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Bertiz, Nafarroa.   The exhibit “The Life of Basque Herders in America in Photos,” provided visitors the possibility of getting closer to the experience of hundreds of young men from Navarre that emigrated to the US to make a living as a sheepherder, through photographs and memories selected by themselves.  The exhibit was organized by the Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan Association and can be seen in Bertiz until August 31st. 

Informational panels also accompany the photographs containing information on different parts of a herder’s life.  The panels are in four languages: Euskera, Spanish, French and English.  Finally, the exhibit also includes a recreation of an “ardikanpo” sheep camp, where herders rested after long days taking care of the sheep. 

From town to town 

The complete collection of images in the exhibit were gathered little by little Laura Igantzi, president of the association told EuskalKultura.com: “we gathered  many at our annual festivals in Bortziriak, Baztan…Adriana Marmaun, who is in charge of the exhibit gathered more at festivals in Erro Ibarra and another member is gathering more in Malerreka.  We’ve finished with Ituren and Zubieta and those can be seen in the exhibit.” 

You can be sure that the herders themselves are very excited about the exhibit.  “We have seen many looking for photos, and the people are very interested,” she explains.  The exhibit is a way of making their experience visible to society, one of the association’s main goals. 

The Alarde at San Fermin 

On July 13th herders that went to America will receive another honor, in a spectacular setting: they will star in the Alarde of Txistularis at San Fermin in Pamplona. “Some years ago, the Txistulari Band decided to do a themed Alarde and this year it is on the amerikanuak, herders that went to America,” said Igantzi. 

Association representatives will attend the festival and will enjoy the show in person that promises, “according to what I’ve been told, a mixture of country rhythms with Basque songs.  They will also play our association’s hymn, a song composed by Nelly Yanci called, “Euskal Sheep Company,” Laura concludes.