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Bilbao, Bizkaia.  The ninth edition of the EHMG seminar took place on June 18 and 19 at the University of Deusto in Bilbao and according to organizers the event has become a meeting point for studies on the history and the Basque culture outside of Euskal Herria.

All has been possible “thanks to the joining of interest of various institutions, among which is the department of the Basque Community Abroad of the Basque Government, the University of the Basque Country, the University of Deusto, Eusko Ikaskuntza, EuskalKultura.com and a long etc.” assures Pedro Oiarzabal (Deusto), organizer.  “The collaboration between the institutions is fundamental and the participation of those who had left, but who have now returned was essential.”

The ninth edition focused on the phenomenon of return migration and “put on the table the urgent need for further research to shed light on our recent past emigration and exile, taking into account the oral testimonies of those who emigrated or who were exiled,” Oiarzabal said.  “To our knowledge, the recovery of this untold, and for that matter, undocumented history, in the first person on this phenomenon of exile and Basque emigration is essential to understand our past and our present.”

The virtual version of the seminar that will be celebrated until July 2 is available on EuskoSare.

Looking to the Future

The seminar maintains a clear view of the future and will celebrate its 10th edition this year, in New York City. The meeting will take place in October as part of the Centennial celebration of the Euzko Etxea of New York, the first Basque club founded in the US.

The theme of the event will be the Basque presence in New York, entry point for Basque emigration to the country.  The seminar will be hosted by prestigious Columbia University.  The inaugural session will take place on October 10^th, and the second session will take place at the Basque club in Brooklyn.

Presenters include experts like William Douglass (Center for Basque Studies, University of Reno, NV), Oscar Alvarez Gila (University of the Basque Country), and Pedro J. Oiarzabal (University of Deusto).  The seminar is sponsored by the Basque Government, and Columbia, Basque Country and Deusto universities.