euskalkultura.eus

New York, NY.  Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu completed his trip to Milwaukee Wisconsin and Washington DC prior to the final leg of his journey along the East Coast.  In his last hours in the US capital, Urkullu and his delegation made a visit related to the procurement and management to Peace in the Basque Country, presenting his plan for Peace and Coexistence that is supported by his government, specifically the Institute of peace (see video below).  In Milwaukee, the visit had a economic in nature, and Urkullu met with the mayor of the city, Democrat Tom Barrett (see second video).

[Urkullu’s press conference at the Institute of Peace in Washington, where the Lehendakari explained his plan for peace and coexistence for Euskadi (videoIrekia)]

[Joint press conference with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (videoIrekia)]

In New York, Urkullu will attend the events commemorating the Centennial of the New York Basque club.  This morning he participated in a round table at Columbia University on “The Basque Model, Lessons Learned and Challenges for Sustainable Human Development” he will meet with university representatives where more than 50 years ago, Lehendakari Jose Antonio Aguirre taught classes while the government was in exile.  Following, he will participate in a meeting at the Salomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum of New York, where among others; Deputy General of Bizkaia Jose Luis Bilbao will also be in attendance along with the Provincial Deputy of Culture Josune Aristondo.

EHMG Seminar

Columbia University was the site yesterday of the first day of the 10th EHMG Seminar on Basque History and Diaspora, that was entitled, “Basques in New York and Beyond” and will conclude this afternoon at the Basque clubhouse in Greenpoint.  After a welcome by Jose C. Moya (Columbia University) and Oscar Alvarez Gila (University of the Basque Country), presenters throughout the afternoon included William A. Douglass (University of Nevada, Reno), Alberto Angulo (University of the Basque Country), John Bieter (Boise State University), Xabier Irujo (University of Nevada, Reno), Ludger Mees (University of the Basque Country) and Oscar Alvarez Gila (University of the Basque Country).  Pedro J. Oiarzabal of Deusto University was unable to attend due to reasons beyond his control.

[Professor John Bieter, from Boise State University (BSU) presented the new journal Boga at the end of his presentation that the Center for Basque Studies at BSU has begun to publish.  The issue includes a special remembrance of recently deceased Pete Cenarrusa (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Question and Answer time.  At the table from left to right: John Bieter, Alberto Angulo, Oscar Alvarez Gila and William Douglass. As well as Xabier Irujo and Ludger Mees. José C. Moya has the microphone to his back (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[At the end of yesterday’s session, commenting on the development of the day in the hallways.  In the photo, the presenter and member of the organization committee Oscar Alvarez Gila (left) talking to members of the audience, Lehendakari Ibarretxe and Asier Vallejo Itsaso, Director for the Basque Community Abroad of the Basque Government, cosponsor of the 10th edition of the EHMG Seminar (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

The second day of the seminar will take place this afternoon at the Eusko Etxea.  Presenters there will include Anna Aguirre, who will talk about the three generations of her family in New York; Argitxu Camus-Etchecopar, author of the history of NABO, the federation North American Basque Organizations; and Joseba Etxarri, director of EuskalKultura.com who will take a tour from New York throughout the other Basque communities in the country.  Following at 8pm, Kalakan will perform a concert.

Tomorrow will begin at 8am with NABO’s fall meeting that will gather Basque club delegates from the US and Canada.  Lehendakari Urkullu will also visit at the end of the meeting who will continue on to a dance and song exhibition at he East River State Park in Brooklyn; a dinner will also take place at Eusko Etxea.  On Sunday, there will be mass at Saint Patrick’s on 5th Avenue, officiated by Auxiliary Bishop of New York, Josu Iriondo, and will include Basque songs and dancing. The day will culminate in the Centennial Gala beginning at 6pm.

On Monday, Lehendakari Urkullu will hold a press conference on his impressions of his visit to the US, just before leaving for Euskadi.  The final event of the Centennial will be Basque participation in the traditional Columbus Day parade with dancers, musicians and Basque songs along 5th Avenue in Manhattan.