Euskal kultura

On Saturday, June 6, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce organized its 16th America’s Global Village festival. A free annual event that celebrates the diversity of the city’s society. Ontario Basque Club was there, “because we are part of this community and we do things for and in the community,” said Lisa Corcostegui, president of the Euskal Etxea, to EuskalKultura.com. And she added: “It’s fun to see other cultures and it’s great exposure for us.”

Ontario, OR. The high temperatures registered on Saturday didn’t stop people from attending the free annual festival America’s Global Village, created in 1999 by the local Chamber of Commerce. In fact, Corcostegui believes it was one of the most successful editions of the last few years. Food, dances, traditional costumes, music, information about the participating cultures, etc. filled Lions Park that was conveniently separated in small villages, each one reserved for a different nation. This year, there were more than ten areas to celebrate the cultures from Africa, Native America, Germany, Mexico, Scotland...and the Basques, to name a few.

Corcostegui likes Ontario Basque Club to participate in this kind of events because “we are part of this community and we do things for and in the community.” Also, because it gives the Basques some visibility. She remembers that when she was a child everybody in the area was familiar with the Basques but now, there are a lot of new families that are not that attached to the land’s history: “It’s changed a lot, but I think that through the villages and our festivals and events people get to know us. It’d be a shame to have the capacity to participate here and not to do it. It’s fun to see other cultures and it’s a great exposure for us.”

The Basque village displayed informative panels about Euskal Herria and Euskara and attendees were offered some txorizo and cheese. The kids also had a photo-booth area to take a picture decorated with a Baserri (Basque farm) background. And as part of the program, the young dancers of the Beti Alai dantza taldea performed ten dances in front of the crowd: Lekeitioko Aurreskua, Irunatarrak, Danborrada, Matelota, Jota, Porrusalda, Esku Dantza, San Petrike Dantza, Zapatain Dantza, and Txulalai.

Enjoy with this photo gallery, with beautiful pictures provided by the Ontario Basque Club and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.