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The city of San Nicolas, in the province of Buenos Aires will be the host of this year’s Semana Nacional Vasca November 6-12 when it will become the epicenter of a large number of cultural manifestations from the Basque Country.  It will also be an international meeting point for Basques, their descendants and friends of the community.  As part of the festivities the host Basque club will also celebrate the 15^th anniversary of the Etxe Nasaia program, one of its most important solidarity projects. 

San Nicolas, Argentina. Semana Nacional is the largest Basque festival in the Basque Diaspora in Argentina and surrounding area. The annual event attempts to reflect the identity and interests of the Basque community and so every year develops a program with a similar basis: Basque club meetings, music and dance performances, public dances. Nevertheless, each organization puts its stamp on the event adding its own local color.

This year, in San Nicolas, the Basque club will also celebrate the 15th anniversary of one of its most important solidarity projects by holding a Mega edition of Etxe Nasaia, as they did on its 10th anniversary that included the participation of Lehendakari Juan Jose Ibarretxe and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Perez Esquivel providing lunch to 350 children in the area. The event will take place in Gral. Rojo, located some 20 kms. from San Nicolas uniting cooperatives and other local associations.

This year, 2017, marks 80 years of milestones in the history of the Basque Country; some happy like the creation of Eresoinka Choir or a Basque Selection Soccer Team; and others that are sadly remembers like the Bombing of Gernika and the Battle of Matxitxako. The Euskal Etxea in San Nicolas will include events in its program to also remember these anniversaries.

President of the hosting club, Damián Cebey, explains the Semana Vasca Program

Following is the final Schedule for Semana Nacional Vasca 2017:

Monday, November 6
-19:00, Inauguration of painting exhibit by Miguel Echevarria. The exhibit will be open from 10:00-22:00 at the Honorable Concejo Deliberante (HCD) at the Art School 501
-19:30, Lecture on education by Graciana Goicoecheandia, at the HCD
-21:00, Opening of photo exhibit “Towards the Clouds” by a group of local mountaineers. This exhibit will be open to the public all week from 10:00-22:00 at the Basque club
-21:00, Inauguration of the “Basque Farmhouse” exhibit by Juan Carlos Ibarrola. The exhibit will be open to the public all week from 10:00-22:00 at the Basque club.

Tuesday, November 7
-19:00, Inauguration of the exhibit, “In the Footsteps of Euskera. The Basque Language and its Presence in Argentina.” The exhibit will be open from 10:00-22:00 in the Auditorium.
-19:00, In the year of its 80^th anniversary.  Exhibit on the Battle of Matxitxako. The material is on loan from the Matxitxako Elkartea in Donostia. The exhibit will be open to the public from 10:00-22:00, in the auditorium
-19:30/20:00, First Basque film screening with Carlos Gabilondo, in the auditorium: "Markak" (2016) Hannot Mintegia Beaskoa. Short movie: "La batalla de Matxitxako" (2017), by Oihane Pardo Perez.

Wednesday, November 8
 -10:30-12:00, Artists meeting. Artists and musicians coming from the Basque Country will meet with students at Art School #501
-19:30, Second Basque film screening with Carlos Gabilondo, Zulueta, azucar Moreno (2017) by Angel Katarian, and the short “Gure historiak soinu ezberdina izango luke “ (Our histories could sound different) (2015) by Gabriel Gil in the auditorium

Thursday, November 9
-9:30-12:00, Celebration of the 15^th anniversary of the Etxea Nasaia Program.  As every month, Basque club cooks will make lunch for students in public schools.  This event will take place at the camping at the Electric Cooperative General Rojo Ltda. With the participation of the local delegations, Campos Salles, the Emlia and Conesa and the cooperatives affiliated with each.  Musicians for the Basque Country and dantzaris will also perform and various local authorities will also attend.  
-17:30-19:00, Artists meeting. Artists and musicians coming from the Basque Country will again meet with students at Art School #501
-19:30, Street recital featuring Basque artists: Mikel Urdangarin, Xabaltx and Michel Etcheverry. Each with their accompanying musicians.  Urdangarin will also play along with professors from Art School 501 in San Nicolas. Place: Mitre Plaza

Friday, November 10
-8:00, Delegation Reception at the Euskal Etxea, including accompaniment to lodging and breakfast
-10:00, Local Mayor, Manuel Passaglia will welcome authorities form the Basque Government at the National Assembly (Jean Lassalle, deputy in Paris for the Pyrenees Atlantiques) and FEVA
-11:00, Disbursement of books to libraries, at the HCD
-12:00, Lunch
-15:00- 18:00, Mintzodromoa, at the Law Faculty
-15:00-18:00, Meeting “Telling the Story,” aimed at young people who want to know more about the history of the Basque Country, at the Euskal Etxea
-19:00, Official Inauguration of Semana Nacional Vasca 2017. Raising of the flags, anthems, and the presence of authorities at the Mitre Plaza
-19:30, Choir meeting at the Municipal Theater Rafael de Aguiar.  Participation of groups from Buenos Aires (Euskaltzaleak), Villa María, Viedma-Patagones, Cañuelas and San Nicolás and each will pay tribute to the 80^th anniversary of the creation of Eresoinka.  The documentary done by the Lehendakari Agirre Center about Basque choirs will also be shown.  This will be followed by a recital by Michel Etcheverry, Mikel Urdangarin and Xabaltx. Place: Municipal Theater
-23:00, Cocktail and dance at the Belgrano Club

Saturday, November 11
-8:00, Delegation Reception at the Euskal Etxea, including accompaniment to lodging and breakfast
-10:00, FEVA meeting at the Euskal Etxea
-10:00, Dance Director Meeting
-10:00, Basque librarian meeting at the Euskal Etxea
-10:00-18:00, Mus tournament
-13:00, Lunch at the Belgrano Club
-15:00-17:30:00, “People, Countries, Rights,” debate with representative from Gure Esku Dago, Angel Oiarbide. Debut of documentary, Together-Elkarrekin at the auditorium
-18:00, Tamborrada and kalejira
-19:00, Evening of dance. Presentation of the Semana Vasca 2017 inaugural video by Gabi de la Maza. See video here
-22:30, Cocktail and dance at the Belgrano Club

Sunday, November 12
-11:00, Mass at the local cathedral. Special intention for eternal rest for the fourteen priests who were executed by Franco
-11:45, Tribute at the Tree of Gernika at the Mitre Plaza with songs by Michel Etcheverry and his musicians
-12:00, Plaza at the Mitre Plaza
-13:30, Lunch at the Belgrano Club

For more information, email: snvascasn@hotmail.com.