8
Center for Basque Studies Newsletter 1 F A L L 2000 NUMBER 62 Center for Basque Studies N E W S L E T T E R Basque Detectives 1 Highlights 3 Visiting Scholars 2000 4 Eskerrik asko! 5 Oral History Project 6 New Publications 6 Studies Abroad in 7 the Basque Country Liburutegitik 8 In this issue: ISSN: 1047-2932 by Javi Cillero Goiriastuena While working on my dissertation on Basque detective and crime fiction, one of the recurrent questions that I was asked was: are there any detectives in Basque fiction? The underlying assumption is obviously that there cannot possibly be any detective novels or detective characters in Basque literature. As usual with Basque literature, this assumption shows a general lack of knowledge of the field of contemporary Basque fiction, something understandable since no studies whatsoever have been done in the domain of Basque popular literature, and particularly crime fiction. Therefore, a better description of the narrative works and trends is needed in order to erase these misconceptions and provide a better understanding of Basque literature and its particular genres. I have tried to contribute to this analysis with my dissertation on Basque detective and crime fiction. With regards to the question posed at the beginning, I can confidently say that there are Basque detectives working cases in some Basque novels. In order to substan- tiate my position, I would like to describe some of the detective characters that appear in novels written in Basque. The first detective in Basque literature was Martin Garaidi, created in 1955 by Jose Antonio Loidi in his novel Amabost egun Urgainen (15 days in Urgain). Martin Garaidi is a man of his time, a good Catholic and a better investigator. He uses modern scientific methods to carry out his investigations, and he displays a keen mind when analyzing clues. A detective who lives in Donostia yet has his roots in the Basque countryside, Garaidi is the Basque detective (continued on p. 2) A semi-annual publication of the Center for Basque Studies, University of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV 89557-0012 Basque Detectives: Alive and Kicking closest to the classic detective novel Æ la Conan Doyle. Unfortunately, Loidi did not follow up on his novel with any further production in the genre. Some years after Loidis novel, the Parisian- born author Txomin Peillen introduced his character Pettiri Sabuki in Gauaz ibiltzen dana... (He who walks at night) (1967). With Sabuki, Peillen brings us a veteran Parisian police officer of Basque origin who goes back to the Basque Country to solve a case dealing with illegal immigration. Pettiri Sabuki is the first dark character of Basque detective fiction, whose pessimism places him alongside the detectives of the sØrie-noire. A man of action and of reflection at the same time, Sabuki entices us with his adventures throughout the Basque countryside, while at the same time offering a skeptical view of his own endeavors. Peillen later used Sabuki as a secondary character in another novel, Gatu beltza (Black cat). The next Basque detective to come onto the scene was Captain Jurgi, created by Xabier Gereæo. In his first adventure, Hiltzaile baten bila (Looking for a killer) (1975), Jurgi is the captain of a merchant ship that travels around the world. In his first case, Jurgi travels to Portugal and then to Bayonne. In the meantime he has to solve the Javi Cillero Goiriastuena

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Page 1: Basque Detectives: Alive and Kickingepubs.nsla.nv.gov/statepubs/epubs/558222-2000fall.pdfAmaia Ezpeldoi is an ethnic detective similar to Tony Hillerman s Navajo police officers, but

Center for Basque Studies Newsletter

1

F A L L2 0 0 0

NUMBER 62

Center forBasque StudiesN E W S L E T T E R

Basque Detectives 1

Highlights 3

Visiting Scholars 2000 4

Eskerrik asko! 5

Oral History Project 6

New Publications 6

Studies Abroad in 7the Basque Country

Liburutegitik 8

In this issue:

ISSN: 1047-2932

by Javi Cillero Goiriastuena

While working on my dissertation onBasque detective and crime fiction, one ofthe recurrent questions that I was asked was:are there any detectives in Basque fiction?The underlying assumption is obviously thatthere cannot possibly be any detectivenovels or detective characters in Basqueliterature. As usual with Basque literature,this assumption shows a general lack ofknowledge of the field of contemporaryBasque fiction, something understandablesince no studies whatsoever have been donein the domain of Basque popular literature,and particularly crime fiction.

Therefore, a better description of thenarrative works and trends is needed inorder to erase these misconceptions andprovide a better understanding of Basqueliterature and its particular genres. I havetried to contribute to this analysis with mydissertation on Basque detective and crimefiction. With regards to the question posedat the beginning, I can confidently say thatthere are Basque detectives working casesin some Basque novels. In order to substan-tiate my position, I would like to describesome of the detective characters that appearin novels written in Basque.

The first detective in Basque literature wasMartin Garaidi, created in 1955 by JoseAntonio Loidi in his novel Amabost egunUrgain�en (15 days in Urgain). MartinGaraidi is a man of his time, a goodCatholic and a better investigator. He usesmodern scientific methods to carry out hisinvestigations, and he displays a keen mindwhen analyzing clues. A detective who livesin Donostia yet has his roots in the Basquecountryside, Garaidi is the Basque detective

(continued on p. 2)

A semi-annual publication of theCenter for Basque Studies,University of Nevada, RenoReno, NV 89557-0012

Basque Detectives: Aliveand Kicking

closest to the classic detective novel á laConan Doyle. Unfortunately, Loidi did notfollow up on his novel with any furtherproduction in the genre.

Some years after Loidi�s novel, the Parisian-born author Txomin Peillen introduced hischaracter Pettiri Sabuki in Gauaz ibiltzendana... (He who walks at night) (1967). WithSabuki, Peillen brings us a veteran Parisianpolice officer of Basque origin who goesback to the Basque Country to solve a casedealing with illegal immigration. PettiriSabuki is the first �dark� character ofBasque detective fiction, whose pessimismplaces him alongside the detectives of the�série-noire.� A man of action and ofreflection at the same time, Sabuki enticesus with his adventures throughout theBasque countryside, while at the same timeoffering a skeptical view of his ownendeavors. Peillen later used Sabuki as asecondary character in another novel, Gatubeltza (Black cat).

The next Basque detective to come onto thescene was Captain Jurgi, created by XabierGereño. In his first adventure, Hiltzailebaten bila (Looking for a killer) (1975),Jurgi is the captain of a merchant ship thattravels around the world. In his first case,Jurgi travels to Portugal and then toBayonne. In the meantime he has to solve the

Javi CilleroGoiriastuena

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Center for Basque Studies Newsletter

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The Center for Basque StudiesNewsletter is a semi-annualpublication sent free of chargeto any interested person. If youwould like to receive futureissues, please send your nameand postal address to:

Center for Basque Studies / 322University of Nevada, RenoReno, NV 89557-0012

Or e-mail us at: [email protected]

If you would rather receive thenewsletter in electronic format,please let us know your e-mailaddress.

Please visit our web site:Please visit our web site:Please visit our web site:Please visit our web site:Please visit our web site:

basque.unr.edu basque.unr.edu basque.unr.edu basque.unr.edu basque.unr.edu

The University of Nevada, Reno is an EqualOpportunity / Affirmative Action, ADAinstitution. 11/00 10,000.

mysterious killing of his second officer. Inhis next novel, Jurgi has been laid off by hiscompany and is working as a detective for aBilbao agency. For several years, detectionwill be Jurgi�s main occupation.

In a short span of years, Jurgi gets involvedin several criminal cases: Espioitza(Espionage) (1977),Gudari bat (ABasque soldier)(1977), Iruineakoasasinatzea (Amurder in Pamplona)(1977), Jurgikapitaina Britainian(Captain Jurgi inBrittany) (1978),Osaba Gabrielenasasinatzea (The murder of Uncle Gabriel)(1978), Xantaia kontesari (Blackmail of thecountess) (1978), Mitxino katua pozoiezhila (Poisoned Kitty Kat) (1979), and Jurgikapitaina Hong-Kong-en (Captain Jurgi inHong Kong) (1982).

Jurgi is a mildly obsessed bachelor whofinds himself detached from the society helives in. A proof of this detachment is hisliking for adventures in foreign countriesand settings. Likewise, Jurgi is a characterwho reflects Gereño�s concerns with theBasque political situation in the post-Franco years. All in all, Jurgi is a combina-tion of hard-boiled detective and a classicinvestigator from the whodunit genre. Henever uses violence to solve his cases andmost of the time he arrives at his conclu-sions in a surprising manner. To this day,Captain Jurgi is the most vocal character inBasque detective fiction, along with AmaiaEzpeldoi, and feels free to voice hisopinions on many different subjects.

Xabier Gereño is the most prolific author ofBasque detective fiction, whereas GotzonGarate is the most prolific creator ofBasque detectives. First, he created JonBidart, a 35-year old man, big and husky,good-looking, and well dressed. Bidart�sfather was a shoemaker from Azpeitia andhis mother a maid who worked during thesummer in Biarritz. Jon was born there.After some financial problems, they went tolive in Azpeitia. Once they had saved somemoney, they moved to San Sebastián. Jonstudied in a Catholic school in Azpeitia,and he has some eccentric characteristicsreminiscent of the sleuth of the whodunit.He loves big dogs and plays an electricguitar on weekends. He has also studiedlaw, and he goes to church every Sunday.Bidart does not disclose much about his

politics, but we are told that he is aneuskaltzale and a good Catholic. Bidartlacks a sex life and has an idealized view ofwomen. He disapproves of women whomake up their face, and praises femaletidiness and loyalty. The only woman closeto Bidart is Olatz, his young aunt. Olatz isonly 37 years old, but she cooks and takescare of Bidart�s laundry. It is a sado-masochistic relationship in which Bidartsometimes plays the role of a spoiled child.

Garate placed Bidart in three of his novels:Esku leuna (A soft hand) (1978),Elizondoko eskutitzak (Letters fromElizondo) (1979), and Goizuetakoezkongabeak (The bachelors from Goizueta)(1979). All of them follow the whodunitstyle of detective fiction, offering a detaileddescription of characters and reasserting theauthor�s idealistic view of the Basquecountryside.

Once he had tired of Bidart, Garate createda couple of tough detectives: Haitz �Rocky�Zumeta in Izurri berria (A new plague)(1984), and Jon Garai in Alaba (Thedaughter) (1984). In both Zumeta and Garaiwe can follow the traces of Sam Spade andPhilip Marlowe, as action-oriented

characters that getentangled in thecorrupting networksof power and money.Likewise, bothdetectives drinkheavily, seducewomen, and displaya defiant attitude.

In the 1990s, aunique contribution

to the Basque detective character camefrom Itxaro Borda, a female writer fromIparralde. Her character, Amaia Ezpeldoi, arural detective as Borda likes to call her,has so far appeared in three adventures:Bakean utzi arte (Until they leave us inpeace) (1994), Bizi nizano munduan (Aslong as I live) (1996), and Amorezko penabaino (Song for the pain of love) (1996).

Amaia Ezpeldoi is an ethnic detectivesimilar to Tony Hillerman�s Navajo policeofficers, but she is Basque and holds noofficial position. She goes around thecountry searching for people who need help.Amaia is the first homosexual detectivecharacter of Basque literature, and she hasa sort of leftist ideology as well. Thus, sheclashes with the dominant institutions andpeople in power.

Manzanita Lake on the beautifulUniversity of Nevada, Reno campus,location of the Center for BasqueStudies.

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Linda White published �Luz sombría: argiiluna,� in Amaia Lasa Alegría�sGeroaren aurpegia; El rostro del futuro(1967-1997) (Leioa: Euskal HerrikoUnibertsitatea, 2000).

In May, William Douglass gave a lecture�Contesting Control of the Discourse:Basque Nationalism and the SpanishState,� at the University of California,Los Angeles.

Jose Mallea, researcher with the Center,was featured in an interview on treecarvings that aired on National PublicRadio�s Morning Edition on July 6,2000.

Director Joseba Zulaika published anarticle, �Acts of Peace and War,� in TheWorld Today (56:11) November 2000.

Linda White�s article �Atxaga�s LoneWoman and Mintegi�s Nerea eta biok:Two Different Views of the FemaleBasque Political Prisoner� was pub-lished in Journal of the Society forBasque Studies in America, vol. XIV.

William Douglass published the article�Interstitial Culture, Virtual Ethnicity,and Hyphenated Basque Identity in theNew Millennium� in the NevadaHistorical Quarterly (Summer 2000).

Jose Mallea Olaetxe recently publishedThe Power of Nothing: The Life andAdventures of Ignacio �Idaho� Urrutia,the story of a Basque immigrant whoowned a grocery store in Susanville,California. The book is available fromIdaho Grocery, Inc., 2120 Main Street,Susanville, CA 96130, phone530.257.2194.

Kate Camino, recent M.A. graduate andProgram Assistant at the Center, isteaching the Basque language class atthe University of Nevada, Reno thissemester to a record number of 13students. Eleven students have signed upfor Linda White�s Basque C101correspondence/online course.

Librarian Marcelino Ugalde was selectedas Chair of the Ethnic Studies Board atUNR for this academic year. This is Mr.Ugalde�s fourth year on the Board.

HighlightsHighlightsHighlightsHighlightsHighlights

(continued on p. 5)

Amaia�s cases are apparently very simple�she does not work on murder cases�butthey reflect wider issues that concern herauthor. Those issues range from the decayof rural areas and environmental concernsto demilitarization. Likewise, Amaia servesas an exceptional witness of a culture thatis barely surviving and is heavily immersedin a globalization process. The mostobvious symbol of this struggle is thelanguage that Amaia uses in her cases, eachtime a different Basque dialect, to reflecther concerns for the people she is trying tohelp.

Finally, I should also mention some otherinvestigators created by Basque writers ofdetective fiction, even though they are notprivate detectives. In 1962, Mariano Izetaused a French police officer, Claudet jauna,�Mister Claudet,� as a detective for hisnovel Dirua galgarri (Corrupting money).In the same vein, Anjel Lertxundi intro-duced an unknown journalist inHamaseigarrenean, aidanez, (Apparently,the sixteenth time), a novel published in1983. Likewise, Harkaitz Cano portrayedCésar Telleria, an elusive Ertzaina (Basquepolice officer), in his novel Pasaia blues in1999.

In conclusion, I would like to point outsome salient features of Basque detectivesas they appear in contemporary Basqueliterature. Most of them have been males,

although Amaia Ezpeldoi�s strong presencecould signify a changing trend in thatrespect. Likewise, some characters havefulfilled the pattern of the good Basquearchetype, respectful of religion and ofBasque customs. On the other hand, someof them have come to question thattraditional archetype, particularly in thecases of Peillen and Borda. Basquelanguage has been an important ingredientin the characterization of the Basquedetective, and most of them have proudlyindulged in linguistic commentary. AllBasque detectives are against using explicitviolence to solve their cases, and they nevermake any defense of violence. Anotherpoint to consider is that Basque detectiveswork most comfortably in the countryside,since the urban environment is still foreignto most of them. It is expected that authorswill face the challenge of presenting moreurban-oriented detectives in the years tocome. A good example of this trend is JoseMari Iturralde�s most recent novel, Euliakez dira argazkietan azaltzen (No fliesappear in the photos) (2000), in which weface an urban detective working betweenLondon and the Basque Country. So nowwe can definitively say, yes, Virginia, thereare detectives in Basque literature.

The Center for Basque Studies will offerfour classes in the spring 2001 semester atthe University of Nevada, Reno. Weencourage interested local students toconsider adding a Basque class to yourschedule next year. The offerings are:

BASQ 102: Elementary Basque II (4credits), taught by Kate Camino, Monday-Thursday, 11-11:50 a.m. (prerequisite isElementary Basque I or equivalent). Anintroduction to the language through thedevelopment of written and conversationalskills. Emphasis on Unified Basque (batua).

BASQ 430/630: Basque History until1700 (3 credits), taught by Jose Mallea onTuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:45 a.m.(no prerequisites). A political, social, andeconomic survey of the pre-modern �FirstFamily of Europe,� the Basques of Spainand France and their unique ethnic status.

BASQ 455/655: Basque Linguistics (3credits), taught by William H. Jacobsen onMondays and Wednesdays, 1-2:15 p.m. (noprerequisites). Structure of the Basquelanguage, suggested relationships to otherlanguages, historical development;dialectology; survey of research problems.

BASQ 460/660: Museums, Architecture,City Renewal: The Bilbao Guggenheim(3 credits), taught by Joseba Zulaika, 4-6:45p.m. on Mondays (no prerequisites; offeredunder the heading of Topics in BasqueCultural Studies). Introduction to thecomplex architectural, museistic, local/global, artistic, and political issuespresented by the first global museum.

These are traditional courses taught in theclassroom. We also offer some onlinecourses for our readers who are unable toattend classes at UNR. For information,access www.dce.unr.edu/istudy or call775.784.4652 / 800.233.8928.

Basque classes at UNR for Spring 2001Basque classes at UNR for Spring 2001Basque classes at UNR for Spring 2001Basque classes at UNR for Spring 2001Basque classes at UNR for Spring 2001

Javier Cillero is currently a translator forthe World Intellectual Property Organiza-tion in Geneva, Switzerland, and is anaward-winning writer as well.

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One of the greatest benefits for staff of the Center for BasqueStudies has always been the opportunity to meet our many visitors.During the last several months, we have been fortunate to welcomeseveral scholars who have come to use our excellent Basque libraryand to network with UNR faculty.

We are honored to have had two former presidents of the Universityof the Basque Country / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea in residenceas visiting scholars. Gregorio Monreal, who visited the Centerduring August and September, was president from 1980-1985. Dr.

Monreal was also the President ofEusko-Ikaskuntza, the Society forBasque Studies, from 1992 through1996. Pello Salaburu served aspresident from 1995 through March2000. He and his family, wife CarmenGamarra and sons, Peru and Iñigo,came to Reno in July and will remainfor a year. Dr. Salaburu has verygenerously served as an ambassadorfor the Center, arranging agreementswith several Basque institutions withwhom we will exchange publicationsand also representing us at the II

Congreso Americano de Centros Vascos in Necochea, Argentina inNovember. He has recently published various articles in the Basquepress about Basque Americans and his experiences in the AmericanWest.

During the past summer and fall we enjoyed an informal lectureseries presented by several of our visiting scholars. Casilda deMiguel Martínez (Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao), during hervisit last May, spoke on �Cine vasco de los años ochenta.� GloriaTotoricagüena, who was at the Center during August to research aclass on the Basque diaspora, lectured on �Diasporic IdentityMaintenance: Comparing Basques Across Generations.� VisitorDavid Río of the Universidad del País Vasco, Vitoria-Gasteiz,Department of English, spoke in August regarding �The Treatmentof the Basques in Twentieth-Century American Literature: AnIntroduction.� Gregorio Monreal, who was researching sources ofthe medieval laws of Bizkaia, presented a three-part lecture serieson Basque institutions.

Other visitors have included the following scholars:

Nere Amenabar is a doctoral candidate from the Universidad delPaís Vasco, Leioa, Journalism Department, who is researchingonline education. She teaches an online class on Television inEducation and has taught traditional classroom courses on newtechnologies. While in residence at the Center for this academicyear, Ms. Amenabar will assist us with the design and formatting ofour online courses.

Estibaliz Amorrortu, who recently completed a Ph.D. in linguisticsat the University of Southern California, visited in September toresearch an online course on Basque language and society.

Visiting Scholars 2000

Jaume Martí-Olivella, from the State University of New York-Albany where he teaches Peninsular literatures and Hispanic film,spent five-weeks at the Center last summer to teach our Basquecinema class and assist with developing the Basque library�s filmcollection. He also plans to create an online class on Basque cinema,to be featured in our Basque Cultural Studies online series.

Cameron Watson visited briefly during July to research an onlineclass on Basque History, which he is developing for the Center. Dr.Watson received his Ph.D. in Basque Studies (with an emphasis inHistory) at UNR and later taught classes in the History Departmentand for the University Studies Abroad Consortium in Bilbao.

Mari Jose Olaziregi and her husband Luis Urbaneja visited theCenter for a month last summer to conduct research in the BasqueStudies Library. Prof. Olaziregi of the Universidad del País Vasco,San Sebastián, Department of Basque Philology researchedcontemporary Basque literature on a grant provided by the Univer-sity Studies Abroad Consortium.

Joseba Gabilondo, from the University of Florida, Department ofRomance Languages and Literatures, visited in July to complete

work on a book on contemporaryBasque culture, tentatively titled AfterSpain: Postnationalism and SubjectFormation in Basque and SpanishCultures.

Arantza González Apraiz visitedduring the month of June from theUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence. Shereceived a post-doctoral fellowshipfrom the Basque Government toresearch a project comparing geneticmakeup of Basques from the diasporawith that of Old World Basques.

Basque Studies Ph.D. candidate Magda Czajkowska-Vazquez isback in residence at the Center to research and write her dissertationon Basque mythology, having spent several months in the BasqueCountry conducting field research. She is accompanied by herhusband, Roland Vazquez, who recently completed his doctorate inpolitical anthropology at Rutgers University. Dr. Vazquez iscurrently working on some editing and translation projects.

Pauliina Raento of the University of Helsinki, who received herPh.D. in Basque Studies (Geography) from the Center, is inresidence at UNR on a three-year postdoctoral research fellowshipfrom the Academy of Finland. She is carrying out a project on�Geographical Perspectives on American Gambling,� and she alsocontinues to publish on Basque-related topics.

Dr. Sandra Ott, Director of the Department for Continuing Educa-tion for Oxford University in England, visited the Center in Marchfor a week to conduct research for a novel. Before taking the post atOxford, Dr. Ott was director of the USAC�s San Sebastián programfor several years.

Dr. Gregorio Monreal

Dr. Pello Salaburu

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(Highlights, continued)

Javier Cillero Goiriastuena successfullydefended his Basque Studies Ph.D.dissertation on October 10. His topic,with an emphasis in Foreign Languagesand Literature, was �The Moving Target:A History of Basque Detective and CrimeFiction.� Zorionak, Javi!

Nancy Faires, Basque Studies Ph.D.student, spent the summer in Bilbao,Spain researching her dissertation on theurban landscape of the area, focusing onthe Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

Joseba Zulaika presented the paper �TheCity Where Love Is Worthwhile� at theconference Body and City in the Informa-tional Era held at Arteleku in SanSebastián, September 4-8. Dr. Zulaikaalso participated in a roundtable debate.

William Douglass published an article,�End of the Trail,� in Neon (Summer2000), which discusses the genesis of thebook project Beltran: Basque Sheepmanof the American West and details thesubsequent history of the Paris ranch.

Pauliina Raento and Cameron Watson,graduates of the Basque Studies Ph.D.program, have published �Gernica,Gernika, Gernika? Contested Meaningsof a Basque Place,� in Political Geogra-phy, no. 19, August 2000.

Linda White organized a panel on ALiterature in Chains: Literatura kateatutafor the Institute of Basque Studies (IBS)Symposium held in London, June 29-July2, where she presented a paper of thesame title. Other speakers on the panelwere Javier Cillero, Joseba Gabilondo,Laura Mintegi, and Mari JoseOlaziregi. Several papers from theconference are published on the IBS website at ibs.lgu.ac.uk/sympo/page4.html.

Also at the IBS Symposium, WilliamDouglass gave his lecture �ContestingControl of the Discourse: BasqueNationalism and the Spanish State� asthe keynote address. He also served as adiscussant for the panel on Peace Processand Conflict Resolution. Joseba Zulaikagave a paper on �Towards BasqueCultural Studies� as part of a panel onCulture and Identity.

An article by Linda White, �La americani-zación del apellido vasco en el Oeste delos Estados Unidos,� has been publishedin Euskera, 2000.

Linda White�s article �Escritoras vascas delsiglo XX. Aproximación histórica� hasbeen published in Breve historiafemenista de la literatura española (enlengua catalana, gallega y vasca)(Barcelona: Anthropos, 2000).

Joseba Zulaika participated in a debate on�Nuevos paisajes, nuevos monumentos,�on October 16 in Palma de Mallorca. Theevent was organized by Futurisme inhonor of architect Jørn Utzon. While inEurope, Dr. Zulaika also gave a talk on�Los centros de arte como revitalizadoresdel tejido urbano� at the Círculo deBellas Artes in Madrid.

In October, William Douglass lectured forsix hours within a Basque culture courseat the Universidad Iberoamericana ofMexico City on the topic of �Basques inNorth America.�

Linda White published the article �BasqueLiterary Criticism: Overcoming TheoryLag� in Journal of Spanish CulturalStudies, vol. 1, no. 2, 2000.

William Douglass was interviewed by theBasque magazine Argia for their October2000 issue. He discussed his years withthe Center as well as the present state ofBasque studies.

Joseba Zulaika published an article, �Viejaluna de Bilbao,� in Bidebarrieta (�LosBilbaos Soñados/ Bilbo Amestuak�) VIII-2000, Bilbao.

Director Joseba Zulaika and visiting scholarRoland Vazquez attended the AmericanAnthropological Association annualmeetings in San Francisco in November.Dr. Zulaika presented �Asymmetries inthe Politics of Seduction and GlobalCulture,� and Dr. Vazquez gave a paperon �Publishing and Perishing: On BasqueTexts, Violence, and (Be)Longing.�

At the Basque Culture Day sponsored by theSan Francisco Basque Cultural Center inOctober, William Douglass gave alecture �In Search of the BasqueSheepherder.� Jose Mallea gave a talkand presented a video on sheepcamps inthe American West.

Program Assistant Kate Camino has beenappointed by Euskal Irratia Telebista astheir North American correspondent. Shewill provide news about the Basquecommunity to appear on EITB�s web siteat www.eitb.com/euskara in the EuskadiMunduan section.

The Center for Basque Studies is veryfortunate to have received several donationsthis past year. We would like to thank thefamily of Peter Echeverria for establishing amemorial in his name. We also thank thefamily of Marie Swanson for establishing asimilar memorial. These donations will helpgreatly in funding our projects. Thank youfor your thoughtfulness.

Thank you also to the Ahmanson Foundationfor their recent donation to the Center. Theirongoing support has been very helpful to ourresearch.

While we do not have space here to list all ofthe individual donors who have assisted ourprograms, we are very grateful for theirsupport as well. Eskerrik asko!

Eskerrik asko!Eskerrik asko!Eskerrik asko!Eskerrik asko!Eskerrik asko!

U.S. Senator Richard BryanU.S. Senator Richard BryanU.S. Senator Richard BryanU.S. Senator Richard BryanU.S. Senator Richard Bryanhonors local Basqueshonors local Basqueshonors local Basqueshonors local Basqueshonors local Basques

During the Reno Basque festival, severallocal Basques received Senatorial Recogni-tion certificates from Richard Bryan, U.S.Senator of the State of Nevada, to acknowl-edge their contributions to the Reno BasqueFestival Library of Congress BicentennialLocal Legacies Project. Among the awardeeswere Center for Basque Studies� ProgramAssistant, Kate Camino; head of the UNRBasque Library, Marcelino Ugalde; and LisaCorcostegui, who heads the Zenbat GaraDance Ensemble and is a Ph.D. student inBasque Studies. The honors were presentedat a ceremony at the festival on July 22.

Jai Aldi 2000 FestivalJai Aldi 2000 FestivalJai Aldi 2000 FestivalJai Aldi 2000 FestivalJai Aldi 2000 Festival

Director Joseba Zulaika attended theextremely successful Jai Aldi 2000 celebra-tion in Boise, Idaho July 29-August 1, wherehe also attended the North American BasqueAssociations meeting. He addressed theNABO delegates about the new BasqueCultural Studies online courses availablefrom the University of Nevada, Reno and theimportance of these classes to BasqueAmericans. Visiting scholar Pello Salaburuassisted Dr. Zulaika in representing theCenter for Basque Studies at the festival andmeetings.

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New Publications from theBasque Book Series

Speaking Through the Aspens: Basque Tree Carvings in Nevadaand California by Jose Mallea-Olaetxe contains a record ofmessages and images left by sheepherders on aspen treesthroughout the American West. As described in the University ofNevada Press catalog, the book allows ��these men whocontributed so much to the development of the region, many ofwhom went on to establish the West�s thriving Basque communityand some of its leading families, [to] speak for themselves abouttheir experiences.�

This hardcover volume features 94 photographs and line draw-ings, and may be ordered from the University of Nevada Press for$39.95 plus postage.

Robert Laxalt�s latest book, Time of the Rabies, is now available.Based on a historic event in 1920s Nevada, this novella is set on aBasque sheep ranch near Carson City. When a roving coyote isbitten by a rabid bat, an epidemic spreads, infecting the flock andeven some of the ranch hands. The book is described as �a lively,unforgettable story of the West and its hardy people.� It isavailable in paperback for $16.00.

The Basque Poetic Tradition by Gorka Aulestia contains fourteenessays on Basque poets and their work, including a �Survey ofBasque Poetry,� which highlights the major Basque poets, andseveral essays that examine individual writers. The book wastranslated into English by Dr. Linda White, a faculty member atthe Center for Basque Studies, who also wrote the foreword forthe text. This hardcover volume of 296 pages is priced at $44.95.

In the book An Enduring Legacy: The Story of Basques in Idaho,brothers John and Mark Bieter chronicle the Basque presence inIdaho from 1890 to the present, and follow their evolution into theprominent ethnic community of today. The book is illustrated withphotographs from the Basque Country and the early years inIdaho. Available in a hardcover edition for $31.95.

A new book by Jeremy McClancy, The Decline of Carlism, detailsthe history of this political movement which influenced contem-porary Basque nationalism. In a very readable style, the authorlooks at the movement �in both its national and local contexts,looking at both the machinations of its urban elites and theattitudes of the rural supporters.� Available in hardcover for$49.95.

All of the above publications plus many others in the BasqueBook Series may be ordered from the University of NevadaPress/166, Reno, NV 89557. To charge by phone, call toll free877.682.6657. Postage charges will be added to your order.Please write or call for information and a complete catalog.

Basque Oral History ProjectBasque Oral History ProjectBasque Oral History ProjectBasque Oral History ProjectBasque Oral History Project

Basque Scholarships AwardedBasque Scholarships AwardedBasque Scholarships AwardedBasque Scholarships AwardedBasque Scholarships Awardedfor 2001-2002for 2001-2002for 2001-2002for 2001-2002for 2001-2002

The Teresa Laxalt Memorial Scholarship for 2000-2001 has beenawarded to Marylou Etcheberry of Reno. Ms. Etcheberry is veryinvolved in Basque cultural activities including the local Basqueclub and dance group, and is enrolled in our Basque language classthis semester.

The Dolores Saval Trigero scholarship, awarded annually to arural Nevada student of Basque descent, was given to Andrea M.Paris of Elko. Ms. Paris grew up on a sheep ranch in that area, andenjoys involvement in Basque cultural traditions such as dancing.Ms. Paris is majoring in business, with a minor in animal science.

Zorionak and best wishes to our two scholarship winners!

Over the years several scholars have conducted and tape recordedinterviews with Basque people in the American West for theirvarious research projects. The Basque Studies Library has archivedover 250 of these interview tapes. Center Director Joseba Zulaikasuggested that the tapes could be made more accessible by convertingthem to a digital format, together with photographs of theinterviewees and their families, and, with their permission, puttingthem onto a web site. Thus we could create a database of oralhistories of Basque immigrants and their descendants. We discussedthe idea with the University of Nevada, Reno�s Oral HistoryProgram, who have experience with a similar project, and found thatBasque oral histories are being collected in Boise, Idaho for adatabase project there.

Dr. Zulaika discovered that funding for such projects is availablefrom Eusko Jaurlaritza (the Basque government), in order for Basqueclubs in the diaspora to record the histories of Basque immigrants.Thus he proposed a collaborative effort with the Reno Zazpiak BatBasque Club to obtain a startup grant to begin the project, with thehope of further collaboration with other clubs in the future to includeas many interviews as possible. The Club agreed to the idea, andtheir grant proposal resulted in an award of $15,000 to implementthe project.

Kate Camino, Program Assistant with the Center and President ofthe local Basque club as well, has served as a liaison between thegroups and was instrumental in producing the grant request, aided byFlorence Etcheberry of the local club, who already had an interest insuch a project. As Ms. Camino said, the Basque Oral History Project�not only allows us to record the stories of our immigrant generation,it also allows families of some of these people who may already havepassed away the opportunity to hear their voices and see theirpictures again. Imagine the possibility of children being able to heartheir grandparents talk about their journey to the States and theirhardships and good times, just by sitting at their computer!�

The Zazpiak Bat Basque Club and the Center for Basque Studiesencourage any of you who may have interview tapes or photographsof your Basque family members to please share them with us, to berecorded and archived for future generations. We will be glad to payfor the cost of copying photos and tapes.

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Center for Basque Studies Newsletter

7

The University Studies AbroadConsortium is accepting applications for its2001-2002 programs. Students from over

500 universities worldwide haveparticipated in these accredited academic

programs. Enrollment is on the rise asmore and more students recognize the

importance and benefits of a study abroadexperience. Don�t miss this opportunity -

get your application in early.

Summer 2001These four, eight and twelve week programs areideal for students, teachers and othersunable to participate in semester or yearlongprograms.

San Sebastián, Spain

June session: May 30-June 29July session: June 28-July 31August session: July 30-August 31Subjects: Intensive Spanish language (fourlevels) and literature, elementary Basquelanguage, culture, history, art, political scienceField trips: Madrid, French and SpanishBasque Country, PyrénéesLodging: Homestays or apartments

Pau & Bayonne, France

June session (Pau): May 24-June 30July session (Pau): June 22-July 29August session (Bayonne): July 28-August 19Subjects: Intensive French language (fourlevels) and literature, French and Basqueculture, cuisine, photography, historyField trips: French Basque coast, Spain,Pyrénées, Basque villagesLodging: Homestays or residence halls

Semester/Yearlong 2001-2002Yearlong options are available for all threeprograms below.

Bilbao & San Sebastián, Spain

Fall semester: August 28-December 14Spring semester: January 8-May 15Subjects: Intensive Spanish language andliterature, Basque language, culture, journalism,cinema, history, art, political scienceField trips: Madrid, French and SpanishBasque CountryLodging: Homestays or apartments

Pau, France

Fall semester: September 1-December 19Spring semester: January 4-April 19Subjects: Intensive French language (fourlevels) and literature, journalism, art history,French society and cinema, cuisine, politicalscienceField trips: Paris, French and Spanish BasqueCountry, PyrénéesLodging: Homestays, residence halls orapartments

Your Gateway to the Basque CountryYour Gateway to the Basque CountryYour Gateway to the Basque CountryYour Gateway to the Basque CountryYour Gateway to the Basque Country...and the World!...and the World!...and the World!...and the World!...and the World!

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Scotland & Scotland & Scotland & Scotland & Scotland & TTTTThailand.hailand.hailand.hailand.hailand.

usac.unr.edu

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Center for Basque Studies Newsletter

8

Basque Studies ProgramUniversity of Nevada Library/322Reno, Nevada 89557-0012

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDReno, NevadaPermit No. 26

Liburutegitik: From the Basque Library

Visit our web site at: http://basque.unr.edu

The Basque Studies Library is pleased to introduce our new LibraryAssistant, Demosthenes (�D�) Papaeliou. Mr. Papaeliou worked asa student assistant for two years in Special Collections at theUniversity of Nevada, Reno Library. He then spent three yearsworking as a Library Clerk at the Aurora Public Library and as theAdult Depart-ment Head at the MessengerPublic Library in Illinois. A UNR graduate inhistory, he has also completed course work for aMaster�s Degree in that subject. He is currentlystudying Euskara and he brings a strongcomputer background to his position. Wewelcome Demosthenes to the Basque Library!

The Basque Studies Library would like to thankMr. Javier Benito for his generous donation ofthe 18-volume La Gran Enciclopedia Vasca, anout-of-print collection valued at over $800. Iwould also like to thank all those who have gra-ciously donated their works to the Basque Libraryover the last 30 years. Even though we receive an adequatematerials budget to actively increase our holdings, the generosity ofauthors as well as public institutions in Euskadi has allowed us tofill the gaps in the collection. I would especially like to thank Prof.Pello Salaburu of the University of the Basque Country, who hasdevoted some of his time while in residence at the Center forBasque Studies to contacting Basque institutions on the library�sbehalf to request catalogs and publications.

by Marcelino Ugalde

Currently, Basque Library staff are developing a guide to SpanishCivil War archives and a guide to an extensive ethnographicphotograph collection from Navarra, as well as improving access tothe local database.

Notable recent acquisitions to the Basque Libraryinclude:

Bidegain, Xarles. Izendegia = Nombres vascos.Donostia: Elkarlanean, 2000.

Laxalt, Robert. The Land of My Fathers: A Son�sReturn to the Basque Country. Reno: University ofNevada Press, 2000.

Gardner, Nick. Basque in Education in the BasqueAutonomous Community. Vitoria-Gasteiz: Eusko

Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia, 2000.

Los vascos en la Argentina: familias y protagonismo. Buenos Aires:Fundación Vasco Argentina �Juan de Garay,� [2000].

Martin, Gregory. Mountain City. New York: North Point Press,2000.

Eskual Herria: journal basque français du Rio de la Plata. Issuesheld in Basque: nos. 1-40 (1898). Buenos Aires: Laurent H. Londaïtset Cie., [1898- ].

D. Papaeliou & M. Ugalde