NABO

2017

Buffalo, Wyoming
<
O
n behalf of the Big Horn Basque Club board of directors,
welcome to Buffalo and to the annual North American
Basque Organization festival. It is with great pride that we
get to share our community with our fellow Basques from
across the world.
We have been planning the event for months, and it
has been no small feat. Members of our local club, along with numerous
community members, have put a lot of time and effort into the planning.
From the Bread of Life Food Pantry sheep wagon stove auction to the
mountain tour, we are positive there will be something for everyone.
Id like to congratulate those who will receive the Bizi Emankorra award,
and I extend a heartfelt thank you for your efforts and commitment to
perpetuate the Basque culture in the United States. Several local res-
idents will receive the award, and I send a special congratulations to
them.
With their help, the Basque community has long been vibrant and rich
in Johnson County. From the day Jean Esponda first stepped foot in John-
son County to today, Basque traditions have flourished. We still have a
local Basque dance group and hold annual festivals, mus tournaments
and meetings. The Basque language is still spoken in many Johnson
County homes. And the tradition of sheep herding still stands today.
I invite you to explore the community, to learn our traditions and to
share your own. Find new friends, tell old stories, eat good food and kick
up your heels there will be dancing.
Jason Camino
Big Horn Basque Club president

Dear Friends,
As a Director for the Basque Community Abroad, I would
like to draw attention to the fact that in the global world we
live in today, we, the Basques, have a double sense of belong-
ing: we are connected to our roots in the old Basque land and
we also feel close ties to the places where we were born, live
or have grown professionally or personally.
This is particularly true for you, Basque Americans. You
naturally combine a feeling of belonging to the United States of
America and your love of the Basque Country. An attitude that
greatly contributes to disseminate Basque culture throughout
the English speaking world.
Therefore, I have great pride in saluting this 2017 Conven-
tion in Buffalo, Wyoming, in my first voyage to the US to meet
the Basque American Community, as another step taken in
favor of the Basque people in the United States.
Congratulations, my friends.

Gorka lvarez Aranburu

Kanpoan den Euskal Komunitatearentzako zuzendaria
Director for the Basque Community Abroad
2 2017 NABO Festival
 Commitment to Our Community
Welcomes the Basque At ANB Bank, we believe
community in giving back to our
community. We are proud to
Continental Motors extend that commitment
185 N. Main, Buffalo 307-684-5341 Office by supporting the
307-217-0462 (George cell) 307-620-2500 (Dave cell)
North American
George Wenzel Dave Varner - sales
Basque Organization!

We Deliver the Difference in Banking

99 South Main Street

307-684-2201
ANBbank.com

We have the parts to keep you going

Michelena Automotive Supply
70 E. Benteen St. Buffalo, WY
684-2237 866-684-2237
Monday Friday 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. 4 p.m.
 MEN FROM THE PYRENEES
They say hes a Basque a friend once said to me
I answered Whats that? the statement puzzling me
He answered, Hes a man from a land across the seas
A land called Eskual Herria, thats in the Pyrenees
Its a land that stretches from the mountains
Down to the Atlantics coastal plains
Its the home of the Euskaldunak, a hardy race of men
Theyre as stout as any oak tree that has ever been
Theyve sailed on many ships, some clear around the horn
And some were with Columbus on his Great Discovery Morn
No matter where they go they are equal to the task
Until a job is finished, theres no quitting if youre Basque
Ive spent many a cold and soggy day in the mud and rain
Trying to save newborn lambs on a wind chilled plain
And if youre with a Basque hell see things through
Until the job is finished, hell be there with you
In my lifetime Ive known many, many Basque
Friends like Errecart, Escoz, and Pradere, what more to ask
Basques are industrious and thrifty, their country has poor fare
Its a land thats hard for living, not much wealth is there
Theyre found throughout the world in their Eternal Quest
To find productive labor and to be among the very best
The Basques I worked with and knew so very well
Were sheepmen and at that task they always did excel
The older ones are gone now, but their memories remain
Esponda, Marton, Harriet, and Auzqui are familiar names
Irigaray, Iberlin, Falxa, Etchemendy, and Borrdarampe
Camino, Curutchet, Michelena, Martirena and Inchauspe
These names remind us of the Days That Used to Be
And the legacy left us by the MEN FROM THE PYRENEES

Russ E. Miller
July 7, 2001

In Dedication to John & Dominica Esponda, Grayce Esponda Miller

and the Basque herders who worked for them.
Lovingly, Michael Miller, Mike Miller Jr., Kate and Pat Miller and all their children
 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
13 The Basque Hour For one hour a week,
KBBS radio provided Basques in Johnson County
with a taste of home

15 The Basque Connection The history behind

the North American Basque Organization

17 Basque beginnings With the arrival of one

man, the local Basque population blossomed

19 Learning the language Local Basque

aficionado traverses a foreign language

22-24 Bring on the bands A look at the

musicians that will play during
the NABO convention in Buffalo

26 Mary Camino: Sharing pride in culture One

local woman was instrumental in cultivating a local
Basque dance group

30 Here to help Antton Egigurens winding road

to becoming a Basque Catholic priest

33 Basque dancing The history of Zaharrer Segi

38 A lifetime of music Jean Flesher was only

16 when he taught himself to play Basque tunes

43 More than just a stove Local artists transform

sheep wagon stoves to benefit the local food pantry

46 From sheep to sweater How one local sheep

ranch is partnering with a local wool mill to keep the
sheep business alive

58 Not your average mountain tour A day of

fishing and frying

59 Following tradition Jean and Alberta Escoz

to receive Bizi Emankorra award

61 Preserving the culture For nearly 60 years,

Oinkari Dantza Taldea has been perpetuating the
Basque culture through dance

A joint publication of the Big Horn Basque Club

and the Buffalo Bulletin 2017

2017 NABO Festival 5

Schedule of events
Thursday, July 20 Saturday, July 22
Hampton Inn (east of Buffalo) Main Street
5 to 7 p.m. - Registration for delegates 8 a.m. - MISHAP! Brewing 5K Basquo run (register at
7 p.m. - Hospitality hour hosted by the Michelena MISHAP! Brewing)
family 10 a.m. - Basque parade
Occidental Saloon on Main Street Buffalo City Park
8 p.m. - Live Basque music 10 a.m. - Gates open for vendors, food, drink and
entertainment
Skating rink near city park
Friday, July 21 8 p.m. to midnight - Basque dance open to the public
TA Guest Ranch (south of Buffalo)
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - NABO Delegate meeting and
luncheon hosted by the Bighorn Basque Club Sunday, July 23
Buffalo City Park (band shell)
Crazy Woman Square (Main Street) 10 a.m. - Catholic Mass
Noon to 6 p.m. - Early registration open to the 11 a.m. - Bizi Emankorra award ceremony
public (admission bracelets and food tickets available 11 a.m. - Gates open for vendors, food, drink and
for pre-purchase) entertainment that includes weight lifters and wood choppers
4 to 6 p.m. - Sausage (Txerriki) cook off (open to public
entries, register in Crazy Woman Square)
6 to 8 p.m. - Bread of Life Food Pantry Sheep Wagon Monday, July 24
Stove Auction Bighorn Mountains - Hazelton Road
8 to 11 p.m. - Basque street dance 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Mountain tour and fish fry

6 2017 NABO Festival

2017 NABO Festival 7
Performance Schedule
Thursday, July 20 Occidental Hotel
6:30 p.m. music by Errebal, Xabi Aburruzaga Taldea, Amer-
ikanuak, Ospa and Txantxangorriak
Friday, July 21 Crazy Woman Square
6 to 8 p.m. auction of sheep wagon stove sculptures
8 to 11 p.m. public dance with Ospa (8 to 9:25 p.m.) and
Xabi Aburruzaga Taldea (9:35 to 11 p.m.)
Saturday, July 22 Buffalo Main Street
10 a.m. Parade all music and dance groups in parade
Saturday, July 22 Washington Park
Hockey Rink tent
11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oinkari dancers (Boise, Idaho)
12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Xabi Aburruzaga Talde (Bizkaia, Euskal
Herria)
1:30 to 1:45 p.m. Irrintzi competition
1:45 to 2:30 p.m. Utahko Triskalariak (Salt Lake City
dancers)
2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Errebal (Guipuzkoa, Euskal Herria)
3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Amerikanuak (California and beyond)
4:45 to 5:15 p.m. Zaharrer Segi dance group (Buffalo,
Wyoming)
5:30 to 6 p.m. Ospa (Buffalo, Wyoming and beyond)
8 to 11 p.m. public dance with Amerikanuak (8-9:25) and
Errebal (9:35-11:00)
Saturday, July 22 Washington Park west
near bend in Clear Creek
11:30 a.m. to noon Eusko Altzairu Berri (Buffalo, Wyoming
steel drum group)
12:15 to 1 p.m. Txantxangorriak
2 to 3 p.m. Hosted jam session with Ospa
3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Eusko Altzairu Berri (Buffalo, Wyoming
8 2017 NABO Festival
steel drum group)
4 to 4:45 p.m. Txantxangorriak
5 to 6 p.m. Hosted jam session with Errebal
Sunday, July 23 Washington Park Bandshell
10 a.m. Mass followed by NABO service awards pres-
entation
Sunday, July 23 Washington Park
Hockey Rink Tent
Noon to 12:30 p.m. Utahko Triskalariak (Salt Lake City
dancers)
12:45 to 1:15 p.m. Amerikanuak (California and beyond)
1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Oinkari dancers (Boise, Idaho)
2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Xabi Aburruzaga Talde (Bizkaia, Euskal
Herria)
3:30 to 4 p.m. Zaharrer Segi dance group (Buffalo,
Wyoming)
4:15 to 5 p.m. Ospa (Buffalo, Wyoming and beyond)
5:15 to 6 p.m. Errebal (Guipuzkoa, Euskal Herria)
Sunday, July 23 Washington Park west near
bend in Clear Creek
Noon to 12:30 p.m. Eusko Altzairu Berri (Buffalo, Wyoming
steel drum group)
12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Txantxangorriak
2 to 3 p.m. Hosted jam session with Amerikanuak
3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Txantxangorriak
4 to 4:45 p.m. Eusko Altzairu Berri (Buffalo, Wyoming steel
drum group)
5 to 6 p.m. Hosted jam session with Xabi Aburruzaga Taldea
Sunday, July 23 Washington Park west
grassy field tent
12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Wood chopping and weight lifting
demonstrations
 Airp
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B u f fa l o ,
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W yo m i n g Johnson
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Fairgrounds Rd

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Mathers St
Glencoe Way
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Nort Cre
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Mckinney St
Hogerson St W Hogerson St
Flatiron Dr

Flagstaff Way

W Hesse St

W Hart St
Dear Park Rd

Hart Street
W Snider St
Golf Course E Snider St Butte St

W Foote St

De Smet Ave
N Adams Ave
Bozeman Ave

N Burritt Ave
Foote St Sou Cl
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Main Street
Johnson CO. rC
W Holland St r ee Ln
School District Memorial Hospital k d
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Sunset Ave
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Benteen St

N Tisdale Ave
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Purcell Ln
Fort Street

N Bozeman Ave
16 E Fetterman St
Old Clear
Jim Chamber
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Pine St
kA Gatchell of Commerce
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Cedar St
Justice Center School

Spruce St
Pa Museum Johnson CO

Juniper St
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Aspen St
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Reno Rd
St Courthouse Crazy
Prosinski Woman
Washington E Bennett St
Festival Park Square
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Park Angus St
S Wyoming Ave

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Williams Ave

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S Lucas St
W Parmalee St E Parmelee St

E Gatchell St
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Main
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Western Ave
St

USFS/BLM Office E Keays St

Clear
S Tisdale Ave

S Desmet Ave
Creek
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TA Guest
Ranch
Congratulations
and Zorte On Proud of our
From your Colorado Euskal Etxea friends Basque Heritage
Onda Izan
Hope to see you at our picnic on Sept. 9th.
www.coloradoeuskaletxea.org The Marton Family
Back row: John, Charles and James Marton
Front row: Catherine, Bernadette and Bernard Marton

In Loving memory John Pete

John Pete Larralde Larralde
Trailing
Born 1886 - Died 1960 Sheep up
Alice Larralde Mayworth
Slip 1940
Born 1907- Died 1985
From Arzainchuria to America
Baigorry to Buffalo
In Loving Memory of
In Loving Jean Esponda
John Esponda

memory Catherine Iriart Marton

Grace Iriart Irigaray
Bernard Martirena
John LeRoy Domingo Martirena
Larralde Immigrants from Arzainchuria (white herder)
Born 1943 - Died 2001
St. Etienne De Baigorry, France
 The Basque Hour
A
s the upbeat music begins, Jeanette Esponda Maxwell proclaims
in her full, rich voice, Welcome to the Basque program one full
hour of music, news, messages and views brought to you by and
for the Basque people of this area.
Sheepherders at their campsites along the mountains and the plains tune in
to KBBS radio each Sunday at noon to hear their familiar language, music and
stories. The music could be live with a group of local Basques singing or recorded
songs. Basque families from Kaycee to Buffalo listen in to hear about the latest
happenings among their friends. Parents and children dance to the lively music.

Radio program
to be honored
The Basque Hour, which
aired on KBBS for 45 years, from
1956 to 2001, will receive the
Bizi Emankorra Achievement
Award presented by the North
American Basque Organization to
honor people dedicated to per-
petuating the Basque culture in
the United States.
Those who created and devel-
oped the program for the Basque
people in this area are initiator
and hostess Jeanette Esponda
Maxwell and commentators
Grayce Esponda Miller, Martin
Camino, Domingo Martirena,
Jean Escoz, Jeanne Marie
Etchemendy, Pierre Amestoy,
Jean Cinquambre, Rosalia Maya
Ibarra and Bernard Etchemendy.
The Bizi Emankorra awards
presentation will follow the 10
a.m. Mass in the city park on
Sunday, July 23.
This scenario played out for
45 years in Johnson County. The
program supported a sense of
community among the Basque
people and promoted their her-
itage, culture and activities.
Commentators remembered sick
and injured Basques with songs
and good wishes.
Basques were also recog-
nized for birthdays, marriages,
births, anniversaries and special
accomplishments at sporting
events and graduations. Jokes
were often added to the conver-
sations.
There were reports of
Basques ranching activities,
including lambing, shearing and
docking sheep. Herders took
sheep on the trail to the moun-
tains in the springtime and back
to the flat lands in the fall. And
commentators would discuss the
current prices of sheep, wool
and cattle.
Local people who visited the
Basque country often called into
the program with live reports
while they were on their trav-
els. Some also brought home
recorded Basque music to play
on the air. A Basque missionary
priest usually came to the area
each year, and he spoke on the
program. When a local Basque
died, commentators remembered
the persons unique qualities and
prayed the rosary together.
A daughter of John Esponda,
an early Basque pioneer who
settled the area, Jeanette was
the originator and hostess of the
Basque program. Through it, she
helped Johnson County Basques
remain a vibrant and cohesive
community. The program also
promoted a sense of home for
young men who immigrated here
to get into the sheep industry.
The Basque program was
inducted into the Basque Hall
of Fame in 1997. This program
will be honored again with the
Bizi Emankorra award during the
NABO festival.
By Marilyn Maxwell

2017 NABO Festival 13


No culture can continue if they are in isolation.
Linking communities is important.
- Valerie Arrechea, NABO President
N
ABO is synonymous with Basque festivities across the nation, but
achieving that notoriety wasnt always easy for the North American
Basque Organizations.
Founded in 1973, NABO was created
to support and preserve Basque heritage in
North America. Founders of the organization
faced a long history of limited communi-
cation between Basque Provinces, and the
lack of communication was carried over the
Atlantic when many Basques immigrated to
North America.
It started with a group of people from
different Basque organizations around
the western United States, said NABO
President Valerie Arrechea. They had
contact with each other informally, so they
decided to get together and formalize some-
thing to facilitate communication between
different Basque organizations. They worked
together with the purpose of furthering
Basque culture in the United States.
Arrechea said her father is Basque and
one of the members who helped found
NABO, creating, for her, a personal connec-
tion to the organization.
Its something I grew up with, said heritage with a two-week Basque culture
Arrechea. Im not only a first-generation
Basque in San Francisco, but Ive grown
up going to NABO conventions. I have
three kids that I would like to see partic-
ipate and have that as well. Its personal
because I want to see something Ive
grown up with continue and see it fur-
thered and stay important.
Arrechea said the membership and inter-
est in NABO is increasing both in organiza-
tions and events.
There is no single way to be Basque,
said Arrechea. The more organizations
2017 NABO Festival 15
The BASQUE connection
we have involved, the more ways people
can participate. Our organization cant stay
stagnant. It has to be constantly changing.
We want to be current and encourage our
younger generation to be involved in any
which way they can.
NABO started with a group of seven
different organizations and has grown to
include 43 organizations (clubs) in the
United States and two clubs in Canada. The
organization has connected Basque clubs
across the nation and the world, protecting
and promoting their local history. NABO
allows member clubs to pool their resources,
creating a web of communication and ideas.
No culture can continue if they are in
isolation, said Arrechea. Linking commu-
nities is important.
Even as Basque immigration to the
United States began to dwindle, the orga-
nization found a way to pass down their
summer camp for kids, called Udaleku.
Most importantly, we have a
summer camp for kids to bring them
together and teach them about Basque
culture, like dance, song, music, sports,
cooking, said Arrechea. Its important
because it gives them a sense of who
they are and what their culture is. It cre-
ates friendships that last a lifetime and
reinforces that connection. Thats our
challenge; not only to keep this going
but somehow make sure it is relative
and important to the next generation.
 In loving memory of
Jean Arrossagaray (Arross)
St. Michel, France Buffalo, Wyoming
1903 1968
Came to Buffalo in 1926

1908-Present
The legacy lives on.

In memory of Pierre and Florence Bordarrampe.

Wonderful Basque parents, grandparents and great-grandparents
Aita, Aitachi, Ama, Amachi, Bihotzetic we miss you!
Family of John Peter Camino Sherman and Candance Bordarrampe and family

In loving memory of John and Charles

The Marton Family
 Basque beginnings
W
ith the arrival of one man, Jean Esponda, a native of the village of St. Etienne-de-Baigorry in the
French Basque Country of Navarre, the colonization of Basques in Johnson County began. Jean
stepped off the stagecoach in Buffalo in 1902 and looked out at the vast open landscape to the east
and the Bighorn Mountains to the west.

The Basque country of Jeans origins is a region
of rugged mountains, rolling hills and green valleys,
lying partly in France and partly in Spain. It extends
less than 100 miles in any direction and is covered
with forests of oak trees and thick green ferns. For
centuries, peasant farmers tended small flocks of
sheep on the steep slopes. Basques on the sea coast
became fishermen and whalers. Though the country
is beautiful, it was a difficult place to earn a living.
The farms were small, and according to Basque cus-
tom, only one child could inherit it, leaving the other
children to make their own way.
Jeans parents, Baptiste and Catherine, had immi-
grated to South America. Baptiste worked many
years there and wanted his sons to do so. But their
sons chose North America instead. Jean struck out
for California, where he worked as a sheepherder and
eventually acquired a large flock of his own. He later
sold his sheep and returned to his home country.
After a six-month stay, Jean came back to the
United States. While traveling westward on the
train, he chanced to meet an owner of Healy and
Patterson Sheep Co. of Buffalo, the largest existing
sheep ranch in northern Wyoming. Jean was offered
employment as a herder, which he accepted, and
went on to develop his own sheep operation.
Jeans younger brother, John, struck out for
California years earlier and got his start in the
sheep industry. In 1904, John sold his interests in
California, joined Jean in Buffalo and worked for
Healys, where he took sheep instead of money for
wages. John bought land on the Powder River and
along Crazy Woman Creek, thus having a year-round
water supply for his herds. In 1909, Jean sold his
interests to John and returned to his homeland, where
he lived out his remaining years. In France, Jean told
relatives and friends of the opportunities that awaited
them in America. Many young men were eager to
take advantage of what the West had to offer.
John continued making sheep and land purchases
and, by 1919, had one of the most prominent sheep
operations in Wyoming, totaling as many as 25,000
head. He held property in the mountains and on the
flatlands. And he employed numerous herders from
the Basque Country.
John became a beloved leader in the Basque
community and was respectfully known as the
King of the Basques. He was mentor and advis-
er to many. He was gregarious, fun-loving and a
friend to all.
The arrival of Basque immigrants to Buffalo
between 1902 and 1920 can in most cases be linked
directly or indirectly to Jean and John Esponda. The
base of the Buffalo Basque colony was established
by an interlacing of kinship, marriage and business
ties among families. Thirty-nine Basque families
moved to Johnson County, with 34 coming from
within 8 miles of the Espondas hometown. Many
came from the nearby village of Arneguy.
For many immigrants, the New World came to
represent both home and the future, while the Old
World became a cherished memory and possibly a
sanctuary reserved for visiting only.
By Mary Kay Stafford

2017 NABO Festival 17

18 2017 NABO Festival
 I was on a bicy-
cle tour of Europe and
was traveling along the
Camino de Santiago
pilgrimage route in the
Basque country when
I first encountered the
Basque language,
Romtvedt said. I stopped
at a grocery store to get
some food and stood out-
Learning
side the store listening to
the people inside speak
a language I had never
heard before. When I
went inside, they switched
immediately to Spanish,
but as soon as I left, they
started speaking Martian
the language
or whatever language it
was I had no idea at the
time, but of course now
I know that they were
speaking Basque.
Five years later,
Romtvedt learned more
D
about the Basque culture
avid Romtvedt knows more about when he married his wife,
the Basque culture than some Margo Brown, who comes
Basque natives do. He can talk from a Basque family.
for hours about Basque music, language and Family got me start-
traditions. But it might be surprising to know ed on what has been a
that Romtvedt was not born into a Basque 30-year journey for me,
family. In fact, his first encounter with the Romtvedt said. Shortly
culture happened as an accident in 1982. after I was married, I to end, but Basque isnt
started playing accordi-
on for the local Basque
dance group here. A few
years after that, I decided
I better teach myself how
to play the traditional
Basque accordion. A few
years after that, the danc-
ers asked me to say a few
words to introduce each
song, and I decided that, if
I was going to say a few
words, I better learn a few
words and thats how I got
started on my language
study. For me, the past
three decades have been a
process of slowly stepping
into the traditional Basque
way of life.
2017 NABO Festival 19
Romtvedt said he took
one of his biggest steps a
decade ago when he start-
ed learning the Basque
language. Romtvedt
knew how to speak both
Spanish and French before
he started his Basque
language lessons, but he
found that those languages
didnt prepare him at all
for the arduous process
ahead of him.
The Basque lan-
guage is what we call an
isolate, Romtvedt said.
It is not a Romance
language based in Latin,
like Spanish or French.
It is also not an Indo-
European language.
Grammatically, it is
unlike any language Ive
ever seen.
Romtvedt admitted
that it has been tricky to
wrap his head around the
complexities of the lan-
guage at times.
The English language
is a linear one, Romtvedt
said. We read a sentence
from left to right and
speak it from beginning
like that. If you turned an
English sentence upside
down and backwards, you
could get a good idea of
what a Basque sentence
is like. You cant start
talking without knowing
what the end of your sen-
tence is going to be.
Still, despite the chal-
lenges, the process has
been a rewarding one,
Romtvedt said.
I hope that my
experience serves as an
encouragement to others,
Romtvedt said. After all,
if I can learn the language
at my age, anybody can.
By Stephen Dow
 In memory of Welcome to the festival
Simon Iberlin Festival special
June 1, 1922 - 2 slices of pizza
and a small fountain drink
December 31, 2010 for $3.50

Large pull-through gas pumps and everything

you need for your visit to the Big Horns.

Open to serve you

BIG HORN CO-OP

107 US Highway 16E
Buffalo, WY 82834
307-684-9561

Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 5:30am - 7:00pm

Closed Sunday

Crazy Woman Liquors welcomes

the Basque Community
Over 600 Wines in stock
Full selection of Liquor
Discounts on cases
Cold beer and Micro brews
Crazy Woman Liquors
150 East Hart St. Buffalo
Bring ON THE Bands

O
Txantxangorriak
ut of Boise, Idaho,
Txantxangorriak began
in April 2001 with
seven triki and six pan-
dareta students. Today,
the group is made up
of 10 pandareta players
and 18 triki players
seven of whom have been around since the
group began 16 years ago.
Gina Ansotegui-Urquidi, Dan Ansotegui,
Sean Aucutt and Ana Mendiola were inspired
in 2000 when they attended Jaialdi, a Basque foresight to see that the youngest group of per-
festival held every five years in Boise, simi- formers in our community could benefit most
lar to the NABO festival. Their musical group by an infusion of music by a native performing
Txorimaloak performed during the festival and group, many of whom were the same age as the
decided to start their own group closer to home. children participating in activities in the Boise
The (Jaialdi committee) had seen what community.
an impact and positive effect groups com- The band name which means red-breasted
ing to Boise from the Basque Country had on robin or just robin in the Basque language
performers in Boise, said Mendiola, now a came about during a brainstorming session
spokesperson for the group. They also had the between the organizers.

X
Xabi Aburruzaga
abi Aburruzaga was one of the many successful
performers when the NABO festival last came to
Buffalo in 2011.
He knows Buffalo, he enjoyed it when he was
here, and thats one of the reasons we invited him
to come back, said David Romtvedt, who spoke
on Aburruzagas behalf.
Though he also dabbles in contemporary music
and with the electric guitar, Aburruzaga is most well known for his tradi-
tional Basque music and playing the trikiti. Romtvedt said that his Basque
music is symbolically powerful to the Basque community.
According to Romtvedt, Aburruzaga is well respected among the
Basque community as a historian for Basque music that originated in his
home province of Biscay.
Aburruzaga also has a strong interest in Basque music based on other
cultures, like Scottish, Celtic, Welsh and even Quebecois, and that comes
through in music he has written.
Romtvedt said that the linking factor between Aburruzagas music and
the music of those other cultures is the sense of being unable to do as
they wished, the longing for autonomy, as he called it.
Two other musicians will join Aburruzaga one on the tambourine
and one on the piano for the festivals Friday night dance.
22 2017 NABO Festival
 M
Errebal
usic as it leads to The name comes from the Basque word to
dancing is what describe suburbs, the houses outside of city walls,
inspired Gari adding an artistic and social view to the urban con-
Otamendi to found cept.
Errebal. The reason we chose this name is that we
Although (Im) think that the most authentic, natural, alive and
a fiddler, (Im) a organic cultures grow and develop in those spaces,
dancer, and the big- Otamendi said. A lot of national icons and music
gest part of my career was dedicated to dancing and have their origin in errebals fado (Portugal), tango
teaching dance, Otamendi said. (Argentina), rebetiko (Greece), as well as much
Along with his brother Jokin, Otamendi guided American music rock n roll, jazz.
dances with other musical groups. Jokin was a caller
for Arrabots and Tapia eta Leturia.
Otamendi and the third part of Errebal trio, gui-
tarist Ixak Arruti, met while playing with bertsolaris,
or Basque improvisational poets.
The group consists of Otamendi, Jokin, guitarist
Ixak Arruti and trikitixa player Eneko Dorronsoro,
who joins the trio for larger performances when he
isnt playing with another one of the many groups
hes a part of. The group is very familiar with the
Basque-American communities, having visited the
U.S. every once in a while since Boises Jaialdi
Festival in 1995.

J
Jimmy and Jean
immy Jausoro never had a top-10 single and his name is not as well known as some of his musical
contemporaries including Elvis Presley, Pat Boone and Perry Como. But for Basque musicians
like Jean Flesher, Jausoros legacy looms large.
Starting with its first performance in 1957, the Jimmy Jausoro Band became a fixture at Basque
weddings, dances and festivals across Idaho, Nevada and Oregon. As he performed beloved tunes
like the Arin-arin, the Fandango and the
polka on his piano accordion, Jausoro also
encouraged younger musicians to take the
stage and develop their talents.
One of those young, aspiring musicians that Jausoro
called on stage was Flesher. At that point, Flesher was a
relatively inexperienced piano accordion player. He said
that while performing on stage was unnerving at first, that
initial encounter with Jausoro gave him the courage to be a
public performer.
Like Jausoro, who first started playing the accordion
at age 13, Fleshers musical endeavors started early in life.
Shortly after joining the local Basque dance group in his
hometown of Salt Lake City at 16, Flesher discovered the
group did not have an accordion player.
He took it upon himself to learn the skill and started practicing daily on a student accordion given to him by
one of his aunts. Shortly after learning the skill, Flesher formed a band to play at Basque social events. It was at
one of these gatherings that Jausoro first asked Flesher to take the stage.
Since that first stage call, Fleshers band has changed quite a bit, thanks to three name changes and a constantly
evolving lineup of band members. The band is known now as Amerikanuak or The Americans in the Basque
language and features nine members, including a trumpet player, a saxophone player, a mandolin player and a
txirula player.

2017 NABO Festival 23

Get out there
and celebrate

W
hen people of Basque
heritage find out that
David Romtvedts
recently formed
Basque band is named Originally, ospa meant get out
Ospa, they usually there and celebrate! And thats
have one reaction, what we hope people will do
Romtvedt said. when they listen to our music.
They usually say, Ospa? Why did you name your - David Romtvedt
band Ospa? Romtvedt said. In recent years, ospa
has become slang in the Basque language for scram
or get out of here and that seems like one of the least
welcoming band names possible.
But while Ospa is a word that every Basque person
has heard at some time in their life, many are unaware
of the words original meaning, Romtvedt said.
Originally, ospa meant get out there and celebrate!
Romtvedt said. And thats what we hope people will do
when they listen to our music.
Romtvedt, a longtime Buffalo resident, formed Ospa
last year as an outreach of his Worlds of Music program,
which works to bring musicians from around the world to
Wyoming.
Ospa is a family affair for Romtvedt. Joining him in
the band are his wife, Margo Brown, and daughter, Caitlin
Romtvedt. Rounding out the ensemble are Kevin Carr
and Daniel Steinberg. The five musicians play a variety of
instruments, including fiddle, viola, alto saxophone, flugel-
horn, piano and percussion, along with traditional Basque
instruments such as the double-reed alboka horn, trikitixa
accordion and pandero-style tambourine
Last fall, Ospa released its first CD, Hori Da. The
CD features 16 songs, including both old and modern
Basque tunes along with some original songs written by
Romtvedt. All profits from the CD, which will be on sale
at the North American Basque Organizations convention,
will benefit Worlds of Music and the Bighorn Basque
Club.
Ospa is performing songs from the CD at events
throughout Buffalo, including the NABO convention,
which will be hosted by the Big Horn Basque Club and
held July 21-24 in Buffalo.
By Stephen Dow

24 2017 NABO Festival

 Century
Club
Where good friends meet
Internet juke box
Happy hour 5 to 7 p.m.
Pool and darts

14 S. Main Buffalo 684-2821

Your Outdoor Headquarters

Downtown Buffalo
66 Main Street 1-800-684-7682
www.sportslure.com
Open Seven Days a Week
 Mary
Camino:
A legacy of culture
and contribution

A
s thousands of locals and visitors gather this weekend to celebrate Basque
culture, there are many who are joining us in spirit.

Mary, the eldest of Martin and Florence
Caminos seven children, grew up in a
Basque-speaking home. Her siblings and
children recall her playing traditional accordi-
on tunes in the kitchen, and when the Sunday
Basque radio hour would come on KBBS,
Mary would lead a Fandango in the living
room. Her culture was a source of joy and
connection in her daily life.
After leaving home in the late 1960s
and living in California for 12 years, Mary
returned to Buffalo saddened by what she
described as a deterioration of Basque
culture in Johnson County. There was no
longer a local Basque dancing troupe.
The annual Aug. 15 celebrations of her
childhood held on Hazelton in the Bighorn
Mountains had dwindled to a small gather-
ing at the Catholic Hall.
Motivated to revive Basque culture in
our community, Mary wrote grants and
worked with the North American Basque
Organization to create the charter for this
years host organization, the Big Horn
Basque Club. With the support of many
local Basque families, appreciation of and
enthusiasm for Basque culture was renewed.
The Zaharrer Segi dance troupe was
founded, and the annual Aug. 15 celebration
of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was
once again a huge celebration attracting peo-
ple from many local communities.
This NABO festival we remember you
and thank you, Mary. Your passion for
Basque culture and commitment to its
preservation are evident in this weekends
festivities. When Jean strikes up a tune on
his accordion, we know youll be dancing
in heaven.
By Kathy Camino

26 2017 NABO Festival

 Ongi etorri!
The Basque helped to build our community.
We appreciate the history and culture
they have brought to Johnson County.

Dantzatu nahi al duzu nirekin?

Welcome to the 2017
NABO Festival
Come on in... And visit with the locals at one
of the oldest, finest liquor stores in Buffalo!
We offer a variety of:
Flavorful, quality wines
Liquor and liqueur Selection of micro brews
Single malt scotch and whiskey Gluten free beer

City Liquor Discounts for

711 N. Main Street Buffalo, WY 82834 307-684-7761 490 Fort Street, next to IGA cases, parties and
Buffalo, WY 82834
307-684-7151 weddings!

Ongi Etorri Buffalora

www.thebozemantrailsteakhouse.com
307-684-5555
Conference Center 307-684-1506
Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Full menu available | Full bar
675 East Hart Street, Buffalo 19 draft beers and daily specials
 Bob
Sebastian Jose Michelena (Mitxelena)
Born in Oyarzun, Guipuzcoa, Spain
came to Buffalo in 1919

Bidonde 1900-1977

<
Anna Kraen Michelena
Feb. 13, 1912 1908-1991
Sept. 22, 1977 You are a part of who we are.
You touched our lives
and forever left an imprint
on our hearts.
Dad, you will The Michelena family
forever
be loved & missed.
Mary L., Chuck,
Mary Kay, Dee,
Jeanette,
Velma & families.

Louis Falxa
on the ranch.

Martin Falxa
Born Banca, France 1877
Emigrated to Johnson County 1903
Founder of Falxa Land Company, Est. 1927
Died 1938
Louis and Laurene Falxa
Louis 1910-1983
Laurene 1909-1998
Louis, born in a sheep wagon, was the
first Basque child born in Johnson County, Wyoming
 Here
to help
After traveling the globe, Basque priest finds home in America
F
rom a young age,
Antton Egiguren
knew he wanted to
help people.
Growing up in
the 1960s, Egiguren
told his mother
that he wanted
to help people who were less fortunate.
Everything he did after this revelation
from his high school and college studies
and residency in Teruel, in the province
of Aragon, Spain went toward achiev-
ing this goal.
But his life changed course when his
I experienced
father died in September 1974.
in my own flesh the Life does not always follow a pre-
written script, and mine certainly did
humiliation of being a
not, he said.
despised immigrant. Now a chaplain for the Basque
- Antton Egiguren Catholics in Idaho, Egiguren is also the
parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Saint
John in Boise.
Egiguren was one of 13 children,
whose family earned a living off of farm-
ing in Basque Country.
Life was very simple and joyful:
home, school, church and playing with
friends after school, he said. We fol-
lowed the seasons of the year. Spring
was the time of plowing, and because we
were many children, we had to help in the
neighboring farms to lead the oxen so that
the lines to sow would be straight.
After he finished his theological stud-
ies, Egiguren moved to London, where
he was introduced to ethnic and cultural
diversity through his job as a dishwasher
at a handful of hotels.
I experienced in my own flesh the
humiliation of being a despised immi-
grant, he said. Our pay came through a
drunk and abusive Englishman who took
30 2017 NABO Festival
money away from us. We could say noth-
ing: immigrant with no working permit.
After he earned enough money,
Egiuguren moved to Ireland, where he
studied English and became a priest. For
his first assignment, Egigurens superiors
sent him to South Korea. Ten years later,
they sent him to Bangkok, Thailand, and
then to Ottawa, Canada.
In 2013, he had returned to Brussels
from a summer of intensive courses in
China and Manila, Philippines, and was
planning on a two-week vacation with his
family before a new school year. When
he was entering the Basque territories of
France, Egiguren heard on the radio that
it was the fourth anniversary of the pass-
ing of the last Basque Catholic priest in
the American northwest.
Immediately, a thought came to my
mind: And why not me (be) the next
one? he said. I was to become 60 years
old in December 2013. When I turn 65, I
will have to retire, and then I dont know
if I will still be healthy. Since now I am
healthy, it is now or never.
Since moving to Boise in 2013,
Egiguren has visited a slew of places in
the northwest United States, including
Buffalo, mostly for Basque community
picnics.
Nowadays, Egiguren said he feels at
home very easily everywhere, a senti-
ment he hopes will come through when
he celebrates Mass during the NABO
festival.
(Ill) celebrate Mass, meet people,
bring joy and be always open to give a
hand in whatever way I may be asked to
help, he said.
By Maggie DeBlasis
 Ongi Etorri - Welcome
North American Basque Organizations
2017 Basque Festival
Our roots run deep in this community and we are proud of our
Basque heritage. Enjoy your time
in Buffalo, and take the opportunity to explore the beauty,
history and heritage of our area.

I-25 Exit 299

I-90 Exit 58 - 1.5 miles
620 E. Hart 684-7930

In loving memory of
Martin and Vivian Urruty
Martin: Dec. 31, 1914 - Feb. 6, 1996
Vivian: June 27, 1917 - July 30, 1998

Welcome to the
North American
Basque Organizations
2017 festival

&
Kirven
Kirven, PC
104 Fort Street
684-2248
32 2017 NABO Festival
Basque dancing
A
s the lively music begins, dancers in their
festive clothing perform jumps and steps,
which call for precision, energy and endur-
ance. Dancers use banners, hoops, swords,
baskets or poles in their routines.
Basques have been dancing in
Johnson County since they arrived
here 115 years ago. Music and dance
are an integral part of the culture of
these fun-loving people. The first
immigrants brought with them dances
that were already hundreds of years
old.
A picture from the early 1900s
shows a group of sheepherders
and their wives doing a fandango
on a rocky hillside in the Bighorn
Mountains. In the 1950s, a group of
men in red berets and white pants per-
formed dances for locals. Generations
of Basques, with men in red berets
and white pants and women in red
skirts and white tights, have done their
part to pass on folk dances to others.
For nearly 40 years, Buffalo
has had an organized Basque dance
troupe, Zaharrer Segi, meaning fol-
low the old. Troupe leaders have
included Mary Camino, Kate Camino,
Teresa Fieldgrove, Tina Rosalez and,
most recently, Mick Camino. They
have faithfully conducted dance
rehearsals and helped get children to
local and long-distance performances.
Teresa enjoys the dances so
much, its easy for her to pass them
on, said Alberta Escoz. She has a
happy personality and is always smil-
ing when dancing. And she obviously
loves working with children. Tina has
also helped greatly with the dance
troupes projects.
The group performed at the
NABO festivals in Buffalo in 1988,
1995, 2006 and 2011. They danced
several times during the festivals.
During a summer culture fest
in Cheyenne, Buffalos local dance
group was performing when a tornado
siren pierced the air. Hundreds of peo-
ple were ushered into a concrete shel-
ter under the Wyoming Capitol. When
the program resumed, the announcer
2017 NABO Festival 33
joked that Native Americans had
performed the rain dance, but the
Basques could call down a tornado.
Three times the local dance troupe
was honored to perform at Jaialdi, an
international festival celebrated every
five years in Boise, Idaho. The festival
features dancers and musicians from
Europe and the United States.
The festival also showcases differ-
ent aspects of Basque culture, includ-
ing sporting events. The air is filled
with the aroma of ethnic food, includ-
ing fresh bread and various kinds of
sausage. People enjoy paella, a classic
rice and seafood dish. Participants in
the United States and Europe become
friends with one another.
One summer, the dance troupe
was invited to perform at a Colorado
Rapids soccer game in Denver. Aitor
Karranka, a Basque player from the
Bilbo league, was playing for the
Rapids. The Colorado Basque Club
organized an event in his honor and
Zaharrer Segi dancers participated.
This was especially exciting for
the boys who went out on the field
with their banner and performed the
Agurra, a Basque dance of welcome,
before the start of the game.
At a recent annual summer cel-
ebration, the dance group presented
a special event recognizing early
Basque immigrants to Johnson
County. These were people who set-
tled in the area, established roots and
began families, thus preserving the
Basque heritage here. Plaques were
presented to the individuals or their
families.
A spokesperson for the group said,
We are honored for being a part of
this Basque community and for those
who made it what it is today. For this,
we say, thank you.
By Marilyn Maxwell
It takes a village
The Basque community in
Buffalo has long been known
for its ability to maintain the
culture and encourage the
younger generation to partake
in Basque traditions. One main
focus for sustaining the culture
has been through teaching the
traditional folk dances.
In 1980, Mary Camino
came up with the idea of form-
ing a Basque dance group.
Camino and Mary Kay Stafford
organized a group and began
performing locally. Their efforts
and dedication to the culture
helped form an organization
that has continued to sustain
the culture in Johnson County.
Mary Camino, Mary Kay
Stafford, Kate Camino, Jean
Albert Escoz, Jean Escoz
(senior), Mike Iriberry, Domingo
Martirena, Myra Camino, Nikki
Lohse, Mick Camino, Kirstie
Auzqui, Tina Rosalez and Teresa
Fieldgrove were all instrumental
in organizing the local dance
group.
Jean Escoz and Iriberry
taught the traditional jauzi
dances they learned as young
boys living in Luzaide, Spain.
Kate Camino, Mick Camino and
Jean Escoz taught several danc-
es they learned while studying
in Europe.
Throughout the years, the
Big Horn Basque dancers, also
known as Zaharrer Segi, have
performed at local events in
Johnson County, culture fests
around the state of Wyoming
and NABO festivals. The group
has had many talented musi-
cians throughout the years
that enhance the dancers
performance. Accordion players
included Florence Camino, Jean
Cinquabrea, Bill Cherni, Judy
Semroska and David Romtvedt.
Txistu players included Jean
Escoz, Angie Camino, Marty
Camino, Baileigh Rodriguez
and Elisa Etchemendy. As an
added accompaniment to the
txistu, the group had Johnny
Juanicotena play the drum.
Basque
translations
ae
Basque is phonetic so everything is pronounced. Hello kaixo (kay-sho), agur (agoor), adio (adeeyo)
Basic pronunciation rules: Yes bai (bye), ba (bah)
No ez (s)
Good day Egun on (Egoon own)
Good afternoon Arratsaldeon (arrachalde-own)

iuo
ah as in
father ay (but cut off Good night Gabon (gab-own)
the y sound) How are you? zer moduz? (ser modooz) Nola zira?
as in fate (Nolah seera) Zelan zagoz (selan souse)
Whats your name? Nola duzu izena? (Nola doosue isena)
Zein da zure izena? (sane da sue-re isena) Zer da zure izena?
ee as oh (but stop yourself (ser da sue-re isena)
in beet before you let your My name is Ni ___ naiz. (knee___nice) Ni___niz
mouth slide into a w (knee___niece) Nire izena ___ da.(nire isena___th-a)
at the end) Monday astelehena (ashte-lehena)
Tuesday asteartea (ashte- art-ea
oo Z=s Wednesday asteazkena (ashte ass-ken-ah)
as in S = between s and sh Thursday osteguna (oshte-goon-a)
toot Tx = ch Friday ostirala (oshtee-ra-la)
D between two vowels = th like
in the Saturday larunbata (la-roon-bah-ta), ebiakoitza (ebeeakoitsa)
Sunday igandea (ehgandea)
Where are you from? Nongoa zara? (Nowngoa sarah)
Nongoa zira? (Nowngoa see-ra)

1 2 3
Please mesedez (mese-thes), plazer baduzu (placer badusue)
Counting:

Thank you Eskerrik asko, mila esker, esker anitz

Bat, baino Bi, biga Hiru (eskair-eek ashkoe)
Excuse me barkatu (bar-cat-oo)

4 5 6 7
Welcome to Buffalo ongi etorri Buffalora
(owngi ehtorree Buffalo-ra)
Lau Bost Sei Zazpi Goodbye - Agur (agoor), Adio (adeeyo), adiorik ez (adeeyo-reek s)
See you later ikusi arte (ikooshi artay), gero arte (ghetto art-ay),

8 9 10
ikus artio (eekoosh arteeyo)
God bless you Jainkoak bedienka zaitzala this is literally
Zortzi Bederatzi Hamar May God bless you, but if you are looking for a sneeze response:
doministiko, jesus, salud

34 2017 NABO Festival

 On the road to Yellowstone
One stop gets it all!
Coolers, dry ice, pop, chips
and more!
Fresh cut meats
Steaks cut to order
Fresh produce
Bakery and deli
Fresh sliced sandwich meat and cheeses,
salads, sandwiches, snacks, fried chicken
ATM
Photo Kiosk
Large, easy, access for
campers and RVs

895 Fort St. Buffalo 684-2518

 In loving memory of
Sauveur Inchauspe 1900-1986 (R)
and Bernard Bidabehere 1902-1990 (L)
Family of
John &
Sauveur left Lasse France in 1923 to work for the
Long brothers in Buffalo, WY. Bernard came to Buffalo Mary Louise
in 1930 to work for the Long Brothers, too.
Arambel

<
Although Sauveur and Bernard were not related, they became
brothers in America. Sauveur married Stella Washut in 1943,
and they raised six children while raising sheep.
Bernard worked for Sauveur as well as other Basque ranchers.
To all the Inchauspe children, Little Bernard was our
Basque uncle. Our family lovingly remembers the
love these two Basques had for each other, their families,
the Old Country and the Big Horn Mountains!

Kathy Urruty, Nancy Green, Pati Bettinger,

David, Jim and Joyce Inchauspe

Joe Irigaray
1895-1979

Gaston Irigaray
April 15, 1892 Jan. 1 1971

Grace Irigaray
Sept. 17, 1896 Apr. 15, 1951

Joseph P. Irigaray
Sept. 8, 1928 Mar. 20, 1983
Simon U. and Madeline Buckingham Lumber
Harriet Family
Madeleine Harriet Pitsch, Phillip Harriet
and Mary Agnes Harriet Torske
Direct from the
forest to you!
Buckingham Lumber is the only place in town that can
offer a full line of Benjamin Moore Paint.

Custom Coloring Bring a sample in and well match it!

Wide variety of fencing supplies

370 S. Bypass Rd., Buffalo 684-2231

Forever Basque Home owned and operated for 3 generations

Iberlins 1908 & 1921

John Iberlin
1877-1953 and
Jeanne Etchemendy
1892-1993
Married:

<
Aug. 2, 1921

Mary Louise
(Iberlin) Arambel,
Madeline
(Iberlin) Harriet
and John Iberlin
John Iberlin Family
In loving memory of John Iberlin. John came to Buffalo in 1908.
Three generations have now been here for over 100 years.
A lifetime of music

W
hen 16-year-old Jean Flesher first taught himself
to play Basque tunes on his aunts old student
accordion, he never anticipated the journey that
music would take him on. Over the years, the Salt
Lake City native has traveled the country playing
Basque music with his band, Amerikanouak, teach-
ing dance workshops and meeting some of the most famous musicians from
the Basque country, including Xabi Aburruzaga and Jean-Louis Bergara.

Flesher said it has been a rewarding
journey, but it was never one for which he
expected recognition.
I was flabbergasted when I was told that
I was going to be one of the recipients of the
Bizi Emankorra award this year, Flesher said.
The award was originally meant for those who
had gone out of their way and sacrificed to per-
petuate the Basque culture in North America.
Although I have been extremely involved since
I was a teenager, I have never felt it to be a
sacrifice. I have always done what I have done
because I enjoy doing it very much.
The Bizi Emankorra loosely translated as
lifetime achievement award is given yearly
by the North American Basque Organization
to members who have made significant con-
tributions to NABO and to Basque culture in
the United States, particularly beyond their
own local Basque community. The Center
for Basque Studies and the San Francisco
Basque Club nominated Flesher for the
award.
Kate Camino, who was on the commit-
tee that nominated Flesher for the award,
said Fleshers work has taken several
forms from his musical performances at
Basque events across the country to his work
teaching dance workshops. Camino praised
Fleshers instrumental contributions in
founding and expanding the Buffalo Basque
Dancers group in Buffalo.
Flesher first learned about the Basque
culture through his mother who emigrated
from the Baxe Nafarroa region. When he
was 16, Flesher became involved with the
Salt Lake City Basque dance group the
Triskalariak. Upon discovering the group did
not have an accordion player, he taught him-
self to play on his aunts accordion.
Soon after, Flesher formed a band to play
at Basque social events throughout the coun-
try. While he has had numerous bands over
the years, Flesher is now part of the Basque
band Amerikanouak, which will be perform-
ing at the NABO conference this year in
Buffalo.
By Stephen Dow

38 2017 NABO Festival

 Welcome
to the 2017
North American
Basque
Organization
festival

Love, Hope, Success,

Family, Security. Welcome to the
Some things we all
have in common. 2017 Basque Festival
Northeast Wyomings favorite food.
Serving dinner from 5 p.m.

117 East Hwy. 16 Buffalo 684-8636

REMEMBERING.
SIMON and CATHERINE HARRIET
MARTIN PUTCHIE HARRIET
JEAN and ANN HARRIET
PROSPER and THEO HARRIET
Kenny Harriet
EUSKAL HERRIA
John Camino: Sheepman in the Bighorns
During the 1870s there was a shooting war in
Johnson County Wyoming between the sheepmen
and cattlemen. But their differences were eventually
resolved, and today that country is widely known for the
production of both cattle and sheep.
The cattle raisers still had some bitter feelings toward
sheepmen when Johnny Camino, a young Basque,
came to this country in 1908 at the age of 17. It was a
big new country for the immigrant boy who could speak
only a few words of English. But the similarity of the
Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming to his native Pyrennes
in Spain made him feel at home.
With $60 in his pocket when he arrived to the Big
Horn Country, young Johnny sent the money home to
his folks and got a job as a sheepherder. Three years
later he asked his boyhood sweetheart to come all the
way from France to be his bride. Although they had
lived only a mile apart in the Land of the Basques in
southeast Europe, Mrs. Camino had lived in France,
and Johnny, just across the border in Spain. The first
two years they were married, the Caminos lived in a
sheepwagon winter and summer, following the sheep,
and went to town only two or three times.
The Basque country in Europe is famous for its
sheep, so its little wonder that some of the outstand-
ing sheepmen in Wyoming are Basques. John Camino
might well be called the King of Basques in the area
around Buffalo. For today he has risen to the position of
landowner, sheepman, cattleman and community lead-
er. Hes always ready to lend a helping hand to young
men trying to get established in ranching. Even though
hes now raising cattle as well as sheep, John Caminos
great love is still sheep. Theres nothing like sheep, he
says. Theyre the real money makers in this part of the
country. But its harder for a young fellow to get started
today.
Camino sets a good example of efficient operation
with his Rambouillet-Columbia cross producing an
average clip of 12 pounds in 1954, compared with a
state average slightly over 10 pounds. We have found
this cross to produce more high-quality wool, as well as
a good lamb, he reports. Most of his lamb crop is sold to
feeders in Nebraska and Iowa.
With his son, Pete, and son-in-law, Dean Smith, Mr.
Camino owns approximately 15,000 Acres. They run
10,000 sheep plus 700 cattle owned in partnership with
Louis Falxa. All told, the Caminos operate nearly a 110
sections of land, including mountain grazing land and low-
lands of the Powder River Valley, along Four Mile Creek
and Tisdale Divide.
Wise use of credit has been an important factor in John
Caminos success. He has taken seriously his responsi-
bilities as a member of Cooperative Credit Associations.
Besides serving as president of the National Farm Loan
Association at Buffalo, Mr. Camino is also a member of
the Wyoming Production Credit Association and is presi-
dent of the Johnson County Co-op which does business
with the Omaha Bank for Cooperative.
Anita Camino-Smith John Camino Marie Camino Pete Camino

Dean Smith Anita Camino-Smith

Brought to you by
Cristy Kinghorn
294 N. Main Street
Buffalo, Wyoming
Cell: 307-620-0037
Office: 307-684-9531
www.buffalorealtyllc.com

Genevieve and Pete Camino

 More than just a stove
Local artists use brush skills to benefit Bread of Life Food Pantry

A
handful of local artists gathered around a pair of white sheep wagon stoves on a rainy April
morning. There was talk of sanding and the acrylic primer that the stoves came with. Wendy
Roberts said she plans to use acrylic to paint the stove. Theres likely going to be some sheep
and lots of green though the plan could change, she said. Painting sheep is fitting for a hunk
of metal that was a lifeline for many sheepherders. It kept them warm and helped them heat
their food as they weathered Wyoming winters on the Great Plains.

Roberts is one of the 25 local artists who is Wyoming. The grant was approved, and the
tackling the stoves all in the name of the Bread Artists diocese will match the funds raised up to
of Life Food Pantry. Collectively, the artists Jennie Williams $50,000.
rsums read like a whos who of the art industry. Wendy Roberts The pantrys monthly budget is about
Last fall, Johnnie Pond commissioned Icon Louise Anderson $7,500.
Poly of Gibbon, Nebraska, to create a mock sheep The whole community supports the food
wagon stove and then make 24 more. The stoves
Bonnie Klasinski pantry and has since it started, said Dollie
were to be painted by local artists and auctioned Mary Sue Williams Iberlin, one of the organizers of the auction
off during the annual North American Basque Paige Money and one of the artists.
Organizations annual convention. All proceeds Kathy Nicholas Iberlin, who has been painting so long
will go to the Bread of Life Food Pantry to help Mel Keffer shes lost track of when she started, said she
feed those in need in Johnson County. Judy Pradere wasnt really intimidated by the sheep wagon
The mission of the food pantry is a simple one: Amber Green stove, though it added a new dimension
Feed people when they are in need no questions four to be exact.
asked.
Dollie Iberlin The mold for the sheep wagon stove was
Thats been the pantrys motto since 1985, Tom Pehringer modeled off the stove in Iberlins own sheep
when members of St. Lukes Episcopal Church Louise Joseph wagon with some slight changes. Pond said
began providing food for those in need. As the Amy Sawyer that in the 1900s, the federalist style was in
years went on, other churches joined in and the Karen Barton vogue, but because artists need depth, this
endeavor to feed those in need became one of the Edie Reno year they elected to steer clear of the angular
communitys. That effort continues today. Laura Harmon federalist style, which is simple and square.
In 2006, the food pantry and the Bighorn We changed the legs a bit to more of an
Basque Club first joined forces. NABOs sum-
Sarah Sandman art deco style, Pond said. We presented that
mer convention was held in Buffalo, and to raise Gabby Fox to the artists at Icon Poly. They did a rendi-
funds for the pantry, local artists painted fiberglass Jody Sauers tion and gave us a few options.
sheep, which were then auctioned off. For the next Janny Breton From there, Kyle and Daniele Vohland
NABO convention in Buffalo, which was held Lynn Sandford with Icon Poly created a digital model and
in 2011, artists painted miniature sheep wagons, Mary Tass then, through a combination of a 3D printer
which raised $30,000, doubling the revenue from Amy Gonzales and 3D milling, created a stove. They added
the 2006 auction. texture for realism and made a negative
It seemed reasonable to do the same thing this Lisa Norman impression mold. They used a rotational cast-
year, said Johnnie Pond, chair of the food pantry ing process to create 25 stoves.
board. This will be a big boost in the arm for
This year, the board chose sheep wagon stoves. the food pantry, which is a service provided by and for the
Its a very specific and important item for sheep herders, community, Pond said.
Pond said. On average, the pantry serves a core group of about 180
Each stove will be full size, approximately 26 inches wide by people, Pond said, with another 200 or so coming once or
23 inches long and 24 inches tall and weigh about 40 pounds. The twice a month. Over the course of a year, the pantry serves
stoves are intended to be used as freestanding pieces of art, such 13,000 meals.
as end tables or a coffee tables. We are very thankful to the Basque heritage, Pond
This year, artists had until the first full week in June to com- said. Those folks are unbelievably hardworking, thought-
plete their masterpieces. The stoves were then distributed to area ful, compassionate and giving in the same breath. We are
sponsors, mainly businesses around town, where they will be thankful to be a part of this.
kept until two days before the festival. The Bread of Life Food Pantry auction will be at 6 p.m.
Pond and fellow food pantry board member Pam on July 21 in Crazy Woman Square in downtown Buffalo.
McFadden wrote a grant to the Episcopal Diocese of By Jennifer Burden

2017 NABO Festival 43

 The Bread of Life Food Pantry
would like to thank the sponsors
and artists for participating
in the 2017 Basque Festival
Sheep Wagon Stove Auction:
Sponsors: Doctors of Johnson County Health Care
Buffalo Bulletin
Occidental Jam and Occidental Hotel Pie-Zanos Restaurant
Historic Mansion House Inn and North Wyo- Bozeman Trail Steak House
ming Insurance TA Ranch
State Farm Insurance and Spear H Spear Winchester Steak House
Ranch Bloedorn Lumber of Buffalo
Marie Miller Mary Kay and Buffalo Dental 5 Mile Ranch
Farmers Insurance and Harness Funeral First Interstate Bank
Home Bank of Buffalo
DJs Grocery and Lynn Turner American National Bank
Individual Buffalo City Council Members First Northern Bank
The Wages Group Prescription Shop
Vision Center of Johnson County Sure Stay Motel
Cetera Advisor Networks Frederick and Patricia Supper Foundation

Artists: Kathy Nicholas

Paige Money
Sarah Sandman Mel Keffer
Judy Pradere
Dolly Iberlin
Gabby Fox
Lisa Norman Lynn Sanford
Louise Joseph Bonnie Klasinski
Laura Harmon Amy Sawyer
Jody Sauers Mary Tass
Janny Breton Mary Sue Williams
Jenny Williams Louise Anderson
Karen Barton Tom Pheringer
Edie Reno Amber Green
Wendy Roberts Amy Gonzales
 Juan (John) Bilbao was born and raised in Axpe, Vizcaya Province in Spains Basque
Country. John came to the United States in 1907; he lived in San Francisco and Salt Lake
City before moving to Buffalo, Wyoming. He married Maria Santa Arruabarrena on March
11, 1912 in Salt Lake City. They operated a Basque boarding house (Casa Espanola) in Salt
Lake City. The Casa Espanola was one of the many boardinghouses located near the Union
Station railroad depot and in the same neighborhood as the historical Hogar Hotel, 126 South
200 West, Salt Lake City, UT. Maria and John Bilbao operated the Bilbaos Basque Board-
Juan (John) Bilbao inghouse at 540 S. Main from 1930-1959. John was well known for his wine making skills.
1930 passport photo
1884-1959 Maria Santa Arruabarrena Bilbao was born and raised in the mountain community of
Ochandiano/ Otxandio, Vizcaya Province, Spain. Marias father, Hipolito Arruabarrena
Urrjola was a stone carver and did many of the carvings on churches and cemeteries in
Vizcaya. Her mother was Maria Mercedes de Garaygordobil Ajuria. She loved telling
stories of her childhood in Spain. She loved gardening, cooking, making Basque sausage,
singing Spanish/Basque songs and playing her tambourine.

Juanita Bilbao Auzqui (August 15, 1913 - November 9, 1985) was born on in Salt
Maria Bilbao - Lake City. She grew up and received most of her schooling in Salt Lake City. When she was 17 she
1930 passport photo moved with her family to Bilbao, Spain. In October 1931, her family relocated to Buffalo,
1881-1981 Wyoming. She assisted her parents in operating their Buffalo Basque boarding house until she
met Arnaud Auzqui at her parents boardinghouse.
In 1944, Arnaud and Juanita Auzqui purchased a house in Clearmont across the irrigation ditch
from the Clearmont Community Church and Clearmont Elementary School. In1951 they moved
into their new Clearmont home, 3802 Hwy 14-16, which was built by Mike Etchemendy. They
lived and worked in Clearmont until they retired and moved to Buffalo, Wyoming in 1968.
Arnaud and Juanita Auzqui had three children: Mary Dominica Auzqui, Paul Joseph
Auzqui and Francis Auzqui. All three children were born in Buffalo at the old hospital located
1935 Juanita Bilbao at 592 High Street.
graduated from Johnson
County High School
Joseph (Joe) Arruabarrena Bilbao (November 10, 1914 - September 6, 1987)
1913-1985 was born on in Salt Lake City. He was an excellent athlete (football, baseball, basketball and
track) in his younger days and he kept Spanish teachers guessing during his high school
Spanish classes. He played an accordion, played spoons, was a fun loving prankster and
loved teasing his niece and nephews.
Joe married Irene Gray on September 2, 1939 and they made their home in Buffalo,
Wyoming. They had a daughter, Penny Bilbao.
Joe joined the Navy and served during World War II from 1945 to 1946; he was
stationed in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Diego, California. In 1946, he returned to the
IGA Table Supply as a meat cutter until he went to work Mountain States Power in 1954.
Joe Bilbao graduated States Power became Pacific Power and Light Company (PP&L) and then Joe was transferred
from the Johnson County
to the Dave Johnson Power Plant in Glenrock, Wyoming in 1956. He continued to work for
High School in 1937
1914-1987 PP&L until he retired in 1976. He was an American Legion member and managed the
American Legion Club in Buffalo for years.

Arnaud Auzqui was born in Luzaide / Valcarlos, Navarre Province, Spain. Luzaide, Spain is
a small village located a short distance from the French border and near the village of Arneg-
uy, France. Arnaud was raised in Mendive, France, an agricultural region near St. Jean-Pier-
de-Port, France. His mother was Dominica Etchapare. At the age of 23, he came to northern
Wyoming in October 1928 on a Spanish work visa; he was sponsored and worked for Martin
Arnaud Auzqui Etchemendy. He enjoyed playing cards, fishing, elk hunting and attending turkey shoots in the
1905-1969 Clearmont-Arvada area.
Left to Right: Domingo Goyhenex, Arnaud Auzqui,
Juanita Bilbao Auzqui, and Anne Pradere. Juanita and
Arnaud were married on May 3, 1943 at the St. John
the Baptist Church in Buffalo, Wyoming with Anne
Pradere and Domingo Goyhenex as witnesses.

Photos provided from Mary Auzquis collection

 P
eter John
Camino lives
in a house
hidden in a
valley with
his wife,
From
Jackie, and
a handful of dogs. His parents
live down the road, and Buffalo
is about a 20-minute drive away.
Its the way hes always lived.
sheep
We never went to town
because we thought this is a
playground out here, he said.
Mom would go once a week to
to
go to the grocery store and every
Sunday we went to church,
and that was it. Thats how we
lived out here until we went to
school.
sweater
He now runs his familys
sheep ranch with his brother,
Tommy.
Its not easy anymore, this
ranching, Camino said. The
way of life sure, you might not
have to do something one day,
but you make up for it in a cou-
ple nights of paperworking.
A third-generation sheep
rancher, Camino said his family
has seen a lot of bad winters and
a lot of change within the sheep
industry, but he now sees bright
spots for the future.
A lot of people are starting
46 2017 NABO Festival
to put the pencil to it and see
that theres money in sheep,
he said. Youre not going to
see the big ranch producers,
but youre going to start seeing
a lot of smaller farm flocks
come out.
Caminos grandfather,
Johnny, was 17 when he came
to Wyoming from the Basque
Country in 1908. He found sim-
ilarities between the Bighorn
Mountains and the Spanish
Pyrenees, a great comfort when
he could only speak a few
English words.
Johnny got a job as a sheep-
herder with Simon Harriet and
sent money home to his parents.
A couple of years later, Johnny
asked his French sweetheart to
marry him and move to Wyoming.
They spent their first two years of
marriage in a sheep wagon, only
going to town a handful of times
during that time.
If somebody was having
trouble with a lawyer or some-
thing like that, (Johnny) would
go with them and go to the law-
yer and help them out, Camino
said. He was famous for that.
Hed help anybody, especially
a Basque. Hed come and help
you and make sure you got what
you needed done.
 In the 1950s, Johnny owned
about 15,000 acres and 10,000
head of sheep, as well as 700 head
of cattle with his son-in-law, Dean
Smith, and his son, Pete, who
was Peter John Caminos father.
They were producing an average
clip of 12 pounds of Rambouillet-
Columbia at the same time, com-
pared with the average 9 pounds
Camino produced today.
Our weights on our wool this
year was 9 pounds of fleece where
he was shearing 12, he said. Our
wool is super clean; thats why its
so much lighter.
Nowadays, Camino and his
brother run a ranch thats roughly
70,000 acres, leased and deeded,
with 3,000 head of ewes. In the
past couple of years, theyve man-
aged to get a piece in the entire
sheep industry, from the ranch to
the plate.
They always said wool made
the payment to the bank and the
lambs bought the groceries, but
now its reversed, Camino said.
Now lamb is the main money
maker.
A couple of years ago, the pair
joined the Mountain State Lamb
Co-op, which consists of over
100 family ranches in the Rocky
Mountain states. The co-op part-
nered with B. Rosens Meat in
New York and, in 2008, bought
out Rosens Meat. Last year, the
co-op bought its own kill plant
outside of Denver.
Thats something people have
been trying to do for years and
never got it done, Camino said.
Aside from selling the lambs
for slaughter, Camino also sup-
ports the local wool mill. Camino
said he first contacted Karen
Hostetler, owner of the Mountain
Meadow Wool Mill in Buffalo,
a couple of years ago through an
elementary school field trip.
They started talking about
spinning wool, and I got to tell-
ing them about how there was no
place in the United States to get
wool cleaned anymore, Camino
said. All the textile mills had
closed down, and the wool had to
go to China to get clean and then
2017 NABO Festival 47
gets made into thread and sent
back.
Camino said there are small-
er mills, like one in Charleston,
South Carolina, that specializes in
military uniforms, where he used
to send their wool. But with the
construction and opening of the
local mill, Camino partnered with
Hostetler, and its been a success-
ful relationship ever since.
With the assistance of a grant Town kids, they dont see
from the National Sheep Industry (ranching) anymore. They
Improvement Center, Hostetler need to be educated on
created a traveling educational where their food and fiber
display that will premiere some both comes from.
time around the North American - Peter John Camino
Basque Organization festival in
Buffalo in July before going to
Cody, Cheyenne and other locales
in Wyoming.
If you stop wool research and
education, then pretty soon wool
is going to be only coming form
Australia and China, Hostetler
said. Weve got to keep our
American wool. And the American
sheep industry is realizing the
same thing.
The display includes aerial
photos, information and a short
video about how the wool goes
from sheep to sweater or other
clothing.
In the last year and a half,
weve worked with Images West
(and) Lisa Norman, Hostetler
said. Weve also worked with the
business council and were trying
to do some historical preservation
of this way of life.
Hostetler said shes hired a
drone company out of Colorado to
film some of the Caminos sheep
on the mountains and has docu-
mented every step from lambing to
shearing to get a video representa-
tion of the year in a life of a shep-
herd and sheep rancher, all in an
effort to better educate the public.
And that, in Caminos opinion,
is one of the best outcomes he
could ask for.
Town kids, they dont see
(ranching) anymore, he said.
They need to be educated on
where their food and fiber both
comes from.
By Maggie DeBlasis
 &
We proudly
support our
Margos Pottery Basque Chesbro Electric 4th Avenue Buffalo
Community Commercial, Residential, Industrial and Solar

Fine Crafts chesbroelectric@gmail.com

684-8613
Pottery Glass Jewelry Furniture

One North Main Street Buffalo, Wyoming 82834

307.684.9406
www.MargosPottery.com margospottery@wyoming.com Call the Hometown Professionals

48 2017 NABO Festival

Gure ondarearen
tradizio
eta balore
zoragarriak beti
gure sendian eta
komunitatean
egon daitezela

(May the wonderful traditions

and values of our Basque
heritage always be present in From left to right: Margaret, Santiago,
our family and community) Ethel and Candida Michelena

In memory of
Santiago and Ethel Michelena,
Alvin and Candida Michelena Kuhn and
John and Margaret Michelena Gammon
Ethel and Santiago Michelena

The Gammon and

Kuhn families
Candida & Alvin Kuhn Margaret & John Gammon
 Proud to be fifth generation
Basque heritage

The Johnson County Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum

Featuring: Almost Like Home ... The Basques Along the Bighorns

Come see our gallery about the local Basque families

and browse items in our store Whether you live in town, on a small acreage in the country,
or on a large ranch, we offer a personalized
insurance program that is tailored to your needs.
Learn about the advantages of one-stop insurance services
by contacting your farm Bureau agent today.

Nick Smith
44 S. Lobban
Buffalo, WY 82834
The Johnson County Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum (307) 684-1300
agentnicksmith.com
100 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834
307-684-9331 www.jimgatchell.com

Open year-round
Summer hours: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday - 12 - 5pm

John Peter Taberna and Mary Magdelena Zabelta
John Peter Taberna was born of
French parents, Leon and Marie Tab-
erna on April 2, 1898. After coming
to America in 1918, he sent for his
sweetheart, Mary Magdelena Zabelta
in Spain in 1919. They were married
by Father John Duffy of Holy Name
Catholic Church in Sheridan.
To this union was born five children,
Joseph, Mary, Victoria, Cecilia and
Louis. Joseph was born August 2, 1921
and passed away in Sheridan on Janu-
ary 6, 1988. Mary Taberna Chrispen,
who resided in Hemet, California was
born October 1923 and passed on
October 11, 2016. Victoria residing in
Sheridan, Wyoming was born July 21,
1935 and stays very active at age 92.
Cecilia Taberna Morgenstern was born
July 7, 1927 and passed away on May
31, 2016 in Hemet, California. She was
buried in Missoula, Montana. Louis, a
retied school teacher was born July 7,
1929 and lives in Sheridan.
In the summer of 1936, John and
Madgelena homesteaded on the Big-
horn Mountains, raising sheep. Their
homestead joined the Camino ranch in
Johnson County and now belongs to
the Camino brothers.
John was a trained blacksmith and
shod all the horses for himself and
also the neighbors. He also repaired
wagons and anything else that needed
it. John passed in 1955.
Magdelena was a trained seamstress
making all of her familys suits,
coats, knitting socks and sweaters
or anything else they needed. She
was an excellent cook and many of
the young Basque boys who were
single or sheep hearders, had many
meals at her table. She was a beloved
mother and passed in 1983.
John and Magdelena were excellent
dancers and were usually the first and
last couple on the dance floor. There
were many dancers held at the Taberna
cabin throughout the summer.
Left ot right: Cecilia Morgenstern, Joe Taberna,
Mary Crispen, Lou Taberna and Victoria Washut
 Trevino honored
for years as
NABO secretary

A
fter nearly a decade of service as a secre-
tary for both her local Basque club and to
the North American Basque Organizations,
Salt Lake City native Nancy Trevino will
be honored for her contributions to the
advancement of the Basque culture in the
United States. Unfortunately, according to her daughter Christina
Echeverria, Trevino will be unable to take the stage to receive the
Bizi Emankorra award at the organizations conference in Buffalo.
Sadly, because of her disease (advanced Alzheimers), she
wont be able to attend the convention in Buffalo to accept the
award, Echeverria said. I know my mom would be so honored
at receiving this award. Her heritage has always been some-
thing she was excited and passionate about, and she loved being
able to serve NABO.
The Bizi Emankorra award loosely translated as lifetime
achievement is given yearly by NABO to recipients who have
made significant contributions to organization and to Basque
Can you lift this?
culture in the United States, particularly beyond their own local
Basque community. The Center for Basque Studies and the San
Francisco Basque Club nominated Trevino for the award. Other
winners this year are Salt Lake City resident and musician Jean
Flesher, Buffalo resident Rosita Maya, the KBBS Basque
Radio Program out of Buffalo and Buffalo residents Jean and
Alberta Escoz.
Trevino was very involved in her local Basque club,
according to Echeverria, and served from 1988 to 1992 as
the secretary for the club under President Mary Gaztambide.
When Gaztambide was elected as the president of NABO in
2004, Trevino followed her and served as the organizations
secretary for five years.
According to Echeverria, Trevinos time at NABO helped
enrich her own life and those of others.
She loved her time as the NABO secretary, Echeverria
wrote. Being involved with the organization and connecting with
all of the delegates were some of the best times of her life.
By Stephen Dow

Picture this: Youre a Basque, working your

ranch or farm, and you inadvertently stumble
upon some down time. Crazy, right?
Well, in the unlikely event that happens, what
do you do? How do you spend your newfound
leisure time?
Now, another detail. Youve been spending
your days and weeks performing manual labor
pulling, pushing, lifting, dragging. Youre
jacked, ripped, swole, buff, whatever you want
to call it; you got it.
Might as well see if you are the buffest,
rippedest, swolest, most jacked Basque in the
land. Cue the Basque rural sports deportes
rurales in Spanish, herri kirolak in Basque.
Its essentially Worlds Strongest Man
crossed with the once-televised lumberjack
competitions. Burly Basque men compete in compete in endurance stone lifting. The record for a
events centered around farm life, as if they were trying competitor lifting a 330-pound stone on and off of his
to show who was the best at their job, or who most shoulder is 52 times in 10 minutes.
embodied the lifestyle. They lift stones, metal cylin- Though the events started out as replicas of farm
ders and rocks, chop wood, lead ox teams and manual- work, most of the methods that the events draw from
ly bore holes into quarry stones, among other things. are now outdated and only live on in competitions. But
And the stones are big. In stone lifting, or harrijaso- the competitions draw dedicated Basque athletes who
tze in the Basque language, which is perhaps the most train year-round for the event, keeping herri kirolak
iconic herri kirolak event, the rock slabs can weigh up alive and asking the Basque people: Who is the buffest
to 700 pounds. in the land?
But its not all brute strength; competitors can also By Ben Ramsey

2017 NABO Festival 51

A
tribute to Dominica
Etchemendy Esponda
and John B Esponda,
known as the King
Of The Basques, their
family and the many
Basques who John brought to America
and especially those who came to
Buffalo to settle, marry and raise
families of their own. Also a memoran-
dum to the many Basque herders who
came to Wyoming and had no
family here but dedicated their lives
to their occupation and passed
away and were put to rest here in
Willow Grove Cemetry.

In memory of:
John B Esponda 1868 - 1936
Dominica Esponda 1889 - 1983
Mitchell Esponda 1918 - 1927
John A Esponda 1924 - 1972
DeLorise Esponda 1928 - 1958
Grace Esponda Miller 1920 - 1996
Jeanette Esponda Maxwell 1923 - 2006
Nolene Esponda Sun 1921 - 2008
Mark Esponda 1952 - 1958
Mathew Esponda 1960

<
 Welcome to
the NABO festival
Carlat Construction
Stock water, residential and irrigation pipeline construction
Trucking Dirt Construction
Custom hay harvest, farming and reclamation

~ Locally owned and operated ~ Licensed, bonded and insured

~ In business for over 10 years

Cross H Gravel Pit

Proud supporter of
(3 miles SE of Buffalo on old HWY 87)
Full service gravel pit 10 aggregate products available
Delivery and construction services
Office 217-1807 Pit 217-3510
the sheep industry.
Pit hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday mornings In memory of Jean Curutchet and Pete Camino.

Carlat
Construction carlatconstruction@yahoo.com HUB International
307-217-1807 606 TW Road Buffalo, Wyoming 82834 112 West Angus Buffalo, WY
(307) 684-5529

In loving memory
Anna Urrizaga Pradere
Born in Arnguy, France,
raised in Buffalo, WY
1916 - 1978

Martin Alfred Pradere

Born in Reno, Nevada
1909 1971

Married 1939 in Reno, Nevada

moved to Buffalo in 1941
Three children
Jeanette Pradere Kuiper
John Pradere
Shirley Pradere Coulter

Sheep ranched in Buffalo Wyoming

Loved their family, friends, Basque culture, Big Horn Mountains,
playing MUS, Basque dancing, and their community
 Not your average
mountain tour
I
f you plan on going on the Basque
mountain tour, theres something you
should know its a fishing trip.
I dont know why we call it moun-
tain tour, tour leader Jason Camino
said. We go fishing and all come back
and meet around 1 (oclock) with everyones catch
and fry up the fish.
Thats right. Pack a rod and reel (or ask if Camino
can lend you an extra) and get ready for a morning
of worm-jerking or fly-casting. Other things worth
bringing: a long-sleeved shirt to keep the mosquitoes
off, hiking boots, sunscreen and water.
The tour, as it were, starts off in the Occidental
Hotel around 7 a.m. on July 24, then caravans up to
a cabin, where the fisher-folk will reconvene in the
afternoon. Most people then split up and head out
to creeks around the Hazelton area, including the
upper Doyle, Powder River, Poison Creek and per-
haps Webb Creek, and bust as many brookies as
possible before returning to the cabin for a fish fry.
According to Camino, the tradition originated
when Basque herders would get together after a
long spell of tending to the sheep and spend the
day fishing and having a fish fry with their herding
homies. The minimal ingredients were ideal for life
on the mountain.
A cast iron skillet of hot oil, salt, pepper and
garlic salt are the only tools necessary to make
this traditional Basque dish come to life.
The result is a crispy, almost fat-fried dish
of hand-sized fish plucked fresh from mountain
54 2017 NABO Festival
streams.
Traditionally, while the men are dippin a line,
the ladies harvest mushrooms to fry with dinner.
Afterwards, get ready to put your feet up and
enjoy a few beers, a glass of wine and a game of
cards.
Youll be in good hands on this tour; Camino
is a seasoned veteran of the fish fry and grew
up under the careful tutelage of local Basque,
Bautista Juanicotena, who himself has decades
of experience in the art of the fish fry.
Ever since I was a little boy we had a cabin
up there at Hazelton and a really small creek.
Id be gone every day fishing that little creek,
Camino said. Bautista, hes the one that taught
me how to fish those mountain creeks.
Camino said as a child his family would
catch fish all summer then freeze them to eat
throughout the winter.
By spring I was so sick of fish, he said.
However, that doesnt mean he doesnt like to
kick back with a fried brookie and relive good times,
and the best part of all?
Just camaraderie of fishing, Camino said.
Whats better than that? Going fishing with a whole
bunch of friends, then having a few beers, a glass of
wine and relaxing, playing cards?
If youre on the fence, perhaps its time to
remind yourself of what its like. Come down to the
Occidental on July 24 to refresh your memory. After
all, its just a mountain tour.
By Ben Ramsey
 Welcome
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 Remembering...
Simon and Catherine Harriet
Prosper and Theo Harriet
In special remembrance of all the Basque herders who have passed and with a heartfelt thank you to all the
Basque herders still living who traveled from the old country to help herd sheep for the Harriet families.

ONGI ETORRI
From...

The Mike Harriet family

Mike Harriet Ben and Laci (Harriet) Schiffer, Eli and Trell
Simon and Dianna Harriet, Deven and Silas

The Tom Lohse Family

Tom and Nikki (Harriet) Lohse, and Catie
58 2017 NABO Festival
 Following tradition
I
t was 1951 when Jean Escoz crossed the Atlantic, making his way from
Spain to the sparse realities of life as a sheepherder in Johnson County. It
was at the base of the Bighorns that Escoz, 18, found familiarity, a place
that reminded him of home and people who spoke his native language.
He was given a job tend to 2,000 sheep. He
was given a sheep wagon, a dog and, in the summer,
a horse. He also had a battery-operated radio, which
became his connection to civilization.
He developed relationships and connections with
his fellow Basque who lived in the area, includ-
ing his cousin, Pierre Amestoy, and his employer,
Simon Harriet. And he also made stops at Arnaud
Curutchets ranch, which bordered the Harriet prop-
erty where Escoz worked.
Curutchet emigrated from Arnegi, France, which,
ironically, is separated only by a creek from where
Escoz grew up in northern Spain.
It wasnt long before Escoz met one of Arnauds
daughters, Alberta. The relationship simmered and
eventually blossomed,
and the pair fell in love.
When you go In 1966, Escoz
became a citizen of the
What: Bizi Emankorra awards presentation United States and, in
When: 11 a.m. Sunday, July 23 1967, he married Alberta
Where: City park band shell Curutchet and a quaint
Basque family was
formed.
Its a big year for Jean and Alberta. In October,
the couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniver-
sary. But first, in July, the North American Basque
Organization will honor Jean and Alberta with the
Bizi Emankorra award, which recognizes their com-
mitment to preserve the Basque culture in the United
States.
For Alberta and Jean, the nomination was unex-
pected. As they were raising their four children
Jean Albert, Pierre, Teresa and Daniel they didnt
consciously integrate the Basque culture. It was just
there as much a part of everyday life as the sunrise.
Its always been so much a part of our life,
Alberta said. We didnt really set out to keep the
culture going. It just happened. We worked hard.
We made big meals. It just turned out that thats the
Basque style.
Quietly, and perhaps unexpectedly, Jean and
Alberta were spreading the Basque lifestyle. To them,
it wasnt much. It was how they grew up. It was how
they wanted to raise their children. But for those
watching, it was something.
For 15 years, Jean and Alberta served as dele-
gates for NABO. They represented the Big Horn
Basque Club at meetings and conventions across the
country, including trips to San Francisco and Boise,
Idaho.
They taught their children and their childrens
friends how to play Mus, a Basque card game. They
taught their children traditional Basque dances,
such as the Bolanta, which Jean learned from his
dad. Their children were heavily involved in the
local Basque dance group. Their daughter, Teresa
Fieldgrove, even taught for a while.
We would bring people in from other places to
teach the dances, Alberta said. Then, they would
all come to our house to eat.
The Escoz house was a regular stop for Basque
families. Alberta made large meals. She sewed dance
costumes.
The family embraced their heritage. They were
and are proud of it.
We really focused on the dance group and the
younger people, Alberta said. I sewed many, many
Basque costumes. Im really proud of the ones that
have the ribbons down the back. They are modeled
off of Jeans group in Europe.
But it wasnt all about the parties and the danc-
ing, Alberta said. It was about friendship and cama-
raderie. It was about getting to know their neighbors,
their fellow Basque and establishing lifelong friend-
ships.
When Alberta sits down to think about her heri-
tage and why its so important to her, she has a sim-
ple answer.
Ive always been intrigued by a culture with
so much antiquity, Alberta said. They dont quite
know how the language got there. Theres a lot of
mystery.
For Jean, he was just being himself and, in doing
so, he has been able to spread the elation and energy
that the Basque culture is known for, which hasnt
gone unnoticed. This year, Pierre Etcharren, from the
San Francisco Basque club, nominated the couple for
the award, which will be presented during the annual
NABO convention in Buffalo.
To be honored this way is pretty humbling
and we are very grateful, Alberta said of the
award. I feel very honored to get an award to live
a lifestyle that we have really enjoyed and that we
have passed on to our children and grandchildren.
By Jennifer Burden

2017 NABO Festival 59

 I
n the summer of 1960, seven Basque-
Americans traveled to the Basque Country
and befriended a group of dancers from
Donostia. This group of dancers took the
seven into their kuadrilla, and the majority

Preserving
of the summer vacation was spent learning
how to Basque dance. When the time came for the
Americans to go back to Idaho, the dancers insisted on
starting a group in their hometown and sharing their

the culture
name, Oinkari Dantza Taldea. The newest Oinkaris
returned home, hummed what music they remem-
bered to musicians, blacked out the Basque Centers
windows, and practiced in secret to debut their new
talent at what became their first performance, the
1960 Boise Sheepherders Ball.
Since then, Boises Oinkari Basque Dancers have
worked hard to preserve their culture in America
through Basque dance. They have had the honor of
representing their heritage as close to home as Boises
Basque Block and far away as Shanghai, China. It is a
major source of pride that they have had the opportuni-
ty to stay in touch with the Dance Masters in Euskadi,
and are able to take instruction from the most authentic
source.
Over the past 57 years, it is estimated that nearly
1,000 dancers have been members of the group that
started from those original seven. The current Oinkari
roster includes 50 people in high school, college and
young adulthood, all of whom volunteer their time to
ensure this group continues to serve its purpose for the
sake of the generations to come. They are also so lucky
to have musician and former dancer, Dan Ansotegui
(accordion, txistu, pandero) who donates his Sundays
and countless evenings to practices and performances.
The group often spends summers on tour of the
Basque-American West and said they are very happy to
be making a stop in Buffalo, Wyoming.
2017 NABO Festival 61
 S
itting at her
dining room
A life of
table, Rosie
Ibarra shrugged
her shoulders,
trying to devise
tradition
a response to being nominated
for the Bizi Emankorra award,
which is given by the North
American Basque Organization
to those who have perpetuated
and nurtured the Basque culture
Ibarra to be honored in the United States.
with Bizi Emankorra award Preserving the Basque cul-
ture wasnt really something
Ibarra had set out to do, she
said. She was born in Sunbilla,
Spain, a small farm town in the
north that at the time had 200
houses 101 of which were
homes on ranches. From day
one, she was simply living the
only way she knew how the
Basque way. And that meant that
from the time she was little she
was taught to dance, cook, work
hard and love music. She still
knows the dance moves, sliding
62 2017 NABO Festival
one foot in front of the other to
demonstrate.
In 1958, when she was 27,
Ibarra came to the United States.
It was a time when only men
were allowed into the United
States on work visas. Ibarra
had to wait four years to join
her husband, Juan Jose, here. In
doing so, she had to leave two
daughters in Europe with family.
The trek wasnt necessarily
intimidating, Ibarra said. She
wasnt going to be by herself.
She was going to meet family,
she said. While the language
and the landscape were unfa-
miliar, hard work wasnt. She
spent two months in Buffalo
before traveling to Gillette to
meet her husband, who was
working on his uncles sheep
ranch.
She gave birth to a third
daughter. The family moved to
San Francisco and then back to
Spain, where the youngest of
their four daughters was born.
 Then, in 1966, the family made another jour-
ney to the U.S., landing in Miles City, Montana,
where they lived until 1979. There were more
opportunities here, and Rosie had grown tired of
the expectations that were placed on people in
Spain looking and dressing a certain way.
Rosie and Juan also spent time in Ten Sleep
and Kaycee before moving to Buffalo in 1995,
where Rosie has lived ever since. Juan passed
away Dec. 28, 2007.
Throughout her years in the U.S., Rosie has
worked incredibly hard. She owned a dry clean-
ers in Miles City. She owned and operated a caf
in Ten Sleep. She worked on a sheep ranch in
Kaycee, all while taking care of her family and
friends.
She cooked large meals lots of lamb and
ham. She was an announcer on the KBBS radio
station, which, for one hour every Sunday, was
filled with everything Basque language, birth-
days, jokes, news and music.
All four of her children are fluent in Basque
and still converse with one another in the lan-
guage.
The family spent time in Kaycee butchering
their own hogs, a tradition in Spain. They cured
ham to make prosciutto and sausage.
It was a nod to life in Spain, in which families
grew everything they needed and made the rest.
The only things needed from the store, Rosie said,
were soap, coffee and cloth. The cloth was made
2017 NABO Festival 63
into clothes. It was an all-inclusive lifestyle that
centered on the family.
Today, everything is go, go, go, Ibarra said.
Back then, it was about family. The older people
would teach the young ones to dance, to cook.
Rosie became a member of the Big Horn
Basque Club. She provided countless meals for
events. Cooking was her thing.
While Rosie wasnt sure how she felt about Today,
receiving the award, she was quick to share why everything
perpetuating the culture is important. is go, go, go.
The old-timers, they worked so hard to put it Back then,
there, Rosie said.
If Rosies generation and the ones to come it was about
since didnt continue the Basque way of life, Rosie family.
said, it would die. And thats no good, she said. The older
Its kind of a way to hold onto a piece of your people would
past, Rosies youngest daughter, Begonia, said. teach the
For Rosies second-youngest daughter, young ones
Josphine Gamio, her mom has always been a to dance,
caretaker. Winning the award is perhaps a culmina-
tion of decades of selflessness within a culture that to cook.
knows the benefits of helping one another. - Rosie
For her, its natural to take care of friends Ibarra
and live this lifestyle, Gamio said. She does this
without calculating. She gives from the heart, and
she doesnt expect anything in return.
The Bizi Emankorra awards presentation
will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 23, in the
band shell at the City Park.
By Jennifer Burden
Welcome to
Buffalo and the
2017 NABO
Convention!

Buffalo
Bulletin
58 North Lobban Buffalo WY 82834 307-684-2223
www.buffalobulletin.com