Every year the on September 18th herds of sheep are trailed off the mountain in Bardenas or Bardeak (Navarre) to spend the winter in this area in southern Navarre. It is one of the last places where trailing takes place that is also about to be lost, because this year marks the last time that this festival will take place. The Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan Association will be there and has decided to celebrate its 2014 annual festival in conjunction with the event, and specifically, one of its members, Jose Aguas, is in charge of starting the herds into the place.
Lesaka, Navarre. The Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan Association hopes to receive 600 participants among members and friends. There will also be friends from the US, like Melchor Grajirena, Berñardo Yanci and many more. They will be part of the audience that gathers every year in Bardenas to see the herds of sheep come down the mountain.
In Bardenas they will be able to relive their experiences, the smells and sounds of those years when they were herders in the US, thanks to the impressive images of the herds coming into the Navarran desert. One of the Association’s members, Jose Aguas, who always attends, will have the honor of shooting the starting gun, to signal the start of the trail.
“Jose has always been a herder,” Laura Igantzi, president of the Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan tells EuskalKultura.com. “He is 80 years old and still has some 2,000 sheep.” After the herds are in, members and their companions will celebrate the annual meal.
Next year in Boise
Despite their age, members of Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan are still very vital. Last year the association organized a trip to the US where many met friends and companions for the first time since they worked and lived there. The trip was so emotional that another visit is now in the works.
It will take place next year to coincide with Boise Jaialdi 2015, the big Basque festival that takes place very five years and gathers a large part of the US Basque community. Herders from Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan don’t want to miss it as many Amerikanuak come from various states. They will also visit San Francisco, Napa Valley and the towns of Elko, Reno and Winnemucca in Nevada.
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