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The son of a Basque immigrant, he was born and raised in Valparaiso, but his Chilean life was touched with strong Basque feelings. Even his Chilean's mother's last name is Araya, a Basque last name common in Chile.  Archibaldo Uriarte is the President of the Eusko Etxea in Valparaiso. Basques in Valparaiso celebrate this year the Centennial of their first institution in the city.

Joseba Etxarri.   They say that people from Bilbao are born wherever they want, and so by extension so are the fans of Athletic.  Half seriously, and half in jest, this is a common phenomenon in the Diaspora, that of being and feeling, not from the place, but by family, culture, or by what is learned at home, or from personal vocation or decision.  Luis Archibaldo Uriarte Araya, was born 67 years ago in Chile and was born attached to Bizkaia and Euskadi, and Athletic.  His father, Juan Jesus Uriarte Ugalde, filled him with those feelings, being himself a only 15 years old boy from Bakio that left home to avoid being called into the ranks of the Spanish Army and ended up in the Chilean Fifth Region.  He had an uncle there and so that is where he settled and had a family where Basque and Chilean merged, incorporating traditions and ways from both corners of the world.

Far from being his case unique, Valparaiso and its adjoining Viña del Mar city were already attractive places for Basques. Besides being an important part of the commercial fabric of the city, they founded there the Basque Chilean Mutual Aid Center, pioneers in a country with Basque pilota courts and where Basques from all of the seven provinces carved out a life throughout its geography.  The surname of his Chilean mother, Araya, has clear roots in the Basque province of Araba and abounds in Chile, connecting with the Basque historical presence in this country that Unamuno attributed to a notable Basque influence.

To begin our interview with a question about current events, just a few days ago there was an 4.9 magnitude earthquake, did it affect the Eusko Etxea or the Basque community?

-Fortunately, no.  Not the same as in 2011 when we lost the locale that was our clubhouse due to structural damage.  We had the good fortune to have the support of the Basque Government allowing us to get another clubhouse that is currently our headquarters in Viña del Mar, serving as the fundamental part of our activities.  In Chile earthquakes are common and sometimes they are devastating, but they also have their positive side, the solidarity that comes from these natural phenomenon, like earthquakes and floods.  Not too long ago, a Basque girl, Amaia Goitia, started an initiative supported by the Delegation of Euskadi and the Basque community to help those in the northern part of the country who were affected by floods.

You are going to celebrate the Centennial of the first Basque club in Valparaiso.

-The Center was founded on September 4, 1915, but we moved the celebration forward to August 15, for a big day and a luch with a large number of participants.  In reality we have extended the commemorative program throughout the year, since we think it is important to hold these activities that stress the great contributions that the Basques have made and are making to the city and the entire Fifth Region.  Traditionally many Basques here were merchants in different areas, but there were also professional, etc. and some religious, like Fr. Hilario Olazaran, a Capuchin, a very good friend of my father, who did a lot of work and who many also remember as a radio man, musician and txistulari.  In our history there are many milestones like the visit from Lehendakari Aguirre in 1941, welcomed with all of the honors by the mayor and other civil and military officials.  Thanks to him and his charisma, a new stage began in the community, with Basques who had been here for a long time and more that came after the Civil War, some of them aboard the Winnipeg, charted by Pablo Neruda. All of them came together to form the Basque club, Eusko Etxea that still survives today.  We are very happy to be able to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the club that was originally the Basque-Chilean Mutual Aid Center.

You will be traveling soon to Vitoria-Gasteiz to participate in the 6th World Congress of Basque Collectivities

-I think it is important for us to relate and communicate better, not only the Basque Government, but also with the rest of the Basque clubs in the world.  Nearly a year has gone by since I attended the Semana Nacional Vasca in Argentina, and it was very enriching.  At the Congress, I will present Valparaiso as a city that is increasing its relationship with Euskadi.  Some months ago a delegation from our region visited Gipuzkoa on an official trip and toured universities, businesses and institutions.  The cars from the subway in Valpariaso are built in the CAF in Beasain.  Valparaiso and Bilbao, two very active and relevant ports, signed an agreement..  Basque youth come here through agreements between the universities and we invite them to the club; some of them had helped us out by teaching Basque classes.  Thanks to the Etxepare Institute, the Catholic University and the Valparaiso University offer Basque language and culture classes.  And a first; let me proudly announce to you that as part of the Centennial we had a meeting with the Mayor Jorge Castro and we have signed an agreement that allows us space in the heart of the city, on Avenida Argentina, next to the Chilean National Congress, to create a Basque Plaza that will commemorate and pay tribute to Basque emigration and its contributions to the city.