Al Erquiaga Bizi Emankorra - Lifetime Contribution Award

Steve Bass

Steve Bass was a tremendous supporter of the Basques in Bakersfield and beyond. He was the facilitator of the NABO "Memoria Bizia" project in Bakersfield. Steve dedicated his time and expertise to overseeing this important initiative, which focused on commemorating the rich history of the Basque community in the area. His dedication to preserving Basque history is evident through his scholarly work. He authored articles about the history of Basque explorers, missionaries, and settlers in California and the Southwest, spanning from the 15th to the 19th century. His insightful research sheds light on the significant contributions of the Basque community to the region's cultural landscape. However, his most notable contribution comes in the form of the 2013 book "Basques of Kern County," co-authored with George Ansolabehere. This work stands as a foundation for honoring and preserving the history of the Basque community in Kern County. Steve was a presence at many Bakersfield Udalekus, where he imparted his knowledge of Basque history to camp attendees and shared his expertise in making sheepherder bread. Steve was an avid "picnic attendee ," regularly attending the National Basque Festival in Elko and Jaialdi in Boise. He also attended NABO meetings and gave reports to everyone who was there. He was continually helping the Kern County Basque Club by delivering food, preparing food, and working the booth at the Kern County Fair. Above all, Steve Bass was our "Historian of the Bakersfield Basques."

Lourdes lturriria

Lourdes lturriria, for many years, has been a culinary mainstay at the Kern County Basque Club. With a skillful touch, she has prepared delectable meals for numerous NABO Udalekus and other events in Bakersfield, ensuring participants have an opportunity to experience her cuisine. Lourdes has consistently dedicated her culinary expertise to Basque picnics, club events, and the Kern County Fair, leaving attendees thoroughly satisfied with their meals. Her culinary contributions also extend to preparing sumptuous meals and desserts for the NABO Mus tournament and Pelota finals. Beyond the kitchen, Lourdes has served with an unwavering commitment on the Kern County Basque Club Board for over 20 years, both as a director and officer. She was a dedicated seamstress for the Basque dance program, altering and creating costumes that helped to enhance the cultural richness of the performances. Lourdes Iturriria's experiences and understanding of club operations made her a cornerstone in the seamless running of our Basque Club.

Marianne Laxague

Marianne Laxague, a loyal advocate for Basque culture and traditions, showcases her dedication through her business, the Pyrenees French Bakery. Marianne is a generous supporter of NABO events, contributing not only her time but also donating bread for all Udaleku meals. Her commitment extends to providing traditional French bread for various club events and numerous Basque Festivals in California. Marianne actively supports NABO mus events at the local club, generously donating bread and actively participating in tournaments and Basque dancing. Beyond her generous monetary contributions, she is a steadfast supporter of the Kern County Basque Club, having served on the board in various capacities, including officer, director, and NAB0 delegate. Marianne Laxague's dedication and involvement make her an essential figure in the promotion and preservation of Basque culture in her community.

Jenny Maitia Poncetta

Jenny Maitia Poncetta, a champion of Basque culture and traditions, exemplifies this commitment through her restaurant, the Wool Growers. Known for her unwavering support, she generously contributes to NABO events by hosting convention meetings and providing meals for the attendees. During Udaleku, Jenny opened her doors to host families and all participants, always making sure to provide a warm and welcoming environment for everyone involved. Her generosity extends to visiting musicians and pelotaris from the Basque country, providing them with delicious meals from the restaurant. Jenny actively supports the Basque Club Mus tournaments, Easter lunches, annual picnics, and the Kern County Fair booth by donating food and her time. Beyond her culinary contributions, she is a steadfast financial supporter of Basque programs and activities, emphasizing her commitment to the Basque cultural heritage. Jenny has played integral leadership roles for the Kern County Basque Club, having served as an officer and director on the KCBC board, a past NABO delegate, and contributing her time as a past dance instructor and dancer in Bakersfield's Basque dance programs. Jenny Maitia Poncetta's multifaceted involvement underscores her significant role in the promotion and preservation of Basque culture in her community.

Joxe Recondo

Joxe Recondo has been instrumental in forming and strengthening relationships with pelota organizations in the Basque Country. For over 25 years, he has been a key figure in bringing handball players from the Basque Country to exhibit their talents in clubs across Bakersfield, San Francisco, Chino, and beyond. Joxe's commitment to cultural exchange is evident as he generously opens his home to house visiting handball players from Euskal Herria during Bakersfield's annual picnic and other events. Joxe has served on the Kern County Basque Qub board, contributing his expertise as both an officer and director. Joxe has taken on the role of pelota coach at Udaleku camps, helping to further shape the next generation of handball players. His passion for competition extends beyond pelota, as he actively participates in NAB0 Mus tournaments and has traveled to the World Mus finals. Joxe Recondo's enduring efforts showcase his pivotal role in promoting cultural exchange, sportsmanship, and community building.

Mayi Petracek

Mayi has served as the treasurer of N.A.B.O. since 2015 and has executed the responsibilities of this office with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism. Mayi manages all the corporation’s finances which are organized over two separate tax-exempt entities. This work entails reconciling many checking accounts, issuing financial statements to the President on a regular basis, preparing all financial reports for the board meetings, developing budgets for the various committees and programs, and working with an independent CPA firm to file the corporation’s annual taxes. Mayi has also served as the Chairperson for N.A.B.O.’s Finance/Investment and CARL Committees for many years. Mayi monitors N.A.B.O.’s Investment account and leads the meetings with the Investment Committee and N.A.B.O.’s external investment advisors on a quarterly basis. Mayi represented N.A.B.O. at the March 1 st , 2023, Texas Legislative act (H.R. No. 419) in Austin, which honored Basques who served the U.S. military during World War II. This led to the creation of the N.A.B.O. Basques in WWII Memorial Special Committee, which Mayi is the Chairperson of as well. Mayi also represented N.A.B.O. as one of the three official voting delegates at the 8 th World Congress of Basques Communities, which was held in Donostia in 2023 and hosted by the Basque Government. Mayi is also very involved in her local Basque Club in Colorado and is the current President and Mayi also serves as the Treasurer of the Southern California Basque Club. One of the recent events that Mayi helped organize was a Basque Picnic in Grand Junction which included a pilota match at the Plaza Urrutia fronton, which was constructed n 1978. Grand Junction was a charter member of N.A.B.O. in 1973. The historic fronton had been slated for demolition but has now been saved by the History of Colorado Board of Directors who made the fronton an historical property.

2023 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Kinku Zinkunegi

Kinku is the coordinator of the Etxepare Basque Institute's Euskara Munduan program. He has been a dedicated longtime supporter of NABO's Euskara program and has led several workshops for our instructors over the years.

Anita Izoco

Anita is an integral part of the Gardnerville Euskaldun Cluba. She is one of our founding members and since its inception in 1981 has served as president, vice president, secretary, board member, NABO delegate and museum committee chair, holding each officer role multiple times. She also helped found our dance group in 1980 and was one of the primary dance instructors for many years.

Anita helped to immortalize the Basque history of the Carson Valley by working to document each family's story and compiling those stories into a book titled From the Basque Country to the Sheep Camps of the Carson Valley. She has worked closely with the local museum to curate a Basque sheepherder display.

In addition to her commitment to our club, she has also been involved in NABO by acting as the delegate for most of her 40 years and she aided in organizing and acting as a chair for the NABO's Euskal Kantari Eguna in Gardnerville since its inception in 1990. Anita's dedication to ensuring that Basque culture remains vital goes beyond her years of volunteerism. She truly embodies the NABO mission statement of Recreation + Education = Perpetuation.

Lisa Corcostegui

Lisa has served as Ontario, Oregon Basque Club's NABO delegate for over twenty years, as well as serving the club in the roles of president, vice-president, Euskara insructor, seamstress, dance instructor, and cultural events coordinator over the years. She was also instrumental in securing funding for and renovating the historic train depot to be used as the organization's clubhouse. In NABO, she has served on the euskara, dance, and youth committees. She was an instructor at Gaztealde for youth ages sixteen and up. Since 1993, Lisa has been an instructor at 12 Udalekus teaching dance and developing and teaching culture units and workbooks for the provinces of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. She consistently received high praise from Udaleku participants, and her creativity and interactive approach to teaching Basque culture were always a favorite. Lisa has served as NABO's webmaster since 2013. She also represented NABO at several World Congresses, as well as Gaztemundu in 2002 and 2003.

Lisa has been involved in the Reno Basque community as well. She was a founder of the Zenbat Gara Folk Dance Ensemble at UNR in 1989. As such, she traveled with the group to many NABO club picnics to perform, as well as taught several workshops to various club dance groups, and has also consulted and created costumes for several clubs. She and her husband, Enrike served as instructors for the Reno Zazpiak Bat Dancers in the early 1990s.

Earning a Ph.D. in Basque Studies in 2005, she has been more than generous with this knowledge and has shared it with many Basques, and non-Basques alike over the years. Lisa has also taught at several elder hostels at UNR, as well as various two-day workshops at Boise State University.

Lisa has also served several Basque community members by helping them to find their roots and create their mamily trees. She has successfully helped many tracing family from the US to the Basque Country and vice-versa, as well as leading several pilgrimages to Salt Lake City's Family History Library to teach folks how to use those resources. The Basque Branch is the result of years of her own research, which now comprises a large database of around 80,000 individuals.

Juan Mari Aramendi

Roberto Guerenabarrena

Noel Fagoaga

Mary Lou Urrutia

Mary Lou Urrutia has been the N.A.B.O. Calendar Chairperson for 25 years. Beyond Mary Lou's time as a board member and past president of the Zazpiak Bat Basque Club, she has also continued to sew costumes for all ages of dancers. She was also a past dance instructor.

Miren Artiach

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Miren Rementeria Artiach was raised in Boise a few blocks East from the Euzkaldunak Inc., Basque Center. From her teenage years, she served as informal translator of Basque and English for Euzkaldunak members who needed help with doctors, educational, legal and financial paperwork. Once the Oinkari Basque Dancers were formed, she joined and performed with the group and also helped teach dancing and singing to the children’s groups. Later as an adult, Miren has served as Business Manager for the Oinkaris- promoting their performances in Idaho and the Western United States, organizing and working at fundraisers and selling chorizos at the Western Idaho Fair, and also working as book keeper for the legal and tax information needed on the non-profit organization. In 1970, Miren attended the first ever Basque Studies Abroad Program in Ustaritz, Lapurdi. She contacted and encouraged other Basque Americans in Nevada, California, Oregon and New York to participate and get to know each other, and the group spent that summer together studying Basque language, history, politics and arts. In 1969, the Idaho State Department of Education began discussing having an Idaho Basque Studies Center and by 1971, Miren was teaching Euskera classes in the Board Room of the State Board of Education. During 1971 and 1972, Miren taught Euskera language classes every Tuesday and Thursday night and for the Boise Schools Community Education Program. The success of having students committed to learning Euskera created another wave of people motivated to join the Boise Euzkaldunak Inc. , Mountain Home Basque Club, Caldwell Basque Club even for those that came from as far away as the Ontario Basque Club to maintain their Basque identity and to get involved with Basque identity activities. She then helped with a grant proposal to the US National Endowment for the Humanities which when selected won $52,000 for a 2 year grant to create Basque Studies in Boise. Miren was hired as the Executive Secretary for all the projects and programs, one of those projects being the original 1970s effort to record interviews with Euzkaldunak’s Basque immigrants to Idaho (recordings now stored at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise). This grant created the committee that then created the Idaho Basque Studies Center in 1972, the 1972 Holiday Basque Festival- the three day Basque Festival that served as a blueprint for today’s Jaialdi, the first Basque Music and Culture Camp held at Bogus Basin for 2 weeks and the precursor to today’s NABO Udaleku, the Bizkaian Basque-English dictionary and workbook reprinting, and the foundational idea for the Boise State College campus in Oñati. To all of this activity for Basques in the USA, Miren added another layer of interest in Basque activities, now in pelota. By the early 1970s, the now Anduiza Fronton was owned by an engineering firm using it for storage. The Idaho Basque Studies Center committee negotiated to be able to rent and use it and offered to help clean and paint it. Miren was one of those Euzkaldunak volunteers who spent their weekends for many months, hauling trash to the dump, cleaning and painting and creating Boise’s Anduiza Fronton that we all know today. The committee of the Idaho Basque Studies Center, and Miren as secretary, also communicated with Basques in other areas of North America and had many discussions about forming some type of umbrella organization for the Basque clubs of the US. In 1973, Miren helped organize the first Western States Basque Convention in Sparks, Nevada. She was appointed as the first secretary at the first meeting of US Basque clubs which would later form the federation of the North American Basque Organizations in 1974. She was selected as NABO’s first secretary. In the early 1970s, she even wrote in English and in Basque, the Eusko’taran Abotza, “Voice of the Basques” published in Boise and mailed to approximately 900 addresses in Basque communities throughout the US and Mexico. Miren sang in the Boise Euzkaldunk’s first choir, the Abeslari Basque Singers, which later became the Anaiak Danok Choir. In 1976, the Euzkaldunak sponsored English classes for their members, and once again Miren was the members’ teacher, this time in English with weekly lessons continuing through to 1980. Each Christmas, from the 1960s through until recently, the Boise’ko Gasteak have enjoyed an after performance party with treats at the Basque Center. For more than 15 years, Miren volunteered with others to make treats, serve treats and clean-up after the Christmas performance and party. In the 1970s and 1980s, Miren volunteered to help a committee produce the Euzkaldunak’s annual celebration of Aberri Eguna- the Day of the Homeland and celebrated on Easter Sunday. In 1981, when the Basque Government presented the first Tree of Gernika to the Euzkaldunak, Miren was instrumental to helping Pete Cenarrusa secure bringing the seedlings into the USA, and a planting at Idaho’s State Capitol Building grounds. Miren served on the original committee that created Jaialdi: International Basque Cultural Festival and continued on in 1987, 1990, 1995, 2000, and was the local contact/organizer for the Society of Basque Studies in America Award Celebration in Boise, Idaho in 2005. From 1998 to 2002, she participated in the research and publication of the book “Boise Basques: Dreamers and Doers” originally published in the Basque Government’s series about the Basque communities around the world called Urazandi. An Euzkaldunak Inc. member for nearly five decades, founding member of NABO, founding member of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, founding member of the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture, Miren Artiach is also currently the Secretary of Artzai Ona Basque Catholic Community which provides services to the Basque community throughout the West and beyond and is President of the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture.

Janet Inda

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Janet Carrica Inda was born and raised in rural northern Nevada, the daughter of a Basque immigrant rancher and a Danish immigrant teacher. Growing up she learned the value of hard work and developed a deep appreciation and love of her Basque heritage. She became a teacherherself, and she continued to educate others and share her passion for Basques long after her formal teaching career ended.

After graduating from the University of Nevada, Janet settled in Reno and became an active member and officer in the Reno Zazpiak Bat Club, in the late 1960s. Zazpiak Bat provided an opportunity to celebrate the members’ Basque heritage and educate their children and the surrounding community about the Basque culture, which she enjoyed greatly and valued immensely.

She recognized the potential to expand the influence and impact of the individual clubs, and in the early 1970s, Janet was a member of the group that explored the development of a federation to tie Basque communities and clubs together across the United States. This organization later became the North American Basque Organization (N.A.B.O.) Janet felt strongly that developing an overarching body among the Basque clubs would enable them to communicate and work together, and by joining forces, create a stronger community of Basques. Janet assisted in getting the word about this initiative to the Basque communities to encourage them to join, helping others understand the long term benefits. She attended the first official N.A.B.O. meetings in Reno/Sparks in March 1973. N.A.B.O. was incorporated in the state of Nevada in 1974, and Janet was one of the eleven signatories on the N.A.B.O. Articles of Incorporation. Janet played an active role in N.A.B.O. and held various offices over a span of 15 years, including Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and she was the first woman President of N.A.B.O. from 1979-1981. She represented N.A.B.O. and the Basque communities throughout the United States and Mexico.

Janet knew that Basque clubs provided an opportunity for Basque traditions and culture to be passed on to younger generations as well as the surrounding non-Basque communities. Always a teacher and eager to share her knowledge and experience, Janet traveled regularly to areas, such as Grand Junction, Wyoming, where groups of Basques lived, to provide any support and guidance to help them establish their own clubs, and eventually become members of N.A.B.O.

Janet began working at Basque Studies when it was a small section within the university’s Special Collections department. She worked on programs and projects during the early years that supported significant growth and expansion, resulting in the establishment of the Center for Basque Studies.

In 1976, Janet was a member of a three-person delegation at the Smithsonian's Bicentennial Folklife celebration. The delegation joined others who represented the early settlers of the American West and provided demonstrations and presentations on Basque culture, music, dancing, and food. That year, she also played a role facilitating an article on Basques in the West in Sunset magazine. The article suggested that the presence of Basques was declining and encouraged readers to attend a local festival sooner rather than later. The author did not understand that the hard work, determination, and effort of many Basques like Janet would ensure the continuation and expansion of the celebration of Basque culture throughout the United States for decades to come.

Ensuring Basque traditions and culture were preserved and passed onto the next generation was forefront in Janet’s mind and activities. She led the N.A.B.O. effort to develop a Basque music camp (now known as Udaleku) for children to enable them to learn about their culture through dance and music, language, as well as develop lasting, life-time friendships with fellow young Basques. She chaired the first official N.A.B.O. Music Camp in 1977 and also was in charge of the first N.A.B.O. calendar production that same year.

Through her activities in N.A.B.O and her work with Basque Studies, Janet became a contributor and leader in the effort to establish a national monument for the Basque Sheepherder in the United States. She was a member of the committee established to explore, develop, and fundraise for the project. She worked continuously to spread awareness of the effort and obtain donations necessary to fund such an ambitious project. Once the location near the University of Nevada Reno was identified, and the artist and sculptor Nestor Bastorretxea was selected, the committee worked with him as he developed his concept and design of the sculpture entitled “Barkarde” (Solitude in Basque) representing the solitary and challenging life of the many sheepherders who emigrated to the United States for work. These efforts began in the early 1980s and the monument was completed in 1989 in conjunction with a huge dedication ceremony that included Basques from around the world.

Food played a role in Janet’s efforts to document and disseminate Basque culture, and she chaired the effort to develop a cookbook for the Zazpiak Basque Basque club, which was first published in 1973 and has been reprinted several times.The recognizable red cover can be found in many kitchens, and before the advent of the internet, provided a much needed source for traditional recipes. Janet also worked with aspiring Basque restaurant chefs and owners to help them develop their own recipes for beans, chorizos, etc. The Carrica Inda family chorizo recipe has been the base for chorizos served in various restaurants over the years.

Janet was active with the Reno Zazpiak Bat dance group and acted as a chaperone and advisor in addition to sewing countless costumes for the dancers over the course of forty years. She is a skilled seamstress, and in addition to supporting Basque dance groups, also ran a successful business sewing and altering clothes. She is a member of the local American Sewing Guild (ASG) and participates in the many philanthropic efforts of the group to provide Christmas stockings to active military personnel, quilts for those in need, etc. Always willing to share her craft, she took up teaching sewing and still enjoys helping others with a skill which has always come easily and naturally to her.

Mayie Maitia

The name Mayie Maitia is synonymous with one of the most well-known
Basque restaurants in the United States, Wool Growers in Bakersfield. She is not only known for her delicious cuisine but for her houghtfulness, generosity, and unconditional support of her Basque culture.

Mayie was not only a mother to her own children but to the many Basque people who immigrated to the United States. She served as a translator to many Basque people and helped them with immigration, obtaining a driver's license, and scheduling appointments. She has been an inspiration, role model, and has continuously contributed to the well being of the Basque community locally and throughout California. She has generously fed countless children from all over the United States who attended NABO Udaleku's in Bakersfield, donated food to many Basque Club events, and was instrumental in obtaining donations for
the building of the KCBC handball court in 1978. Mayie also loves to play Mus and she participated in countless NABO Mus Tournaments.

Mayie's support of Basque Clubs extend well beyond Bakersfield. She's been a strong supporter and member of many clubs and served NABO for many years as Bakersfield's NABO delegate. Through her involvement as a NABO delegate, she made many wonderful memories visiting different Basque communities while forging strong friendships with Basques in the western United States and beyond.

Mayie has received many awards such as being inducted into the Society of the Basque Studies Hall of Fame in 1998 and Kern County Agriculturist of the Year in 2012. Her awards do not define her; her hard work, dedication to family, kindness and love for her Basque heritage and its people is what serves as an inspiration to us all.

Anne Marie Minaberri

Anne Marie Minaberri and Maite Curutchague are sisters who have been involved in the Kern County Basque Club for many years. At the Kern County Basque Club picnic in 1973, Anne Marie and Maite were asked to sing in the afternoon. Since that day they have been permanent fixtures at Basque weddings,funerals, club event masses, and picnics, in Bakersfield, throughout California and the western US. They have also organized Catholic masses at Kern County Basque Club events for many years and provided unwavering support to the Basque priests serving the western United States.

Anne Marie immigrated to the USA in 1960. She worked as a live-in maid at Basque restaurants and then contributed to the rich Basque history in the American Sheep Industry for many years. She served as a Board of Director and Secretary for the Kern County Basque Club, a NABO delegate, and participated in many NABO Kantari Eguna's with her sister and brother. Anne Marie also taught Basque language and singing at many NABO Udaleku's in Bakersfield. She participated in many NABO Mus Tournaments in Bakersfield organizing and cooking for them. Anne Marie would house and feed the Basque priests when they visited Bakersfield.

Maite Curutchague

Maite immigrated to the USA in 1960. She worked as a live-in maid, cook and became a fixture in the Kern County Basque restaurant scene serving the communities of Wasco and then Bakersfield for 33 years. Maite also loved pilota where she organized and participated in the women's yearly paleta tournaments.

She was proud to teach the Basque youth paleta as she always felt that
kept the tradition and Basque sport alive. She also played in countless NABO pilota tournaments as a representative for Bakersfield. Maite participated in many NABO Kantari Eguna's with her sister and brother. Maite also took pride in teaching Basque songs to our youth in Bakersfield. Not only did Maite feed many NABO Udaleku participants delicious Basque meals, she also fed and housed the Basque priests when they visited Bakersfield.

We are grateful for Anne Marie and Maite's love and passion for family, the Basque culture and our rich traditions. They believe that the many customs that make up our heritage should not be forgotten.

Jerry Etcheverry

Jerry Etcheverry has been a staple in both the Winnemucca Basque Club as well as NABO. As a festival chair, member of the board of directors, and mus player, he has tirelessly worked to perpetuate Basque culture in Nevada and beyond. Through his many years as NABO delegate, he has represented Winnemucca Basques and collaborated with many other clubs through NABO to preserve and promote Basque culture for future generations.

Valerie Etcharren Arrechea

Valerie Etcharren Arrechea

Read transcript of Presentation of Award | Video

Leadership Role: Valerie Arrechea served as NABO's president for 8 terms from 2009 to 2017 and has served as a NABO delegate since 1991. Valerie represented the U.S. and NABO at the 5th and 6th World Congress of Basque Communities in The Basque Country. Valerie has served as the NABO Udaleku chairperson and co-chairperson since 1992 and has been an Udaleku instructor nine times and has organized the Udaleku camp in San Francisco seven times. Valerie has organized various dance and txistu workshops throughout the years. In 1993 Valerie organized a dance group made up dancers from several NABO clubs to perform at the Semana Vasca at Mar del Plata, Argentina (Iparaize).

Basque Club of San Francisco: Past President, longtime NABO delegate since 1991, long time secretary and current and longtime dance director of both the Zazpiak Bat Dancers (since 1989) and the Gazteak Dancers (since 1987). Txistu instructor since 1991. Recipient of the Basque Club's Claude Berhouet Lagun Ona award for lifetime contributions. Valerie is the Basque Club's mus organizer for their annual NABO mus tournament.

San Francisco Basque Cultural Center: Past President and longtime secretary. Valerie is a key member of the board of directors and serves on many of the important committees such as the Entertainment Committee, Building and Grounds and including incorporating dance, mus, pilota and Euskara in youth activities. Valerie is the Basque Cultural Center's mus organizer for their annual NABO mus tournament.

Jeanette Esponda Maxwell

Rosita Ibarra

KBBS Basque Radio Program - Jeanette Esponda Maxwell

The Basque Program was an hour-long radio show every Sunday out of Buffalo, Wyoming. Its opening line, “One hour of music, news, messages, and views sponsored by, and for, Basque people of the area,” said it all. Over the 40 years of the program 1957-1997 several Basques would help Jeanette Esponda Maxwell, station owner, commentate on the program. The only surviving commentator is Rosita Maya, who still resides in Buffalo. The program relied on the donations from local Basques to keep it going, as well as the generosity of Jeanette herself, and her commitment to keeping the program on the air. Jeanette referred to KBBS as Buffalo Basque Station Beyond keeping everyone informed about local news, the program served to perpetuate the Basque language in Buffalo and the surrounding area. It was originally designed to ease the isolation felt by the sheepherders. Daughter of John Esponda, an early Basuqe pioneer who settled in the Buffalo, Wyoming area, Jeanette was the originator and hostess of the Basque Program on KBBS radio station. Through it she helped Johnson County, Wyoming Basques remain a vibrant and cohesive community.

Jean Flesher

Jean is a self-taught musician who has worked to perpetuate Basque music and dance in the United States since the age of 16. After providing music for the Utahko Triskalariak dancers, he put together a band locally that would play at Basque events across the country. Jean was instrumental in getting the Buffalo Basque Dance group off the ground. He continued to support the buffalo Basque 10 club by attending and providing entertainment at their annual picnic. Today, Jean is mentoring a new generation of Basque musicians carrying on the tradition of the great icons in Basque music, Jimmy Jausoro, Bernardo Yanci, Jean Iribarne, and the like.

Jean and Alberta Escoz

Long time NABO delegates from Buffalo. They have been active in their club and always supported NABO activities.

Nancy Trevino

Nancy served as NABO Secretary under Mary Gaztambide from 2004-2009. She was very involved in her local Basque Club in Salt Lake City, also serving as secretary there from the late 80suntil about 1992. She was a dedicated dance mom and followed the Utahko Triskalariak dancers on their travels performing at various venues.

Jean Baptiste Aguerre

Xavier Aphessetche

Jean Baptise Bidegaray

Juan Brana

Bernardo Yanci

Izaskun Kortazar

Izaskun was nominated for the award for her work as the first NABO Euskera Coordinator, her dedication to the preservation of the Basque language in the US, and willingness to help anyone and everyone she could. Izaskun not only taught face-to-face classes in Boise but was also willing to adopt any other individuals who wanted to learn on-line but who didn't have a club to rely on. She also created curriculum for teachers in other clubs as well as worked closely with HABE and Euskera Chair Martin Goicochea to ensure that the NABO Euskera program continued to run smoothly.

Joseba Etxarri

Joseba is very well-known to most thanks to his extensive travel through Basque America. Joseba has not only contributed to NABO by serving as a Euskera/song teacher at numerous Udalekus, but he has also collaborated with many clubs who have hosted NABO conventions working to bring entertainment from the Basque Country, as well as sponsorship in some cases. His main contribution, however, is his website EuskalKultura.com that is dedicated to the dissemination of news by and for the Basques in the Diaspora. His daily bulletin covers news from Basque clubs worldwide in three languages. His tireless work allows us to follow events from the US to Shanghai and back again.

John Ysursa

John has a very long career in NABO beginning with Udaleku and chairing various committees. He is probably better-known for serving as NABO's facilitator for many many years. In that role, John created the website and numerous initiatives from language maintenance, "Got Basque?" to youth involvement, to maintaining the tradition of Basque mass at festivals. John also has collaborated with numerous clubs serving as festival MC in many communities, or teaching dance workshops. John is always willing to serve wherever needed.

Benan Oregi

Benan, a technician for the Basque Government's Directorate of the Basque Communities Abroad was nominated for his ongoing support and efforts in favor of the US Basque community. In a time where Basques in the US were maybe over looked due to their lack of political participation in Euskadi, Benan stood fast and supported NABO and its initiatives ensuring that funds would be equally distributed to all, and not just to countries with voting Diasporas. Benan also took his job a step further in creating personal relationships with many individuals in many clubs. Always willing to help with grants, or collaborating in any way possible, Benan is always just a call or email away.

Martin Etchamendy

Martin has always been very involved with the Kern County Basque Club. For those of you who attend the Bakersfield Basque Festival, you know him well, as he is the Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon dance performances. During the performances you may remember some of this Cowboy Sheepman's infamous lines such as, "I wish I was 20 again. Look at my little yearlings. Give them a big hand, they sure deserve it. Look how bright our future is." He also served for many years on the Basque Club Board of Directors. Martin's background and love for music led him to host NABO's annual Kantaria Eguna. He is the Master of Ceremonies at this NABO yearly event and you can be assured Martin will always provide beautiful songs for everyone to enjoy.

Father Mike Lastiri

Aita Jean-Michel Lastiri has been celebrating mass at Basque Festivals since the passing of Aita Martxel Tillous in 2009. Aita Jean-Michel is currently the pastor at the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hanford, CA. (http://www.ihmhanford.org/pastor) His parents were Anastasio Lastiri from Arizkun, Nafarroa and Marie Carriquiry from Baigorri, Baxenabarre. Aita Jean-Michel was born in Pomona, CA, but raised in Hanford, CA, outside of Fresno, where his father owned and operated a dairy in Hanford. He graduated from CSU Fresno in 1978, and from the Pontifical College Josephinum in 1983 in Columbus, OH (seminary). Aita Jean-Michel also earned a Masters in Catholic Bioethics from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO and completed Graduate Studies work at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. He was ordained priest at St. John's Cathedral in Fresno on April 27, 1985.

Frank Maitia

Frank Maitia was one of the founding fathers of the Kern County Basque Club in 1944. He was both an officer and a director for many years. He also was instrumental in the building of the Kern County Basque Club's fronton. The new fronton breathed new life in to our club which re-established our collaboration with NABO. Frank's love for his Basque culture extended beyond the Kern County Basque Club. He was a pioneer in the Bakersfield Basque restaurant scene but his Basque pride continued to extend beyond Kern County.

Frank Maitia was the Kern County Basque Club's first NABO delegate in 1973. He served as the NABO President in 1978 and as the Vice-President in 1979. In the 1970's Frank would host the French handball players every two years for NABO and usually used money out of his own pocket to entertain them.

Frank loved to share his Basque heritage with all of his friends and family. He would bring musicians and weight lifters from the Basque Country and invite everyone to the restaurant to enjoy the entertainment. We are grateful for his perseverance which helped to pave the way for the Kern County Basque Club.

Martin Minaberry

After representing NABO in the 1982 Congress of American Basques, which was sponsored by the Basque Government and held in Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Martin became NABO's first International Chairman and the Basque Government's main contact with NABO through 1991, laying a strong foundation for NABO's longtime relationship with the Basque Government. Martin also served as NABO's Calendar Coordinator for many years and wrote many grant requests on behalf of NABO.

Through a NABO grant of the Basque Government (1994), Martin worked with Carmelo Urza of the Center for Basque Studies to create a book of a collections of articles entitled "Historia de la Pelota Vasca en Las Americas." Minaberry was one of the founders of the "Confederacion Panamericana de Pelota Vasca" and he was president at this same organization when he proposed the idea to the Basque Government and started working on this book project.

• Basque Club of San Francisco: President 1981-1982, VP 1980-1981, Secretary 1979-1980, 1982-1986, Director 1979-1986. Elgarrekin Basque Choir 1979-1991.
• Basque Educational Organization: Founding Chairman 1984, Chairman 1984-1991.
• United States Federation of Pelota: Founder (1982), Secretary for many years.
• San Francisco Basque Cultural Center: Founding member 1981.
• On November 7th, 2009, Martin Minaberry was honored by the Basque Educational Organization and the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center by having the Basque Library that he started in 1984 be rededicated in his name, The Martin Minaberry Library.

Marilou Onaindia

The name Marilou at the Kern County Basque Club is synonymous with laughter, hard work, and attention to detail. Marilou served as a director for the Bakersfield Basque Club Board for 14 years, specifically as secretary for 10 years. Even before her serving on the Basque Club Board, she assisted in planning the 1994 NABO Convention in Bakersfield. During her tenure on the Kern County Basque Club Board she was instrumental in organizing the 2004 NABO Convention in Bakersfield. She has also served as a NABO delegate for the Kern County Basque Club as well as coordinator of the NABO Mus tournaments in Bakersfield. Mus players can always count on a big smile and a warm welcome from Marilou when they participate in our tournaments. In 1989 she assisted with the Bakersfield Udaleku Music Camp and orchestrated the 1997 and 2005 music camps hosted in Bakersfield.

Those of you who know Marilou are aware of her motto-Together Everyone Accomplishes More (TEAM). Marilou's 'can do attitude' inspired other members to volunteer and work together to make our Basque culture and club come alive for all ages.

Anna Mari Aguirre

To all those who have known Anna Mari, she has been an exemplary person within the NYC Basque community and Diaspora outside Euskadi

Anna was born and raised in New York and was a model of embracing Basque Culture. In her youth she along with her brother Martin participated in the group of Dantzaris of the then Centro Vasco Americano* (The name would later be changed to Eusko Etxea of New York) where her parents,Andoni & Irene were long standing and well regarded members and Officers of Centro Vasco Americano.

She also taught the dances to younger children of Basques in New York as a teenager and young adult.

She went on to work on Society of Basque Studies in America and was a Board Member of the Basque International Cultural Center Center of which both were founded by Dr. Emilia Doyaga.

For many years she was nominated and also acted as the Delegate from Eusko Etxea of New York to the North American Basque Organizations (NABO) where she attended their Annual Conferences. She also took Euskara Classes taught at Esuko Etxea and in particular Itziar Albisu,a former President of Eusko Etxea and would go so far as to go to Itziar's house for personal lessons.She involved family & friends in many of her endeavors in her long time participation in Eusko Etxea.

Her work as a VP at Deutsche Bank's New York Headquarters led her to also teach courses on International Banking at NYU.

Bob Goicoechea

Bio coming soon

Jim Ithurralde

Jim was born in Ely, Nevada to Basque immigrants Manes and Mary Jean (Goyhenetche) Ithurralde.

He was raised on a sheep ranch in White Pine County and graduated from Eureka County High School in 1960 and furthered his education at Link's School of Business in Boise.

He returned to his home town of Eureka and went into banking and was later transferred to Elko were he and his wife Monique became involved in the Elko Euzkaldunak Club. His wife had come to this country as a small child from Eskul Herrria. Both of them held several officer positions in the Elko Club.

Jim and Bob Goicoechea were elected to be the first delegates from Elko to help form the North American Basque Organization (N.A.B.O.) This was challenging times to start this federation bringing the French Basque and the Spanish Basque to unite as one. Jim was used to this because as president of the Elko club he had had some of the same issues. After several meetings were held and at the end they took to heart the Basque motto Zazpiak-Bat and became unified to start this great organization. At that time Jim was still a banker and he became N.A.B.O.'s first treasurer and its second president.

Jim is better known as an announcer of Basque festivals throughout the State of Nevada for over 40 years.. He started announcing the National Basque Festival of his home club Elko in 1970. He has announced in Ely, Reno and Winnemucca. He announced the Winnemucca Festival for 28 consecutive years. He enjoyed explaining the Basque culture and heritage to people attending these festivals.

In 2004 Jim and his brother Bob put on a program about the Basque at the USA/Canada Lions Club Leadership Forum.

Jim's original vision of what N.A.B.O should be has become a reality to him of unifying the Basque communities of North America and teaching our children why they are Basque and to be proud of their heritage and culture.

He was very surprised and pleased that his peers honored awarding him the Biza Emankorra Award at the 2013 at the Elko National Basque Festival.

2012 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Mary Gaztambide (Salt Lake City)
Bio coming soon

Anita Anacabe Franzoia (Elko)

Anita Anacabe is the owner-operator of the Nevada icon, Elko General Merchandise, AKA Anacabe's. Since the age of 4 she has been involved with the Elko Basque community educating people about anything Basque. She is a Business Education graduate of Boise State University and a member of the original UNR-BSU program abroad. The Onate program was a predecessor to the USAC Consortium. After being adjunct faculty in Spanish and Basque at Great Basin College, Anita continues to teach Euskara through the Elko Euzkaldunak Club. She has taken hundreds people to the Basque Country on various educational tours. She has represented Elko in the North American Basque Organization for many years and is a recipient of the Bizi Emankorra award. She was included in the Nevada Legacy Project 150 Years of Excellence. Anita and Mike Franzoia have four children that all espouse being Basque also.

2011 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Isidro Echeto (Winnemucca)

Isidro has been an active member of the Winnemucca Basque club since 1975. He has acted as Festival Chairman/Co-Chairman for well over 8 years and has held the office of President or Vice President of the Winnemucca Basque club for 12 years. He also represented the Winnemucca Basque club as NABO delegate for 17 years. Isidro has donated many hours and days of his time to promote the Basque culture in his lifetime. He has been a major influence to our Basque club and to NABO through the years, whether it be through organizing NABO Conventions here in Winnemucca or encouraging the youth of the community to take active roles in NABO. At this time in his life he enjoys watching is Grandchildren dance and playing Mus with his daughter.

Martin Goicoechea (Rock Springs)

Martin Goicoechea spearheaded NABO's Euskara recovery and preservation program back in 2000 and continues to serve as NABO's Euskara Chairperson. Through this committee, lead by Martin, many euskara classes started up throughout the NABO member clubs and euskara preservation has become one of NABO's prime objectives. He has worked closely with the Basque Government and with HABE to negotiate the free use of euskara learning tools such as Hezinet and BOGA, and has worked to get special grants to staff a NABO euskara coordinator. All of these efforts by Martin and NABO were recognized in 2009 by Eusko Ikaskuntza when NABO was awarded their Euskararen Nazioarteko Eguna prize for the promotion of Euskara.
Along with Martin's commitment to NABO, Martin is also very active in his local club in Rock Springs, Wyoming and was one of the main organizers of the 2005 NABO Convention in Rock Springs. Martin has been a longtime supporter and participant in NABO's Kantari Eguna event. Martin is one of only four active bertsolaris in the United States and often performs for many of the NABO clubs at their events from New York City to San Francisco. In 2003, Martin received the United State's highest honor in folk and traditional art when he was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship in Washington D.C. In 2005 Martin was inducted into the Society of Basque Studies in America's Basque Hall of Fame. In 2003, Marin was a member of the NABO delegation to the Basque Government's World Congress of Basque Communities.

Kate Camino (Buffalo/Reno)

Kate Camino has been very active in NABO events for many years. She has served several times as an Udaleku Director: 2000 (Buffalo), 2002 (Reno), 2008 (Buffalo), 2010 (Reno) and is now the Udaleku co-chairperson. She is longtime NABO delegate since 1991 (Center for Basque Studies, Buffalo).
At the international level whe was chosen to represent NABO at the Second World Congress of Basque Communities held in Gasteiz, Araba, October 1999, then chosen to participate in Gaztemundu 2002 special Dance edition by the Basque Government, honored by the Basque Parliament (Eusko Legebiltzara) for organization of "Renoko Aste Nagusia" July 1999. She was also appointed by Euskal Irratia Telebista (EITB Basque Radio and Television) as their North American correspondent, 2000-2006.
At the local level she has served as director, president and secretary for the Zazpiak Bat Basque Club (Reno), past director for the Big Horn Basque Club (Buffalo), dance instructor for the Zazpiak Bat Basque Club (Reno).

Victor Esain (Fresno)

Victor was one of the original five Basques to organize the Fresno Basque Club in 1978 and became one of its first NABO Delegates in 1979; and he served us well for 22 years. He was also our Club's first MUS chairman; and he ran a "tight ship" regarding the rules of the game, implementing the use of score cards on each players' table which later was utilized by other clubs.
In 2004, he was a recipient of the 24th ANNUAL HALL OF FAME award by the Society of Basque Studies in America. He was honored for his NABO-oriented qualities as well, when in 2000 he was appointed NABO MUS Chairperson. For over twenty years he also assisted Pierre Etcharren and Jean Baptise Aguerre organize tournaments. Up until 2004, he had been involved in 25 national tournaments and 10 international tournaments. Although no longer a NABO Delegate since 2001, he still keeps track of the majority of clubs' winners and especially keeps up-to-date records of all national NABO winners! He literally has an ARCHIVE of notebooks on NABO championships and is SO PASSIONATE about the game and its players! The Society honored Victor for his steady, optimistic and determined dedication to mus games, Basque traditions and sports.

Because we know Victor immensely enjoyed being involved in NABO for so many years, both as Delegate and involved with the mus games, national or mundial, we are submitting with honor and pleasure his name as a nominee for the NABO BIZI EMANKORRA for 20ll. Many of the younger Delegates may not have met Victor, but we are sure they would respect him for his dedication of many years to NABO. We know he did it with a glad heart and Basque pride, and it gave him great joy!

2010 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Emilia Doyaga

Emilia Sarriugarte Doyaga was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received her Bachelor's Degree at Hunter College her Masters at Columbia University, and her Ph.D. at New York University and the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard. She was a professor at St. John's University, Brooklyn College and York College of City University College of New York, and a Distinguished Professor of State University of New York. She served as Dean at York College of New York and as Academic Vice President at State University of New York. She has published books on Unamuno, Becquer, and the Spanish Language as well authored articles related to the Basques on Columbus, Cuba and the New York Basque Center.

Dr. Doyaga is currently the President and NABO representative of the Society of Basque Studies in America, an organization she founded with two other academics. She has volunteered as the NABO Delegate for more than a decade, traveling and crossing the United States to the NABO meetings which have always been held in the west. The extra effort, time and money dedicated to NABO from the eastern Basques are noteworthy. She has often been the sole voice for eastern Basques as well as those in Florida. She maintains contact with Basques from all NABO clubs and has traveled to visit more than half of the clubs over the years.

Emilia danced with the Basque dancing groups of New York for years as a young adult and traveled Canada, the United States and Cuba with a professional group of Basque dancers.

Emilia created the Basque Hall of Fame, having served as an organizer and has traveled to be present and be the moderator at every single Basque Hall of Fame induction ceremony (29 total). She has been selected by the Basque Government to attend the World Congress of Basque Collectivities in 1995 and 1999, and the American Congress of Basque Centers in 1997 in Buenos Aires. With Jose Ramon Cengotitabengoa and Anna Aguirre, Emilia has maintained the Society of Basque Studies in America and its relations with euskal etxeak around the world, always promoting NABO activities, its calendar, its delegates and its mission. No one knows Emilia's physical age, we know her activity and promotion of all things Basque to be limitless.

Emilia has volunteered in leadership positions at the Euzko-Etxea of New York, the Society of Basque Studies in America, and is the initiator of the Basque International Cultural Center in New York. She is constantly volunteering for projects related to promoting awareness about the Basques such as the NABO initiative to correct the New York Times' erroneous reporting on Euskara. Emilia was the liaison who took hundreds of signatures to an assistant editor to ask for a correction. She was a leader for the Trainera Project which built and donated to the Basque Country from the Basque diaspora an authentic trainera. With the Society of Basques in America she was instrumental in helping execute the Basque Sheepherders' Monument in Reno. She has endlessly promoted Basque art and artists in the United States, as well as Basque cuisine on the US east coast.

She has promoted Euskara in her own club and is constantly encouraging others to take the courses.

Franxoa Bidaurreta

Leadership Role: NABO's First Pilota Chairperson 1976-1981 (approximately)

In 1976, NABO was interested in forming a Pilota Committee to promote pilota throughout the western United States and encourage interaction between Basque Clubs that had frontons. As he was already the Pilota Chairperson of the San Francisco Basque Club, Franxoa was invited to one of their meetings. At that meeting Franxoa was appointed Chairperson and asked to form a Pilota Committee. Immediately after the meeting, Franxoa contacted Basque Clubs which had frontons and formed the Pilota Committee with the pilota chairmen of the various clubs. In addition to attending regular NABO meetings, he would meet several times a year with the Committee members at various locations to discuss how to promote pilota, by teaching the youth and encouraging club tournaments. The first NABO Pilota Tournament was held within one year of the committee formation. Contacting the Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque (French Federation), the committee was able to set up competitions between their players and NABO players, taking place every 2 years. This continued for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in encouraging the reopening of the Boise Fronton at the Basque Block which had been used as a warehouse for many years.

Franxoa had a vision for the United States to participate in the International Pilota Tournament. In 1978, he was the coach for the NABO sponsored team to the world tournament in Biarritz. This led to the formation of the United States Federation of Pilota in 1979. Franxoa has been on the Board of Directors from its inception until today and was president for four years.

Franxoa has been very active in the local Basque community in San Francisco, and was inducted into the Basque Hall of Fame on November 11, 2006.

Basque Club of San Francisco: Board of Directors early 1970's-1981; Pilota Chairman 1973-1979; President 1976-1979; Klika

San Francisco Basque Cultural Center: Founding member 1979; Director 1983-1986 & 1992-2004; Pilota Chairman 1984-1986; President 2002-2004; Building & Grounds Committee current member

Basque Education Organization: Board of Directors 1984-present; Chairperson 1986-2000

Franxoa is still very active in the San Francisco Basque community and is currently a member of the Urazandi Committee.

Josephine Arriet

Josephine Mainvil Arriet was born in San Bernardino, California. Her father, Jean Mainvil, came from Hasparren, Labourd and her mother, Frances Oses, from Errazu, Navarre. They had two children: Josephine and John. Josephine attended Chaffey College in Ontario, California and, even though times were bad during the depression years, her abilities were recognized, and the Chaffey schools employed her in the Attendance and Business Offices for 14 years until she married John Arriet, a farmer, who raised cotton and alfalfa. The couple moved to Fresno, California where their daughter, Kathy, was born. Kathy had three sons and Josephine is proud of the grandsons: Brett, Phillip and Jonathan.
Josephine's interest in Basque culture started very early when her parents took her to visit Basque friends and to attend Basque festivals. Her daughter learned Basque dances at Los Banos Basque Club and, when Fresno Basque Club opened, Josephine became a dedicated working member. Victor Esain, who was president of the club, appointed her as a delegate to her first NABO meeting in 1982 where, ever since, her steadfast presence has been noted. She has been an active member of the California and Local Woolgrowers Auxiliaries since 1960 and has been in charge of raising money for the promotion of lamb and wool for 15 years.

2009 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients: skipped a year (this is not necessarily an annual award)

2008 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Francois Pedeflous

Leadership role: past NABO President

Francois Pedeflous has not only been an active member in NABO but also in the Los Banos, Fresno and KCBC Basque Clubs. He had always been a strong supporter in pelota, generously donated many hours of hard work in promoting the sport as well as monetary donations. While being the NABO Pelota Chairman, Francois Pedeflous was very instrumental in the formation of the United States Federation of Pelota which was established on March 20, 1982 in Miami, Florida.

Proud of his Basque heritage, Frank spent most of his adult life promoting and preserving Basque culture.

He served in various leadership positions in the Los Banos and Frenso Basque Clubs, and as NABO President from 1981--83. He was also instrumental in keeping pilota (Basque handball) going, serving in various capacities on the national and international levels.

Frank was well known for his dedication to his family and friends, his drive and courage in business, his love of food and wine, his black beret, and his passion for baseball!

As a new immigrant to the United States, he learned to read and write English by reading Boxing Ring Magazine, and he proudly became a US citizen in 1955. He also enjoyed hunting, playing Mus and visiting friends and relatives throughout the Basque-American community and Euskal Herria.

Jean Leon Iribarren

Leadership role: Past NABO President & Treasurer

Jean-Leon Iribarren attended the first organizational meeting held to establish what we now call NABO. He was a delegate to NABO from the San Francisco Basque Club for several years, and then served as NABO President 1987-90; previous to that he served as NABO's treasurer 1Tr983-87.

In 1967-1968, he served as president of San Francisco Basque Club, and 1974-80, 1983-87, was treasurer. In 1978, he was key in organizing the 1978 NABO convention, which also hosted San Francisco's first international mus card game tournament. Around this time, he also helped organize the first Basque Music summer camp, still popular to this day as Udaleku.

In the SF Basque Club's earlier years, he was amongst those who were involved in the early land acquisition in the south bay, which was planned as the site for future Basque picnics which had grown in popularity. Despite his ambitions, it's failed attempted, provided the spark for the creation of a local Euskal Etxea. In the early 1980s, he was part of an entrepreneurial few who recruited participants in the private financing of what is the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center. NABO was in full swing, and its vision attracted much of his efforts. Between 1983 and 1987 he served as treasurer, and 1987-90 as president. He remained active in all of these organizations until his untimely death in 1993.

Jean-Leon Iribarren was an exceptional man who always responded to requests for help from individuals and organizations. He will be remembered as a leader, educator, motivator, and mediator who influenced many of his peers. The success of these Basque organizations is a great memory to his legacy.

2007 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipient:

Jacques Unhassobiscay

His vision for NABO was widespread. He saw NABO as the necessary vehicle to unify small and large Basque clubs so that together they could promote Basque culture.

Jacques was the 3rd president of NABO, and during his term he attended as many Basque club functions throughout the western US as possible. At these functions, he would promote NABO and educate members and clubs as to what NABO was about and what its role and significance was in relation to the promotion of Basque culture. He felt that NABO was a tool for future Basque generations, from nationwide locations, to enable each other to interact together at activities and functions that NABO would sponsor. During these formative years of NABO getting Basque clubs to join was a serious challenge. During his term as president NABO initiated popular events, such as the NABO pilota tournament, that enticed clubs to join NABO. With his persistence and going beyond the call of duties of president, NABO's club membership nearly tripled during Jacques' tenure as NABO president. His vision strongly impacted Basque culture in the US and enabled NABO to grow in membership.

In 1978 NABO sponsored a pilota team, which competed in the world tournament in Biarritz. With Jacques' assistance this led to the formation of the United States Federation of Pilota, for whom Jacques served as inaugural president. He returned to Euskal Herria in 1984 and started a farming business. This gave him the opportunity to enjoy his first love the euskal herriko mendiak (Pyrenees mountains).

Jacques passed away in 2002 in a farming accident in the Basque Country. He is survived by his wife Dorothy and his three children, Marc, Daniel and Jacqueline.

2006 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Grace Mainvil (1934-2017)

Grace was born in San Juan Capistrano, California in 1934. She was the daughter of Basque immigrants who settled in California. Her father, Jean Pierre Lacouague, arrived in San Juan Capistrano, California from Ainhoa, Lapurdi in 1910. Her mother, Bonifacia Mujica, came to Fullerton, California in 1912 from Maya in the Baztan Valley of Nafarroa. Grace spent her early years on her parent's ranch where she grew up with traditional Basque life and culture. After marrying John Mainvil in 1959, they settled in Riverside, Califormia. Where they were involved in the Southern Californian Basque community of Chino. In 1972, they moved with their four daughters to Weiser, Idaho. After retirement, they moved in 2002 to Eagle, Idaho where they currently reside.

She was selected to be Ontario's N.A.B.O. delegate in 1982. Because of her desire and passion to contribute to Basque culture, she has represented Ontario at N.A.B.O. for over 20 years. Through the enthusiastic and detailed N.A.B.O. reports that Grace gave at the Ontario meetings, it is evident that she truly believes in and is dedicated to the mission of N.A.B.O..

In 1987 Grace was elected to the office of N.A.B.O. Treasurer, a position of great responsibility that she retained for many years. Always looking out for the best interests of our federation, Grace has done a thorough and impeccable job in this office. She pursued with equal vigor matters of cents and those of thousands of dollars. Her professional attitude and detailed treasurer's reports reflected her dedication to our organization. For eighteen years Grace has provided continuity at the head table at N.A.B.O. meetings. Over the years many presidents have come and gone while Grace quietly served as our trusty anchor. She has become an invaluable resource for all of us regarding our collective past.

In 2003, Grace was chosen to represent N.A.B.O. at the Third World Congress on Basque Communities held in Gasteiz, Araba. She was an ideal ambassador for our federation because of her in-depth knowledge of N.A.B.O., her interest in Basque culture worldwide, and her friendly manner and ease of communication with other participants. Her life-long passion to be involved in and promote Basque culture in communities surrounding her makes her a strong candidate for this honor. Above all, however, we felt that Grace deserves this award because she truly embodies the ideals of N.A.B.O..

In her quiet way, Grace played an indispensable role in helping N.A.B.O. fulfill its mission. She did this directly by serving as treasurer for nearly two decades and indirectly through her work for Ontario, Oregon Basque Club, representing our views at the N.A.B.O. level. She was committed to the success of N.A.B.O. and worked with all member clubs whenever they needed assistance.

Pierre Etcharren

Pierre was one of the founding members of both the San Francisco Basque Club and Basque Cultural center. Because of his experience with Basque dance in Euskal Herria, he instructed and directed the San Francisco dance groups for over 25 years. His passion in this area moved him to start Udaleku (formerly know as Music Camp). The first Udaleku took place in three phases, hosted in Boise, Reno and San Francisco. Pierre worked to bring the first dance and txistu teachers Jon Onatibia, from Oyarzun, and Luis Manuel Mentxaka. He has also helped organize this event the numerous times it has be hosted in San Francisco. He still believes that Udaleku is one of NABO's finest accomplishments, and works to keep its high standards.

Pierre was the founder of the International Mus Tournament of the world's Basque communities. In 1978 he traveled with the NABO Mus winners to the Basque Country, where he had made connections and had arranged to have them participate in an existing regional tournament held in Ascain between France and San Sebastian. Under his vision, he took this small tournament and in 1979 in San Francisco transformed it into a truly international championship with participation of 7 countries. This tournament has been held every year since then, and includes participation of all the world Basque communities. In 2003 he was chosen as the recipient of the Mus Lifetime Achievement Award from the Basque Mus Communities in Argentina. The award itself was presented to him in Acapulco, Mexico in 2004 by Manuelo Arriola of Argentina.

Pierre felt it was important that NABO member clubs participate in some fashion, either with dance group, klika, pelotari, wood chopping, or singing, at the annual conventions. With Pierre as Chairman, and the help of the San Francisco Basque Club, the 1979 convention in San Francisco was a realization of this dream. It was the first time all NABO dance groups and klikas were present. Also present at the convention was Udaleku and the first International Mus Tournament.

Pierre served as NABO President from 2000-2004, and represented NABO at the 2000 Semana Vasca in Necochea, Argentina and gave a presentation on the NABO Udaleku program. In 2002 he was invited to Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba by President Ibarretxe to give a report on NABO's cultural activities. He took that opportunity to convince the Basque Government to change the dates of the Gaztemundu program and 2003 World Congress of Basque Collectives to July so that there could be greater participation by NABO members. By invitation of President Ibarretxe, he attended the 2003 World Congress.

His persistence and countless volunteer hours have helped NABO become the well respected organization that it is today.

2005 Bizi Emankorra (Lifetime Contribution) Recipients

Jean Pierre Cachenaut

In the early years of N. A. B. O. Father Cachenaut was a binding agent, an ambassador throughout the Western states and Euskal Herria for
N. A. B. O. He knew no stranger; he crossed all dialectal and provincial borders to make everyone welcome in his realm. Just his warmth and strong handshake made you feel apart of his world. He blended the ecclesiastical with being Basque well. He was never too heavy on either.

There isn't a Basque in the western US that has contacts in Euskal Herria that Father doesn't know. Whether you are in the U. S. or in E. H. with a couple of phone calls by Father can locate someone here or there. There wasn't a N. A. B. O. convention that you didn't see Father and even after his 10+ years stay here he brought groups from E. H. to N. A. B. O. functions. He also helps people and groups while they are in E. H. He helped the Spring Creek Nevada Band and Choir back in the year 2000 put on performances in Bayonne that were well received. He was there for the Boise Biotzetik Choir when they needed him too.

Remember a wedding, baptism, funeral, festival or other function he was at here or in Euskal Herria? There are many to think of, all the miles he drove just to be at each of our special days. He is always so uplifting, energetic, and pleasant to be around.

Miguel "Mike" Olano

Mike was born in Busturia, Bizkaia, in 1923 and came to the U.S. in 1948, after completing military service in Africa. He started out as a sheepherder in Yakima Washington, and after pursuing different job interests in various western states, he finally ended up in Winnemucca where he purchased the Winnemucca Hotel with his partner, Claudio Aguirre in 1963.

According to Mike it was his idea to buy the hotel, "so we bought it having never sold a "high-ball" before, not even whiskey." In 1971, he bought his partner out and continues to be the sole owner today.

Mike Olano has been a member of the Euskaldunak Danak Bat Basque Club for over 40 years, serving in several capacities: 8 Years as Club President, 8 Years as Vice-President. Mike was a NABO delegate for 25 years, just recently stepping down due to health reasons. Mike was the first person to incorporate wood chopping and weight lifting in the Winnemucca Festival. One of Mike's proudest moments was serving as Parade Marshal at the Winnemucca Festival. Since arriving in Winnemucca in 1963, Mike has been the "Good Will Ambassador" for Euskaldunak Danak Bat Basque Club and the entire Basque Community in Norhern Nevada.

2004 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Jesus Pedroarena

Frances Pedroarena

2003 Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Bob Echeverria

Robert L. "Bob" Echeverria, born in Winnemucca, Nevada 3-10-42 to Pablo and Carol Bullis Echeverria
Amuma: Sinforosa Malaxechevarria Gabiola, Amoroto, 1878
Aitxitxe: Venturo "Ben" Echeverria, Ispaster 1879

K-12 Humboldt County Schools, 1966 BS Education , UNR, 1987 AA Corrections,NNCC, 1994 Masters of Education, UNR

Commissioned a 2nd Lt. upon graduation from UNR in 1966, served in US Army Infentry in Alaska, Vietnam and Olkahoma, decorations among others are: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallentry and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Separated service in 1970, as a Captain, returned to live in Reno with wife Cheryl and three boys; Timothy Paul, Patrick Mateo and Dominic Jon. Moved to Elko in 1973 and finally connected with an organized Basque community through the Elko Basque Club. All my sons did the Basque Dancing and the NABO Music Camps, all speak some Spanish and one is fluent in Basque. None of these things were around when I was growing up and no Basque was spoken in my home except with some visitiors. I am the proud Aitxitxe of 7 grand children.

Moved to Elko in 1973, worked 28 years at the Nevada Youth training Center as a teacher of Social Studies, move to the Elko County School District in 2001 where I remain as a teacher of the Alternative School for the district, grades 6-11, sort of a "one-room" school for students "at-risk".

Have been an active member of the Elko Basque Club since 1973, served as President for 7 years and on the Board of Directors and NABO Delegate for most of the years between, I served as NABO President for 7 years and for the past three have been an active Vice-President.

Even though I do not speak Basque or Spanish I feel that I am Basque where it counts "in the heart" and "in service to the culture"...I was blessed with great support for my years as NABO President and was honored to represent NABO in the following ways:

1993-1995...Consulant to the project "Amerikanuak! Basques in the High Desert"
1994............Meeting in Washington DC for the American Basque Foundation
1995............Delegate to the 1st World Basque Congress in Victoria-Gatize
1996............Meeting in Washington DC for the American Basque Foundation
1997............Argentina for their National Basque Festival in Rosiaro
1999............Delegate to the 2nd World Basque Congress in Victoria-Gatize
2000............To Chicago as for the design awards for "Bilbao, the Transformation of a City"
2000............Delegate to the 2nd American Congress, Nechochea, Argentina

Luis Manuel Pe-Mentxaka

Luis-Manuel Pe-Mentxaka y Herrian
Nacio en Barcelona el a帽o 1.948, de familia basca nacidos en Bilbao.
Mis padres eran Manuel Pe Mentxaka y Margarita M Otaduy
Estoy casado con Rosa Maria,Fernandez Pando ( 1.980 ), a la que conoceis algunos de vosotros y tengo dos hijos Aitor (21) y Asier (16).

Actualmente tengo mi estudio como arquitecto y trabajo como Arquitecto Tasodor Hipotecario ( Valoracion de viviendas para la concesion de creditos ) para BBK ( Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa ) y para la Caja de Ahorros de Navarra.

Me graduo como Arquitecto en la Universidad Politecnica de Madrid ( 1,980 ) y como Profesor de Piano en el Real Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Madrid (1.970 ).

En 1.971 obtuve el primer premio de composicion de Cancion Infantil de TVE.

Aunque toda mi vida la he desarrollado en Madrid, la educacion que recibi de mis padres fue totalmente basca, desarrollando en mi todo al cari帽o hacia nuestra tierra Euzkadi.

El verano de 1.959, mi aita me comproen Bilbao un txistu y con un amigo de la familia, aprendi las primeras lecciones de txistu, que luego continue estudiando con un amigo de Madrid, Juan Jose Ugalde, de Gazteiz, que viv閾哸 en Madrid. Actualmente, seguimos tocando el txistu juntos en todas las ocasiones en que se nos llama para celebraciones en multitud de sitios, asi como en radio, cine y television.

Durante los veranos, en los a帽os 60 y 70, recorria Euzkadi, con los txistularis de Bilibao, y tocando en todos los alardes de tixtularis que se hacian por los pueblos con motivo de las fiestas patronales.

Soy socio fundador de la Sociedad "Euzkal Etxea " de Madrid, que nacio como union de todas las personas bascas que residiamos en Madrid, actuando como organista en la Misa de los Domingos asi como tocando el txistu en todas las ocasiones en que se me llamaba.

Dimos una gira de conciertos, contratados por Radio Nacional con Kepa Junkera, por Holanda el a帽o de 1.989.

Actualmente pertenezco, desde 1.984, a帽o de su fundacion, a un coro profesional dedicado a la investigacion e interpretacion del Canto Gregoriano, "Schola Antiqua", habiendo realizado varias grabaciones y dando conciertos por Europa y EEUU.

En esta asociacion ( Euzkal Etxea ), conocia Sabin Olaskoaga, contante del grupo "Los XEY", con el cual en muchas ocasiones hemos tocado el txistu y el acordeon conjuntamente. Su hija Anetxu, tuvo conocimiento en 1.979 de la muerte de Jon O帽atibia y recurrii a su padre para que buscase un txistulari par el Music Camp de ese a帽o en San Francisco.

Cuando a mi me llamo Sabin, estaba en Israel y en Grecia en una gira de conciertos corales, con una coral de canto polifenico, de la que yo era el director.

Con la primera persona que yo hable fue con Pier Etxarren y cuando me pregunto como nos reconoceriamos en el aeropuerto al llegar, le dije : Ire con Txapela, que es la cedula de identificacion de un basco. No hubo ningun problema de identificacion.

Posteriormente segui asistienda a Music Camp en diferentes lugares : Fresno, Boise (varios veces ) Chino, Salt Lake City, Winnemuca, Backersfield, etc. hasta el a帽o de 1.996 en que viaje a Music Camp por ultima vez. ( No se si me olvido algun sitio )

Recuerdos de Music Camp: De todos los Music Camp, guardo un maravilloso recuerdo, ( partidas de mus, las clases, fiestas, picnics, bailes) y sobre todo de las personas con las que tuve contacto y de todos los chavales, los cuales creo que algunos se acuerdarian de mi?

Familias como : Elu, Etxarren, Inda, Anacabe (Franzoia), Beristain, Campos, Eiguren, Yzurza, Jausoro, Anes Mendiola, Pedeflous, Goitiandia, Iribarren, Achurra, Sangroniz, Miller, Donahue (Megan ), Bidaurreta, Cendagorta, Better, Grupo Oinkari y otros muchos. Seguro que me olvido de alguna y pido perdon por el olvido.

Este es el mejor recuerdo que tengo de Music Camp, la amistad y el cari帽o con el que me recibisteis y me acogisteis en vuestras casas y que para mi han sido una de las experiencias mejores que he tenido en mi vida.

2002 Initial Bizi Emankorra ("Lifetime Contribution") recipients:

Martxel Tillous

Martxel Tillous was born in 1934 in the Basque town of Eskiula in Xiberoa. Following his calling he entered the priesthood and began work as a missionary for 26 years in Africa . Returning to Europe he served four years as the Basque chaplain for the Basque community of Paris from where he came to the United States to serve as chaplain of Basque-Americans since 1994.

Aita Martxel is continuing in the footsteps of earlier Basque chaplains, and he continues to fulfill an important role in our Basque-American community. His ministry as chaplain to the Basques of the United States has him criss-crossing the country averaging 60,000 miles a year! He spends 200 nights a year sleeping in his van with the license plate "Pottoka" he travels from his base in San Francisco, California to the scattered Basque communities of eleven states of the American West. All of this to serve the spiritual needs of Basque-Americans celebrating mass in the Basque language to baptizing, marrying Basque couples and consoling us at funerals.

Our chaplain from Zuberoa is being recognized for both his spiritual and cultural contributions. An avid txistulari, Aita Martxel is often seen and heard playing this ancient Basque flute (or its variation the xirula). Since being here, he has served as the txistu instructor at NABOs annual Udaleku-Music Camp (Basque Cultural Summer Camp) for youth. After a Basque picnic meal he is always there to join in a sing-along or to help encourage the formation of new Basque cultural venture. He also started a newsletter ("Lokarria") that goes out to thousands of Basque-American families and thus further assisting efforts to bring our community closer together.

NABO salutes Aita Martxel's self-less dedication to his tasks and we consider ourselves fortunate to have been blessed with his presence among us. Zorionak eta esker mila Aita Martxel!

Albert Erquiaga

Al Erguiaga was born in Boise , Idaho in 1935 to Tomas Erquiaga and Anita Echevarria. He grew up immersed in the Basque community, where he learned to celebrate the culture and heritage around him. When they were children on the family's farm in Meridian , his father taught Al and his sister, Alice, to dance by singing and clapping for them. When he was old enough for Basque dancing lessons, his father enrolled him in Juanita "Jay" Hormaechea's class. It took a while for Albert to feel comfortable dancing in the class, but he came to love Basque dancing after performing at several music festivals and other events. Al went on to become a founding member of the Boise Oinkari Basque Dancers in 1960. It soon became apparent that this was a man who not only dreamed big Basque visions but worked to make these dreams come true. He went on to become a founding member of the Boise Bihotzetik choir, the originator of the first Jaialdi festival and first president of NABO.

What has this man not done is the question when it comes to the promotion of Basque culture. His efforts transformed the Boise Basque community. Today the Oinkari are synonymous with the city and the state; Jaialdi is the single largest Basque event in the nation and one of the largest outside of the Basque country itself. The Bihoztik choir continues its proud tradition of Basque song and Al is always there lending support and his fine voice. Al has certainly helped to positively transform the Boise Basque community, but then his pioneering efforts to create NABO also mark him as a man of broader vision as well; his efforts consolidated the creation of our national Basque club federation in 1973 that today serves as the reason we have all gathered together to celebrate.

NABO salutes Al for his vision and work to build places where we can come together to share and celebrate our Basque heritage. Zorionak eta eskerrik asko Alberto!