Astero
Omenaldia Mass
This Sunday, October 29th, Boise will hold its annual Omenaldia Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Boise at 1:30pm. A tradition since 1996, this is the time that the Boise Basque community comes together to remember loved-ones who have passed away during the year. Mass will be celebrated by Aita Antton Egiguren and will be followed by a potluck in the church hall. If you would like someone remembered during mass, please contact the Basque Museum by calling: 208-343-2671. Omenaldia is sponsored by the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Biotzetik Basque Choir, and the Artzai Ona Basque Catholic Community.
Sacred Oak Tree Project
Also in Boise, the Sacred Oak Tree Project has organized planting a living memorial to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Bombing of Gernika. The blessing of the oak tree will take place on Saturday, November 4 at 4:30pm at the Kristen Armstrong Municipal Park near the shelter. The program will include Aita Antton's blessing of the tree, along with performances by the Oinkari Basque Dancers, Basque musicians, as well as the presence of survivors and family members of this horrific event. City officials will also be in attendance, and the community is also invited to attend. The blessing will be followed by the annual Mortzilla Dinner, Basque Bazaar and Bingo at the Basque Center from 6-9pm. In conjunction with the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the bombing, the following events are also planned: Thursday November 2, 2017, First Thursday events on the Basque Block: Gernika Gogoratuz - Remembering Gernika at the Basque Museum & Cultural Center from 5:30 -8:30 PM. Book signing event by Dr. Xabier Irujo; Gernika, 1937: The Market Day Massacre at Leku Ona from 5:30 -8:30 PM. Original Art commemorating the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Gernika will also be on display on the Basque Block from 5:30-8:30 PM at the following locations: Leku Ona and Bar Gernika.
Society of French History Conference
The William A. Douglass Center for Basque Studies is hosting this year's 45th annual Western Society of French History Conference at the Whitney Peak Hotel in downtown Reno, with local organization being led by the Center's own Dr. Sandy Ott. Founded in 1974, this organization "seeks to promote the study of French and Francophone history. Its membership is international and is comprised of university faculty and graduate students, independent scholars, and amateur historians in the general public, from all around the world. This year's conference will run from November 2-4, 2017 and includes the participation of some 170 scholars. One of the sessions, "Nazism, Neo-Nazism, and Exile in the French Basque Country" will include presentations by Dr. Aurelie Arcocha-Scarcia from the University of Bordeaux, Montaigne; Dr. Mari Jose Olaziregi from the University of the Basque Country; Ziortza Gandarias, ABD from the WAD Center for Basque Studies, and Dr. Joseba Zulaika, also from the Center who serve as commentator. Congratulations to conference organizers, and best of luck to all the presenters. To see the conference program, click here.
10/26/2017
