Today we have presented this program which begins next summer in the territory of Unama'ki (in Mi'kmaw language), which in English is known as Cape Breton Island, at the Orona Fundazioa Auditorium, in Hernani, Gipuzkoa.

            UNAMA’KI-LOUISBOURG Program

In its two slopes. On the one hand, that of the investigation -according to the Mi'kmaq Grand Council-, to gather first-hand information about the dramatic episode of the Residential Schools during the 20th century; for which Marta Vazquez will develop her project under the supervision of the vice-rector of the University of Cape Breton, Stephen Augustine, dean of Unama'ki College for Indigenous Studies. On the other hand is the participation of Mirari Loyarte and Amets Aranguren will be joining the staff of the Visitor Experience Team at the Fortress of Louisbourg, to provide visibility to the Basque culture within the setting of the Historic Site.

Xabi Otero has presented the project in broad strokes. 

Eddy Kennedy, the representative of Parks Canada, has made an exhibition of what Louisbourg supposes for the heritage in Canada, and what this project can mean in terms of enriching the transmission of its entire history, with the essential participation of the Basques, a very important part of the population of that enclave in the eighteenth century, which had the Euskara (Basque language), as the second language spoken in the fortress.

VIDEO PARKS CANADA National Historic Site of the Fortress of Louisbourg

The txistulari Patxi Larralde has interpreted two pieces, one related to the sea and another to the mountain, with the instruments made to be used there - a txistu and a danbolin -, having taken as models eighteenth-century instruments, or close to those dates.

Marta Vazquez has explained the general lines of what her work will be, related to her International Relations career, at the University of Deustu.

Basque fishermen's house DesRoches. Louisbourg. Photo © Peter Bakker.

Mirari Loyarte has exhibited the work that she and Amets Aranguren will develop during their stay in Louisbourg, each with the respective objectives in their fields of study. Mirari now finishes his second year of Business Administration and Management at the EHU/UPV, Amets his first year of Pedagogy of Music at the Conservatory of Music of Navarra. Both will have their characterization as part of the DesRoches family, at home of this family from Bayonne (Baiona in Basque).
After all this and a few minutes of discussion the act has been closed.

Our thanks to the interpreter Saioa Uzkiano for her work, and to Orona Fundazioa for their collaboration in the realization of the whole event.

JAUZARREA