Etxeak of memory: the Basque diaspora in the Oroitzapenak oral history project

Throughout the verdant hills of the Pyrenees, the foundation of Basque culture is built on the foundations of the etxeak - the immense houses that form the centerpiece of Basque farms and symbolize the incredible cultural inheritance of the Basque people. This inheritance is most evident in their shared language, Euskara, and in their shared pride - both of which followed the Basques throughout their long history in the New World. A joint project between the University of Nevada in Reno and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise, Idaho, with funding by the Basque government, is documenting the most recent stories of this long American history. Collecting oral history interviews conducted from the 1970s through the 2000s, the Oroitzapenak ( Memories ) Project now has excerpts from over 200 interviews online, along with transcripts, biographical information, and photographs. These interviews are part of the modern-day etxea of memory, helping to keep alive a difficult language and the stories of the Basques who immigrated to the United States to pursue greater economic opportunity for themselves and their families. With focused investments in social network outreach, collection, and online descriptive interfaces, these interviews can reach an even greater user constituency and remain a solid foundation for generations of Basque Americans to come