By Sumita Louis, Outpost Staff
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With 2,612 residents of Basque origin, Nevada is home to the third-largest Basque population in America, according to the 1990 U.S. Census. California had 19,122 people of Basque origin, making it the state with the largest Basque population. Idaho ranks second with 5,587.
Reno has the largest concentration of Basques in Nevada. More than 1,973 Basques live and work in this gambler's paradise. From affluent lawyers, casino owners and restaurateurs to service-oriented employees, Reno's Basque citizens have come a long way from their sheepherder ancestors. Reno also boasts of two Basque restaurants, a Basque Club as well as a Department of Basque Studies at the University of Nevada. Linda White, assistant coordinator of the Basque Studies Program, says the department, which also includes a well-known Basque library, is one of the largest in the western hemisphere.
The Basques have a rich culture and colorful traditions. For example, traditional Basque dining is family style, with meals eaten in a community setting. Large tables and big platters of food are shared by all those at the common table. The food is varied from steaming dishes of boiled lamb to fried shrimp concoctions.
The Basques love music and dancing. Every festival or get-together is incomplete without music and dance. Young and old alike get up and clap their hands to the drum beat. This is why the Basques have often been called the "dancing people."
The Reno Basque Club has been instrumental in encouraging the Basque community here to revive the Basque traditions, said club president Marie Lou Urrutia. Members bring in their young children to learn the language. But this is an uphill task. The Basque language is intricate and is slowly beginning to disappear even in the Basque country in Europe. In fact, it is common to find Basques in Europe and the United States preferring to speak Spanish or French rather than learn Basque.
The club members teach Basque folk-dance to interested children. The response has been so encouraging that the club has formed the Zazpiak Bat (We are 7) Basque Dancers troupe, which performs at many events in town, Urrutia said.
Older Basques teach club members to play the intricate card game "mus." This card game is an important part of the Basque tradition. Every year regional competitions are held among the many Basque clubs in the country, with the winning team going on to the finals. The Northern Association of Basque Organizations, a federation of 31 Basque organizations in theUnited States, holds the finals of the famous annual mus competition and organizes other Basque competitions and festivals in the region.
Besides all these instructional programs, the Reno club organizes many get togethers and cultural events, including an annual Basque picnic in March and an annual Basque Festival in August, which attacts many of Reno's non-Basque residents. The club newsletter gives monthly details about events and important information regarding the community.
The club is not the only proponent of Basque culture in Reno. Louis Basque Corner is another important focal point. "Through the years we have kept our traditions. I think we have worked hard at it. I think we are a part of Reno and of the Basque culture," says Lorraine Erreguible, co-owner of the restaurant. Together with her husband, Lorraine has turned the restaurant into a gathering place for the Basque community in town.
Recently, the annual San Martin Festival was celebrated in Reno. The Reno Club's Zazpiak Bat Basque Dancers and a dance troupe from the Basque country performed at a special dinner at the Reno Hilton. The colorful costumes and the intricate dance steps were an eloquent statement of the Basques' cultural heritage. The festival brought out more than 100 people celebrating the pageantry and the pomp of the Basque people. Many non-Basques participated, enjoying the food, music and the dances.
"The Basque Club tries to promote the active growth of Basque traditions and a community spirit among the residents in Reno. We try to spread awareness about our people, our culture and our traditions," Urrutia said.
There is no doubt the Basque community, not only in Reno but in other parts of the country, is speedily getting assimilated into the 'melting pot' that is the United States. What remains to be seen is whether the Basques retain their identity in this new world they've adopted.
posted 11/15/97
Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost