La Plata, Argentina. The Semana Nacional Vasca Argentina 2014 concluded yesterday and EuskalKultura.com will publish a photo chronicle of the intense weekend starting tomorrow. Today’s article will serve as a summary and the presentation of this chronicle. Offerings at this year’s Semana Vasca from November 1-9 were varied and many, with activities from the inauguration of two exhibits, one on traditional Basque clothes by Magdalena Mignaburu Berho, and another called “Euskaldunen Argentina” on Basques in Argentina with a special emphasis on the contribution of Iparralde to the Basque-Argentine migration, to an entire series of talks, sporting events, music, dance and films, along with the traditional events and festivities that take place at Semana Vasca including the FEVA meeting, and the dantzari parade on Sunday.
To mention a few of these activities, there were choir performances by the hosting club’s choir, as well as a wonderful choir meeting which took place at La Plata’s City Hall. There were also pelota matches every day, both men and women and exhibition of modalities like Xare, along with other sporting events, like soccer, hockey, chess and an exhibition game by the club’s blind's soccer team, as well as the presentation of Magdalena Mignaburu’s book on 100 years of Basque Nationalism in Argentina.
Regarding film, there was a presentation on Basque cinema and the showing of Kutsidazu bidea, Ixabel; there was also a reading of a theater piece, the winner of the Semana Vasca Theater contest A(nt)ze(z)lana, by Sabrina Otegui and Marcela Inda; The work was written in Spanish but examines life in a Basque club with humor, from the point of view of Basque language classes taught at the club. There was a tribute to Basque Work, business and entrepreneurs. FEVA had its Semana Vasca meeting as well as Basque libraries, and those in charge of Euskera and dance groups. There was a talk on independence networks and a presentation of the Eusko Diaspora Project by Eusko Ikaskuntza – Iparralde.
The week closed on Sunday with the traditional dantzari parade and dance performances outside, followed by the huge farewell lunch that took place in Republica de los Niños, a kind of popular small theme park in outside La Plata.
In regards to institutions it is worth mentioning that Cristina Uriarte, Minister of Culture, Linguistic Policy and Education of the Basque Country was present, along with Marian Elorza , Secretary General of Foreign Action with Asier Vallejo Itsaso, Director of the Basque Community Abroad, along with the Delegate of Euskadi for Argentina-Mercosur, Sara Pagola. They were also accompanied by Andoni Martin from the Directorate of the Basque Community Abroad and Mariana Satostegui, from the Delegation of Euskadi in Argentina-Mercosur.
Also from the Basque Country Merxe Aizpurua, representative of Udalbitza was also in attendance -she is the mayor of Usurbil in Gipuzkoa - along with a representative from Araba, Lorena Lopez de Lacalle.
Claims about the Basque right to decide were Heard at various times throughout the week, as well as in relation to claims for official Basque sport selections.
Semana Vasca also paid tribute on behalf of the Basque Government, to the work done by the Basque-Argentine community in the persons of Isidro Legarreta and Mikel Ezkerro. And the hosting Basque club also honored EuskalKultura.com, that was represented by Sabrina Otegui, correspondent from Buenos Aires, and Joseba Etxarri, director and coordinator of the project
More people were also in Attendance from the Basque country including members of the Euskal Argentina Association based in Lower Navarre that came after touring Chile. Pelota matches and competitions were organized every day by the World Council of Basque Pelota and Associates, including teams from Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Venezuela, Euskadi and Argentina.
(Photo chronicle of the week starting tomorrow on EuskalKultura.com)
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