevada, Reno and Edurne Arostegui, who has a PHD from University of Nevada, Reno.

Edurne Arostegui speaks about the Basque women who immigrated to the U.S.

Arostegui provided a perspective that is often missing from discussions on the Basque experience in the Americas, in her session on “The Migrant Basque Woman in the American West.”

Much has been written about the lone sheepherders, the cooks, miners and entrepreneurs who happened to be men. Arostegui noted that the women who came were just as important to the story of Basque migration. They ran boarding houses, tended to their families and provided important support to their communities. Some even lived and worked in the sheep camps, doing jobs involving heavy lifting and whatever they needed to eke out a living, often without the recognition or pay afforded to their male counterparts.

Of course, no Basque gathering is complete without some excellent food and music. The first day’s events closed with an accordion recital by well known musician from Altsasu, Enrike Zelaia, which was attended by many locals.

The second day closed with a tribute to Jesús Goñi, who was honored with the recognition befitting someone who worked as a sheepherder, but also is a witness to the emigrant experience, and most exceptionally, performed at U.S. Basque events for many years as a skilled bertsolari. Bertsolaritza is a uniquely Basque art, involving improvisation on the spot according to a predetermined rhythm and melody, and a story line given mere seconds before the performer starts singing.

Goñi, who lived in the Reno, Nev. area for many years, was presented with an award from the Laia group that represented the Hand of Irulegi, a historic artifact recently found in the Iruñea area. Famous young bertsolaris Joanes Illarregi and Sustrai Colina provided some verses in honor of Goñi, who then took the stage with some verses of his own.

Goñi emigrated from Nafarroa as a young man and lived and worked for many years, like many of his compatriots, far from his land of birth, juggling multiple languages in his day-to-day life as a sheepherder, cattle rancher and construction worker. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since his birth in 1947 in Oronoz-Mugairi. He has recently returned to live in the Basque Country.

After that, we headed to the restaurant Kaixo for a bertso-bazkaria, had an amazing meal, and then spent hours listening to the amazing talents of the three bertsolaris. I was amazed at how readily and skillfully Goñi’s verses poured out during our hours-long session.

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Michael McCay, who lived in the Basque Country for many years and speaks Euskera, is a travel agent with Overtrails. He can book accompanied, all-inclusive Basque Country experiences for groups of all sizes from the U.S. As part of a locally based travel company, he can help solo travelers, families and large groups visit the Basque Country with customized itineraries or affordable group programs.

Read more here about Overtrails’ services and itineraries. To contact Michael McCay directly, email him at usa@overtrails.com.

Chino Basque Community Hosts Youth Summer Camp and Cultural Bash

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:19:19 +0000

The Basque community of Chino, Calif. hosted the annual Basque summer camp Udaleku, which culminated with a three-day festival for the Southern California Basque Club’s 80th anniversary July 3-5.

The North American Basque Organizations also held its annual summer convention during the weekend, bringing 37 delegates from Basque clubs all over the U.S.

Conchi Aranguren, Delegate of the Basque Government to the U.S. (left), and Ziortza Olano Astigarraga, Director of the Basque Community Abroad

Ziortza Olano Astigarraga, the new Director of the Basque Community Abroad and Conchi Aranguren, Delegate of the Basque Government to the U.S. and Canada, attended the NABO meeting and spoke with the delegates about the Basque Government’s plans for the U.S. diaspora. They also attended the weekend’s festivities.

Udaleku takes place every year in different Basque communities and the campers, ages 10 to 15, are hosted by local Basque families.

“I’m proud because they are taking care of the Basque culture,” said Mikel Alzate, 13, who came from the Basque Country with his family and attended Udaleku. “I made a lot of new friends,” he said. His mother, Amaia Cordoba, taught Basque language classes to the campers.

Uxue Perez came from the town of Urretxu in Gipuzkoa to teach Basque culture and Ibai Arroitajauregi, of Lurreta, Bizkaia, taught pilota (handball) at the camp. Perez said the experience was amazing. She was so immersed in Basque culture during camp that sometimes she had to remind herself that she was in California, she said with a laugh.

Ibai Arroitajauregi (left) and Uxue Perez came from the Basque Country to work at Udaleku.

The Southern California Basque Club organized the weekend festivities, which were in celebration of the club’s 80th anniversary. The club is one of the oldest in the U.S.

Friday included handball games with Udaleku campers, a dance performance by the Oinkari dancers from Boise, Idaho, as well as musicians and the local Gauden Bat dancers, plus a dinner for the many guests, all at the Centro Basco restaurant in Chino. Saturday featured a mus tournament and an evening dinner that included the culminating performance for Udaleku’s 64 campers at the Chino Fairgrounds. On Sunday, the club hosted its annual festival, also at the fairgrounds.

“Sunday was the biggest picnic we’ve had in years,” said committee chairman Dominic Etcheberria. He added that the club was very happy with the turnout at the festivities, which included the campers, their parents, the NABO delegates, Boise’s dancers and local Basques.

Read about the history of the Southern California Basque Club.

Singing the Star Spangled Banner at the Southern California Basque Festival 2026.

Oldest Basque Club in Western U.S. Marks 80 Years With Pilota, Mus, Dancing and Udaleku Finale in Southern California

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:15:52 +0000

The oldest Basque club in the western U.S. is celebrating its 80th anniversary with three days of festivities July 3 – 5. The Southern California Basque Club celebration was planned to coincide with the summer convention of the North American Basque Organizations. The Oinkari Dancers of Boise, Idaho and Naroa Agirre, a female pilotari from the Basque Country, are among the special guests expected for the weekend.

“Our members are really proud to be part of the oldest club,” said Club vice president Nicole Idiart.

The weekend also marks the ending of Udaleku, the two-week Basque-American summer camp, which was held in Chino, Calif. this year. Basque American youngsters ages 10 – 15 stay with host families and participate in activities that teach them about the Basque culture. The camp is held in different Basque communities every year.

Friday’s festivities include handball games with Udaleku campers, a performance by the local dance group Gauden Bat and the Oinkari Dancers from Boise, plus a buffet dinner and music with a young Basque American band Izen Gabe, all at the Centro Basco restaurant and handball court. Centro Basco is taking reservations for the Friday dinner. See More Schedule Details

Reservations for all events

Centro Basco, 13432 Central Ave., Chino, Calif.

Saturday’s events include a mus tournament and handball games at Centro Basco, while at the Chino Fairgrounds, a sausage contest and a celebratory anniversary dinner will take place. The dinner will include a performance by the Udaleku campers and also a slide show of the club’s activities over the years.

The club will hold its annual festival on Sunday, also at the fairgrounds. A Catholic Mass with Father Antton Egiguren will start the event at 11 a.m. The mass will take place outdoors to easily segue into a performance by young dancers. Gateau Basque and irrintzi contests will also be held. A barbecue lamb and chilindron lunch will be served. The local Gauden Bat dancers, plus the Oinkari dancers will perform in the afternoon.

Lukainka sandwiches will be served in the early evening, and the Basque American band Amerikanuak, featuring Jean Flesher, will take place in evening.

See More Schedule Details

Chino Fairgrounds, 5410 Edison Ave., Chino, Calif.

Handball Games:
All held at Centro Basco

Friday, July 3
3 p.m. Finals of Udaleku campers (4 games)

Saturday, July 4
3 p.m. Naroa Agirre (Professional Women’s Pilota Player) & Eñeko Irazoqui vs. Damian Kelly & Ibai Arroitajauregi

4 p.m. Mike Pereira & Mike Aphessetche vs. Jake Jaureguy & Jesse Kvarna

History of the Club

The Southern California Basque Club was initially named the Southern California Eskualdun Club, a name it kept until 1991.

The first picnic organized by the Southern California Ezkualdun Club at Shell Park in Brea, Calif.

It was started in 1948 by Father Charles Espelette, who was originally from the town of Aldude in the French Basque Country. He served at the old Mt. Carmel Church in Montebello. See our article on the Benedictine Friars. In addition to his church duties, he served the large Southern California Basque community that was widely scattered throughout the region on numerous ranches.

The early club picnics were held at Shell Park in the hills above Brea, Calif., a location that was developed and owned by Shell Oil for family picnics. The first picnic in 1947 attracted 730 people. They served a barbecue lamb lunch that cost $1.35.

“We have members who remember when the picnic used to be at Shell Park,” said Idiart.

Later, the picnic moved to the La Puente Handball Club for a few years, but then moved to the Chino Fairgrounds where it has been held for many years.

Making Marionettes: Artists in the Basque Country Continue a Disappearing Art

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:28:46 +0000

Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa

In the Basque town of Hondarribia, two artists, Idoia Seijo and Jonan Basterretxea, continue a traditional and unique art of making marionettes. They have made dolls for many local people and businesses over the years, but they also cater to a popular tourism business that regularly visits this city’s historic Alde Zaharra (Old Town).

Everything is done by hand and you can frequently see the couple at work in their studio, Menina. They construct the heads and bodies of their dolls with a special paper that is made by very few producers today. Basterretxea will make accessories by hand, while Seijo paints the dolls and makes the costumes by hand. They spend quite a few hours on each puppet.

The Menina marionette studio in the old town of Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa (Nancy Zubiri)

In an interview with Euskal Kazeta in their studio, Seijo pointed out that their puppets are actual marionettes that can walk and dance and sit. “You may not be interested in having them do that,” she noted about operating the puppets via a controller with strings. “But I want you to know that you bought a marionette.”

Seijo noted that she and her husband like to travel and whenever they go to different places in the world, they always look for other marionette-makers. “But we never find any,” she told Euskal Kazeta in Spanish.

The two started their artistic lives in 1983. Basterretxea is the nephew of well-known Basque sculptor Nestor Basterretxea. Nestor Basterretxea is the author of the Basque Sheepherder sculpture in Reno, Nevada. Their first project was to help his uncle complete some controversial murals for the Basilica of Arantzazu. They started working in Irun, but eventually acquired a studio in nearby Hondarribia, where they began focusing on the marionettes. Since that time, the married couple has been the focus of many articles and videos and they have participated in museum exhibits.

The artists are very traditional, preferring to do their sales in person at their shop or by phone. Most requests are made to order. Their old-school ways mean they don’t spend much time promoting themselves via social media or a website. (You can see some of the dolls on their Instagram account.) But if you find yourself in Hondarribia, be sure to stop by their shop.

Artist Jonan Basterretxea at his marionette studio Menina in the old town of Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa

Located in the historic old town of Hondarribia (Fuenterrabia) in Euskadi, Spain, their store-workshop Menina is located at Calle Mayor, 30. They can be reached by email tallermenina@yahoo.es or phone in Spain (34) 605 77 34 87.

Basque Soccer Stars of World Cup 2026

Nancy Zubiri, Writer — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:35:51 +0000

When it comes to the World Cup, it can be hard to identify the Basque athletes because team allegiances are defined by country. To help you out, Euskal Kazeta has done the research and identified athletes of Basque heritage playing in the world’s premier international soccer tournament.

Basque soccer players are famous for their tough skills, high energy, and team play. Many play for the Basque region’s top local pro team, Athletic Club Bilbao. Several players mentioned below were part of the Spanish team when they won the EUFA Euro 2024 Championship.

Here’s a breakdown on Basques in the World Cup:

FRANCE
French Coach Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps represents only the third coach ever to have won a World Cup as a player and as a coach. He led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 World Cup final, and the team is again a favorite in this year’s tournament.

Deschamps is from the city of Baiona in the French Basque Country. After a short stint in rugby, with Biarritz Olympique, he showed his soccer skills and was quickly recruited into the soccer world in 1983.

He was captain of the French national team when France won its first World Cup in 1998. Deschamps took over as coach of the national team in 2012. In 2018, France won the 2018 World Cup and 2021 Nations League while also reaching the 2016 European Championship, 2022 World Cup final, and the 2024 European Championship semifinals.

Deschamps has announced he will retire after this World Cup.

GHANA
Iñaki Williams
Iñaki Williams, 32, was born in the Basque Country to parents from Ghana who made the grueling crossing of the Sahara Desert on foot. He was born in Bilbao, but grew up in Iruñea-Pamplona.

He has played for Athletic Bilbao his entire career. Williams originally played for the Spanish national team in a friendly match in 2016. However, in 2022, he made the official switch to represent the Ghana national football team. He made his debut for the “Black Stars” at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The story of Iñaki Williams and his younger brother Nico is one of the most famous sibling rivalries in international soccer. Iñaki chose to play for Ghana, while his younger brother Nico represents Spain. Both players play for Athletic Bilbao, where Iñaki is a captain. See the video.

SPAIN

Spain is among the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. The team won the World Cup in 2010 and most recently won the EUFA Euro Cup in 2024. The Basque players are all key members of Spain’s team. Several play for Athletic Bilbao, which only allows players of Basque heritage or who are born in the Basque Country. They were initially headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee for their games in Atlanta.

Coach Luis De La Fuente

Luis de la Fuente comes from the northern part of Spain, from Haro, a small town in the agriculturally rich region of La Rioja right next to the Basque Country. His father was from Bilbao, Bizkaia.

When Luis de la Fuente was 14 years old, he made a major move by traveling to the Basque Country to join the famous Athletic Bilbao youth academy. He eventually became a very reliable professional left-back, playing over 250 matches in the Spanish first division for Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla. After retiring as a player, he spent decades working with Spain’s youth teams, including stints with Portugalete and Athletic Bilbao, before taking over the senior national team job in December 2022.

Aymeric LaPorte
This is Aymeric LaPorte’s second World Cup. LaPorte, 32, was born in Agen, France, which is not part of the Basque Country. However, his great grandparents were Basque and early on, he requested permission to play for Athletic Bilbao.

LaPorte began his career with Athletic in 2010, moved to Manchester City for five years in 2018, then played for the Saudi club Al Nassr for two years. He returned to Athletic in September 2025 where he plays center back. He received Spanish citizenship in 2021 and has played for the Spanish national team for the 2022 World Cup and the Euro 2024, which Spain won.

Mikel Merino
Mikel Merino, 29, currently plays midfield for Arsenal, alongside Mikel Zubimendi. Earlier this year, Merino underwent surgery on a right foot injury sustained in January. He suffered a stress fracture on his foot during Arsenal’s 3-2 league loss against Manchester United on Jan. 25. He appears to be fully mended and was on the field for Spain for its first World Cup game on June 15.

Merino is from Iruñea-Pamplona. He started his soccer career playing on Iruñea’s team Osasuna. Since then, he has moved to Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, Real Sociedad (Donostia) and now Arsenal.

Merino’s father, Ángel Miguel, was also a footballer. His career was mostly associated with Osasuna, as both a player and manager. Merino kicked a goal for a win in the 2024 Euro semi-finals in Stuttgart, Germany that mirrored a win his father enjoyed in the very same stadium 33 years earlier. Mikel Merino imitated his father’s 1991 celebration by rounding the corner flag.

Mikel Oyarzabal
Oyarzabal, 29, is the captain of Real Sociedad, Donosti’s soccer team. Unlike their rivals Athletic Club Bilbao, Sociedad doesn’t enforce a ‘Basque only’ rule with regards to who is allowed to play for the club, having let that go in 1989.

Oyarzabal is from the town of Eibar, Gipuzkoa and is committed to his local team, Real Sociedad, where he has spent his entire career so far, apart from a loan to Eibar at youth level.

Unai Simón
Unai Simon is the top goalkeeper for the Spanish national team. Simon is from the capitol of Euskadi, Vitoria-Gasteiz. He has spent his entire club career with Athletic Bilbao.

Simon was starter goalkeeper for the Spanish national team in the 2022 World Cup and the Euro 2024, which Spain won.

He grew up in the town of Murgia, outside of Gasteiz-Vitoria in Alaba. He started in Athletic Bilbao’s youth team. He has worked his way up from the third division to being starting goalie for Athletic’s first division. He was starting goalkeeper for Spain in the UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and continued in that role in the Euro 2024.

Dani Vivian
Daniel Vivian, 26, is considered a tough defender for Athletic Club Bilbao. Vivian, was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz in the province of Alaba.

He has been with Athletic Bilbao his whole career, starting with their youth teams. He began playing for the national team in 2024. He plays center-back. Several clubs have their eye on this standout defender.

Nico Williams
Nico Williams, 23, is the son of Ghana immigrants who grew up in Iruñea-Pamplona. He played for youth clubs in Iruñea until he joined Athletic Bilbao in 2013.

Williams is a fast winger who plays for Athletic Club Bilbao and the Spanish national team. He was a key player in the EUFA Euro 2024, kicking the opening goal against England in the final game.
Williams suffered a hamstring injury last month while playing for Athletic Bilbao against Valencia in La Liga that almost ruled him out for the World Cup. Spain is being cautious and slowly building up his playing time. In addition, he’s been dealing with an abdominal issue for several months.

Martin Zubimendi
A smart midfielder who plays for Arsenal, Martin Zubimendi, 27, will be traveling to his first World Cup as part of Spain’s 26-man roster. He will play a key role in the midfield alongside teammates like Rodri to help control possession for La Roja.
Born in Donosti, Martin Zubimendi played with Real Sociedad since the age of 12. He joined Arsenal last year.

URUGUAY
Giorgian de Arascaeta 
At least one member of the Uruguayan team is Basque. Giorgian de Arascaeta, 32, who plays for the Brazilian team Flamengo, has played for Uruguay’s national team since 2014. The attacking midfielder has a nickname of “Arrascaneta” for his “caneta” or nutmeg ability to kick the ball through an opponent’s legs. He is of Basque and Italian descent. Several Uruguayan players in the history of the World Cup have been of Basque blood.
Arascaeta is currently recovering from a muscle injury.

If you know of any Basque players that we missed, feel free to add them in the comments below. And see comments that have already been added.

Basque Restaurant in Boise Earns James Beard Finalist Nod — One of Only Five in the Nation

Juliette Camou, Writer — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:35:05 +0000

Ansots Chorizos, the family‑run Basque restaurant in Boise’s historic Basque neighborhood, has earned national attention as one of five finalists for Outstanding Hospitality in the 2026 James Beard Awards.

For owner Dan Ansotegui, the recognition reflects not only his team’s dedication, but also the good hospitality of the Basque community. As he told Euskal Kazeta, the nomination speaks to the heart of the restaurant, a place where customers are meant to feel at home, and where Basque flavors and traditions continue to evolve through family, staff, and community.

For Ansotegui, the recognition came as a surprise. A validation of the values that have shaped his life’s work.

“We’ve been nominated three times before, but those were for different categories; those were for chef,” he said. “So it was kind of nice to go into a new one. I didn’t really understand it when we were first nominated, because in the past we’ve been nominated for the region of the Mountain West, and this is the first time we’ve been nominated under the national category.” Winners will be announced June 15 in Chicago.

More Basque Restaurants in Boise

What stood out most to him was what the nomination said about his team. “I think it just says a lot about the staff we have here and the way that we treat our customers. Hopefully everyone comes in and they’re at home or they’re in a place that they’re very happy to be.”

The honor, he added, extends beyond his own restaurant. “It’s been a really cool thing for the whole community and Basque restaurants in general. When attention is brought to one restaurant, I think it brings a little attention to everyone. It puts us all on people’s to‑do lists. Hopefully it’s something that’s good for the community of Boise and all Basque restaurants throughout the States.”

Ansotegui is no stranger to the James Beard Foundation. His earlier nominations for Best Chef placed him among the top culinary talents in the country. But this year’s honor feels different.

“I think the idea that we were one of, I think, 20 in the nation to start with, and now we’re in the finals, so now we’re one of five throughout the nation; it’s really an incredible honor,” he said. “You always kind of think that it’s a mistake. It’s been really cool, and the amount of people that have noticed, or travelers who look up places to go in Boise… we seem to be rated pretty high, which is a really nice compliment. It’s a great way for us to meet a lot of people we probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Although Ansots Chorizos opened only a few years ago, its roots stretch back through decades of Basque food in Boise; much of it shaped by Ansotegui himself.

“We haven’t been here very long,” he said. “I had other restaurants here in Boise. I had Bar Gernika, I opened that in 1991 and sold that to one of my employees in 2007. Then I opened the Basque Market in 1999 and sold that to friends in 2006.” Bar Gernika and the Basque Market have become cornerstones in Boise’s Basque restaurant scene. Ansotegui’s success in the restaurant business traces back to his grandmother, Epi Inchausti, and her popular boardinghouse in Hailey, Idaho.

Chorizos at Ansots restaurant in Boise, Idaho

After returning to teaching for several years, Ansotegui found himself back in the restaurant world. “I came back from teaching to work for another friend at another Basque restaurant here; a tapas restaurant in town. And then COVID hit and we closed down, and we didn’t want to close. So that’s when we opened here at Ansots.”

Opening during the pandemic came with challenges. “We signed our lease in May of 2020, and the city wouldn’t let us open. I think we finally got permission in September,” he said. “So during that time we were working on the menu, trying to make sure we were doing things that other Basque restaurants in the area weren’t doing.”

MORE STORIES about Dan Ansotegui

Boise is home to six Basque restaurants, and Ansotegui wanted Ansots to contribute something distinct. “We wanted to make sure there’s enough variety in Basque cooking that we touched on some things that maybe weren’t being done everywhere. Making our own chorizos – we are the only people around here that do that.”

Their menu also leans heavily on traditional sauces. “We do a lot with sauces, whether it’s the salsa biscayne, or the salsa verde, or the koxkera. Those are things that we use a lot, and I don’t think that’s used in a lot of the places here in Boise.”

Ansotegui’s influence on Boise’s Basque food scene spans more than three decades, but he resists the idea of holding a role in preserving Basque culture.

“I don’t really think of it as a role, I just do it because I enjoy doing it,” he said. “As a teacher, I enjoy spreading the word, teaching other people about things, whether it was 4th‑grade math or how to make clams in salsa verde. My daughter and my wife take that as our role too, to teach people who want to learn about Basque cooking.”

Ansots is a family business. His daughter Ellie works alongside him daily, and his wife Tamara contributes ideas and feedback when helping during the catering events.

“It’s great being able to come in every day; my daughter’s here, and my wife has a lot of input,” he said. “It’s always good to bounce ideas off people you trust and love. What we do here isn’t just coming from one mind. We have input from everyone.”

That includes their staff. “Definitely, especially for the front of the house. They make people feel welcome, and we are greatly indebted to everything that they do.”Ansotegui has watched Boise’s Basque food scene evolve over decades, shaped by unique local history.

“Boise is an interesting spot,” he explained. “The boarding houses here were much older than in other places. When the owners were in their 60s and 70s in the 1970s, fewer and fewer sheepherders were coming over, so the boarding houses were starting to die out. We never got any boarding houses in Boise to switch over to public restaurants, so Basque food here didn’t develop in the same way as in Nevada or California.”

Instead, Boise’s Basque restaurants emerged later, and differently. “Basque food here is definitely on a different trajectory,” he said. “We’re lucky. Boise is a small enough community, and there was a time when Boise’s population was about 10% Basque, which is a large amount for an immigrant population.”

Today, Ansots stands as part of that evolving story, and now, as a James Beard finalist, it brings national attention to a unique ethnic community that has been shaping Boise for more than a century.

Ansots Basque Chorizos
560 W. Main St.
Boise, Idaho
(208) 336-9166

Ansots is featured in our video on the Basque Block

Seattle Basques Celebrate Community at Annual Spring Dinner

Terryl Asla, Writer — Thu, 14 May 2026 23:25:20 +0000

A group of about 75 Basques, a few from as far away as California, Oregon, Wyoming and Canada, gathered March 21 for the Seattle Euskal Etxea annual Spring Dinner. Some of them played in the club’s mus tournament. All of them made new friendships and renewed old ones.

“We were trying for a sense of community, of sitting down and coming together at a boarding-house table,” said Edurne Arostegui, the club’s vice president, as she presided over the kitchen. The large dining hall in the Wallingford Community Senior Center had been arranged and decorated to reinforce that image.

Making dinner for the Seattle Basque club

The Seattle Basque club has waxed and waned over the years, but more recently, a dedicated group has provided a hub for the local Basque diaspora. They organize annual spring and summer picnics, often held at Lake Sammamish State Park, and provide community updates through their Facebook page and Instagram account.

During the dinner, members and their guests sat at two rows of long banquet tables while board members and volunteers served food family-style. The menu was deliciously simple and traditional: cream of zucchini soup, cod-stuffed piquillo peppers, salad, roasted tri-tip and potatoes, cheese, and a choice of Basque burnt cheesecake or Gateau Basque for dessert. All washed down with red wine. For many, the evening brought back memories of family gatherings past and a warm sense of community — familia — that is so uniquely Basque.

After dinner, people with long strings of raffle tickets waited, hoping to win the beautiful earthenware mugs and dishes created by club director Michelle Errecart. While the raffle took place at one end of the hall, the tables and chairs at the other end were whisked away to make room for music and dancing.

Club president Jean Escoz introduced his long-time friend and accordionist, David Romtvedt, an award-winning poet, writer, and musician from Buffalo, Wyoming. Escoz, himself a Basque dancer of some note, and Romtvedt then opened the dancing with an impressive and delightful dance demonstration.

The winners of the mus tournament were Jose Luis Mallea and Gaizka Mallea in first place, and Joe Guerricabeitia and Craig Fellom in second place. They will represent the Seattle club at the national North American Basque Organizations mus tournament finals in South San Francisco June 20.

History of Basques in Washington

Treasurer Debbie Coscorrosa greets the guests at Seattle dinner

Mus tournament winners in Seattle.

Back in the early 1900s, the area around the small town of Yakima in eastern Washington had the only Basque community of note in the state. Washington did not have large expanses of public domain land where sheep ranchers could graze sheep, as they did in other western states. As a result, few Basques came to Washington to work as sheepherders.

Because of Pacific Northwest’s abundant rain, much of the state’s western land was claimed for agriculture early on. Sheep tended to be farm flocks adjacent to farms, according to HistoryLink.org. On the drier eastern side of the state, the Columbia River Basin Project, created by the Grand Coulee Dam, provided irrigation water for farming.

Some Basques ran sheep through the Columbia River basin, summering near Mt. Rainier or Mt. Adams or other peaks in the Cascade Range. Two brothers, Sebastian and Juan Miguel Etulain, were well known sheep ranchers here. The historic El Hotel Bascongado in Yakima housed many of the young Basque men who came to herd sheep for them over the years. Read about Sebastian Etulain’s son Richard’s childhood growing up on the family sheep ranch. Nephew Miguel Etulain, who worked for many years on a cattle ranch here, had an interesting family story in the Basque Country before he even arrived in the U.S.

Accordionist David Romtvedt of Buffalo, Wyoming entertains the crowd. (Terryl Asla)

Basque Students Experience Yakima

See Richard Etulain’s book Boyhood Among the Woolies” on Amazon.

Read more about the history of Basques in the United States in Nancy Zubiri’s book “Travel Guide to Basque America.”

Bio on author Terryl Asla

Director Asier Altuna to Tour U.S. with Basque Film “Karmele” in May

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:15:55 +0000

The Basque film Karmele, which debuted at the 2025 San Sebastian Film Festival last September, will be showcased in cities across the U.S. in May. Director Asier Altuna, who has made previous trips to the U.S. for his films, will be appearing at the screenings to speak about the movie and answer questions from the audiences.

Karmele is the story of a Basque nurse who flees her homeland after the Spanish Civil War. In France, she marries a Basque jazz trumpet player. After spending time in Europe, the two end up in Venezuela, but eventually they return to their homeland to fight against the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

The film tour will feature 12 screenings in six states and Washington D.C. The movie is in Euskera and Spanish and will include English subtitles. Most of the presentations are sponsored by local Basque clubs.

“They are very excited about bringing this film to the diaspora,” said Philippe Acheritogaray, who arranged for Karmele to be screened in the U.S.

“It will resonate with the diaspora because the characters left Euskal Herria just like immigrants in the diaspora,” added Acheritogaray, noting the similarities between the film’s protagonists and Basque immigrants who settled in the U.S.

The film is based on the real-life experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi, whose lives are reflected in the novel Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua (Time to Wake Up Together) by Basque author Kirmen Uribe. Uribe has published four books and numerous poems and essays which have been translated into numerous languages. He serves as Writer in Residence in the MFA in Creative Writing in Spanish at New York University.

Director Asier Altuna, along with Marian Fernandez Pascal, started the Basque film company Txintxua Films in 2016. His last visit to the U.S. was in 2016 to showcase his film “Amama.”

Kokein Opened U.S. Tour in Bakersfield, Bringing “Sensitive Rock” to the Basque Diaspora

Juliette Camou, Writer — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:18:31 +0000

Kokein has been a major presence in the Basque music scene for 25 years. Founded in Eibar, Gipuzkoa in 1999, the band started out singing exclusively in Euskara and has stayed true to that choice ever since.

Across eight albums, they have continued to experiment while keeping their rock foundation. Known for their energetic, high‑quality live performances, Kokein brings a dynamic, emotionally charged presence to the stage, a culmination of decades spent touring and growing together as a musical family.

When the Basque rock band Kokein walked into Bakersfield’s Basque club for the first stop of their U.S. tour March 21, they were stepping into a community that already felt strangely familiar. The room buzzed with anticipation; not just for the music, but for the rare chance to welcome a contemporary Basque band whose sound has shaped a generation back home. The band was also scheduled to play at the TreeFort Festival in Boise, Idaho and for the Basque communities of South San Francisco and Chino, Calif.

Before their acoustic set, I sat down with three members of the band, vocalist Zaloa Urain, guitarist Iker Sáenz Zaitegi and drummer Haritz Lete to talk about their music, their identity, and what it means to share Basque rock with diaspora audiences. The other members of the band include Edu Arguinzoniz and Jatsu Argarate.

The rock band Kokein from Eibar, Gipuzkoa during their U.S. tour.

“Sensitive Rock”: How Kokein Describes Their Sound

When asked how they would introduce their music to someone hearing it for the first time, Urain paused, searching for the right words. Then she smiled.
“We make rock,” she said.

The band members laughed, but nodded in agreement. Lete used the phrase “sensitive rock.” “Dynamic,” Sáenz added. “Going up and down with emotion.”

It’s a fitting description for a group whose music blends intensity with vulnerability — a sound that resonates deeply even if you don’t speak Basque.

“When you’re singing and playing, you feel something,” Urain said. “And you want people to feel that too. Music is magic.”

MORE STORIES ABOUT MUSIC

The Bakersfield show was special for another reason: Kokein performed an acoustic set, something they rarely do in the Basque Country.

“Today is a special set,” Lete explained in their interview with Euskal Kazeta. “We’re going to play acoustic. We normally play electric.”

They used to perform sets with just the guitar and vocals. But at the Bakersfield performance, Kokein added drums and bass guitars.

“So it’s going to be something that we did in 2007, almost 20 years ago, and it will be fun,” said Sáenz before the performance. For the diaspora audience, it meant hearing Kokein in a stripped‑down, intimate format; a unique moment in the band’s 25‑year history.

The band was especially excited to perform their newest album, Bidea Da Helmuga (“The Path is the Destination”), entirely in Euskara. Released in 2024 to honor their 25th anniversary, the project celebrates both legacy and evolution.

The album is divided into two halves: five brand‑new tracks and five reimagined versions of earlier songs, interpreted by an impressive lineup of Basque artists. These collaborators include Miren Narbaiza, Ander Mujika, Joseba Baleztena, Zea Mays, Eraso!, Mursego, and Nakar; musicians who have long been part of the same Basque Rock scene and who bring their own distinct styles to Kokein’s sound. Together, they create a tribute that highlights Kokein’s influence across generations and reflects the band’s deep commitment to community, collaboration, and the Basque music scene.

Connecting Basque Worlds
Though Kokein has performed internationally, in London, Japan and other regions of Spain, playing for Basque Americans carries a different emotional weight. This is the band’s first tour in the United States.

Music has a way of collapsing distance; between countries, generations, and people who may never have met but somehow understand each other through sound. It moves past language and geography, carrying emotion in a way that feels universal. They are excited to understand how Basques in the U.S. feel their culture.

Watching Kokein prepare for their set in Bakersfield, it was clear that this tour was much more than music; it was about connection.

Their music became a bridge between the Basque Country and the diaspora communities who hold their identity in a different way, proving that a melody can do what words sometimes can’t: remind us that we belong to something larger than ourselves.

“It’s really nice,” Urain said. “There’s something we have in common.”
The band spoke about how Basque identity shifts across borders. In the Basque Country, it’s woven into daily life. In the U.S., it’s something people actively preserve through clubs, festivals, and community traditions.

“Our friends have performed here; so it is nice to continue this cultural exchange.” Sáenz explained. “Sometimes when we talk about Basque culture, they think only of folk music,” Urain added. “But there are many bands in the Basque Country making new music. It’s nice to show that.” In fact, the number of Basque rock bands singing in Basque is growing. Kokein members consider themselves to be holding a more traditional take on rock music.

When I asked them to describe the tour in one word, Urain didn’t hesitate.
“A gift,” she said. “A big gift for us.”

She explained that the band feels deeply grateful; not only to travel and perform in the U.S., but to be welcomed by Basque communities who see their music as a bridge to the homeland.

For drummer Lete, the tour holds an especially personal meaning. Lete has family members who live in Boise, Idaho and he will be able to see them during the band’s stop there.

“It’s very special for me,” he said. “Really nice. I will connect with my family.”

Sharing their music with relatives who have built their lives in the U.S. adds another layer of emotion to the tour. “It feels extra special,” he said. “To share this with them.”

The rock band Kokein from Eibar, Gipuzkoa during their U.S. tour.

A Celebration of Basque Identity, Across Oceans
As they prepared to take the stage in Bakersfield, the band reflected on what it means to perform for Basque Americans who hold their identity in a different way; shaped by distance, memory, and community.

“We want to know how you feel Basque,” Urain said. “We know we are different, but identity is a huge part of everyone in that room.”

For Kokein, this tour is more than a series of concerts. It’s a cultural exchange, a reunion, and in many ways, a homecoming; not just for the band, but for the diaspora communities who see themselves reflected in their music.
And for the audience in Bakersfield, it was a reminder that Basque culture is alive and evolving; sometimes electric and loud, sometimes acoustic, always full of emotion.

During a performance in Boise, Idaho

What is “Txotx”?

Michael McCay, Writer — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:48:58 +0000

“Txotx” (pronounced “choch”) is one of my favorite words in any language. Hearing it usually means that 1) I’m in a Basque cider house, in the middle of tucking into traditional culinary delights, and 2) we’re being called to sample another one of the many casks of refreshing fermented juice from pressed apples, each with its own character and flavor notes.

The Basque word for cider is “sagardoa,” where “sagar” means apple, and “ardoa” is wine. This apple wine is produced in six of the seven historic Basque provinces, with Zuberoa being the lone exception, but well over 90% is produced in the province of Gipuzkoa. Basque cider has no added sugar and is dry, with no added carbonation.

The town of Astigarraga is the center of cider production, with 21 traditional baserriak or farms, each producing their own private label. Demand is so great in Gipuzkoa that they import two thirds of their apples from elsewhere in Europe to satisfy all of it.

This lovely elixir has been part of Basque culture going back at least to the 10th century and likely well before. References to the production and distribution of cider can be found in ancient Basque legal texts, and casks of sagardoa even accompanied Basque whalers on ships that reached North America, according to historical records. The cider cask was a convenient store of essential plant-based nutrients that kept sailors healthy and hydrated on long sea voyages, with zero spoilage.

But what I’m here to talk about is the consumption of this delicious nectar at its place of production, at the sagardotegi (ciderhouse). For most of the year, while the apple trees are cared for, apples are picked and pressed and the sweet juice is left to ferment in casks, these cider houses are closed to the public. Once the cider has completed its fermentation process in the tanks and casks sometime in mid-January, the doors of the cider house, or sagardotegia, are thrown open to the public for nightly sessions of eating and cider-sampling.