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These workshops
are made possible by the support
of the Basque Government and the
hosting of local Basque clubs. |
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 Aug
6-7-8: NEVADA workshops: Winnemucca
 Aug
13-14-15: WYOMING workshops: Buffalo
 Aug
20-21-22: UTAH workshops: Salt Lake City
Article from
the Buffalo (Wyoming) Bulletin published Aug.
18, 2010
Reprinted here in case it is re/moved from
original source:
www.buffalobulletin.com
Instructors travel from Basque country to
present cultural workshops
By Tiffany Bertsch
When Aimar Rubio and Asier Ortega stepped
off the plane in Salt Lake City earlier this
month, they were on a trip to the United
States for the very first time. Having
traveled from the Basque country between
France and Spain, the duo arrived in this
country for a tri-state, cultural workshop
tour.
Ortega and Rubio are grant holders who work
for the Basque government. Rubio is from
Bilbao in Bizkaia and Ortega is from
Vitoria-Gasteiz in Araba, both of which are
located on the Spanish side of the Basque
country. Having finished their college
educations, the two were working together
for the Basque government when an idea was
generated.
“John Ysursa, the man from NABO (North
American Basque Organization), told us that
for knowing how the Basque people abroad
live, we have to go to where they are. This
is how this idea started,” Ortega said.
Ysursa, who is the NABO manager in Boise,
began to put the plan into action with
collaboration from the Basque government.
“He tells us that we could come to the
United States to different Basque clubs to
make some speeches, show some films…” Rubio
said of Ysursa. “This is the first time the
Basque government has done anything like
this.”
“And we hope it will not be the last,”
Ortega added.
After much planning, and preparation of a
“menu” of workshops for Basque club members
to choose from, Rubio and Ortega were on
their way to the United States to share
their culture.
Their first stop was a three-day stint in
Winnemucca, Nev. From there, they traveled
to Buffalo. The tour will end in Salt Lake
City this weekend, where after presenting
their workshops, Rubio and Ortega will
depart for home.
While in Buffalo, the pair played games and
created handicrafts with local children.
They also offered various workshops and
presentations about the Basque culture. On
their final day in town, they participated
in the Big Horn Basque Club’s celebration
that involved food, dancing and
presentations.
According to Rubio, the trip has gone “very,
very well.”
“The Basque community of each club has been
so, so lovely with us,” he added.
The pair said the main target of the program
is to “try to join the Basque community
abroad.”
“It’s an excuse for joining the Basque
families,” Ortega said. “That’s the most
important thing. To join the Basque
families.”
“For the Basque government it’s important
because it’s a way to enclose relations
between the Basque country and the Basques
who are living abroad,” he added. “So it’s a
way to enclose these two worlds which are
very far away. To meet each other and know
how they live.”
Rubio and Ortega both shared their
excitement about the opportunity to come to
the United States to give the cultural
presentations.
“This is incredible,” Rubio said. “We are
learning more than we are teaching…how the
Basques in the United States are living.”
When the pair returns home, they will begin
working on an article for a Basque Club
magazine about what they have learned on
their adventure.
Joyce Inchauspe, a director on the board of
the Big Horn Basque Club, said, “We’re just
thrilled to have them here. I personally
learned a lot at the kids’ workshop and I’ve
learned a lot about young, modern-day
Basque.”
Because the program is offered through a
two-year grant, next year, two new
instructors will travel to the United States
from the Basque country to offer
presentations. They will visit different
Basque clubs than Rubio and Ortega did, but
the idea remains the same – to share their
culture.
“For us the most beautiful state is
Wyoming,” Rubio said. “We have had a good
time here.”
WORKSHOP MENU SELECTIONS.
Your
club can select which of these they would like,
mixing and matching, and the preferred time of
day, etc.
Activity: Introduction to the Basque Country
Nowadays (I)
(40-50min speech. PowerPoint available)
The workshop would consist on a brief
presentation of the Basque Country, where the
main topic would be to focus on the
culture & history of the three different
legal and political entities.
>Source: “The Basque Country” Insight into its
culture, history, society and institutions.
Published by Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen
Zerbitzu Nagusia, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Euskadi
(2009)
Activity: Introduction to the Basque Country
Nowadays (II)
(40-50min speech. PowerPoint available)
The workshop would consist on a brief
presentation of the Basque Country, where the
main topic would be to focus on the
Society & institutions of the three
different legal and political entities.
>Source: “The Basque Country” Insight into its
culture, history, society and institutions.
Published by Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen
Zerbitzu Nagusia, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Euskadi
(2009)
Activity: Curiosities of Bizkaia, Araba and
Gipuzkoa
(10-15 min speech each territory. PowerPoint
available)
This workshop is focus on the curiosities of
Bizkaia, Araba and Gipuzkoa. The aim is to
consider and tell things that did not appear on
the tourist guides.
>Source: each grant-holder is from one
territory, so we could be able to tell some
things about our country, and piqued the
curiosity of the people.
Activity: Basque Film festival (Kids session)
(3-4 days long, 120 min pass approximate)
This workshop is focus on the screening of some
films, related to the Basque Country. After the
screening, playful activities will be available
for kids, around the topic of the film.
…Need to fill out film list…
Activity: Basque Film festival (Adult session)
(3-4 days long, 120 min pass approximate)
This workshop is focus on the screening of some
films, related to the Basque Country. After the
screening, we can performance a round table to
chat about the topic of the film.
1. Aupa Etxebeste
2. …Need to fill out film list…
3. …Need to fill out film list…
Activity: Euskadi's Government programs for
Basque Diaspora
(30 min speech. PowerPoint available)
This workshop is focus on the programmes of the
Basque Government for the Basque Centres. The
aim of this activity is to make an institutional
introduction and memory about the activities and
programmes of the Government for the Basque
Centres, such us “Gaztemundu”, “subsidizes”,
etc…
Activity: Transmitting the Basque heritage
through games and play (for kids)
(3-4 days long, 1-2h. sessions)
This workshop is focus on Children’s Games,
Games for sharing, Euskal pilota, Herrik kirolak
(sports activities which specifically contribute
to the promotion and enjoyment of the emotion of
sports), etc…
Activity: Basque Workshop (for kids)
(3-4 days long, 1-2h. sessions)
This workshop is focus on painting, Basque
handicrafts, etc…
Activity: Euskal Kondairak (for kids)
(50 min session, PowerPoint available)
This workshop is focus on Basque mythology, and
would consist on a short presentation of Basque
magic warlocks, fairies, etc |
