These mystifying people of Europe are said to have originated in the area of the Caspian Sea, or from the ancient land of the Phoenicians or Iberia - maybe from the lost continent of Atlantis. Who knows? They have been in their homeland in the Pyrenees Mountains since before the birth of Christ. Their language, called Euzkera, is very complicated - similar to Egyptian. The characters are Roman. The French and Spanish dialects are different.
Their homeland, called Euzkadi, consists of seven provinces. The Spanish regions are Navarre, Guipuzcoa, Alava and Biscay (Viscaya). The French provinces, higher in the mountains, are Soule, Labourd and Basse-Navarre.
Early records show Basques were in California before 1900. At that time, two thirds of the California Wool Growers Association were Basques. From 1792 to 1822 all the governors of California were native Basques.
Territory of Idaho records show that in 1873 three men from Vizcaya Providence in Spain applied for American citizenship. Their stated occupation was sheep herding, even though they came from a coastal region noted for its ship building.
Idaho immigrants brought herds of sheep and soon the demand for sheep herders exceeded the supply. Congress changed the immigration laws and in 1900, there were many more Basques herding sheep in the range lands of southern Idaho, Oregon and northern Nevada.
A herder was furnished everything including food and drink, a canvas covered sheep wagon complete with bed, stove, cupboard, dishes and storage area.
It was a lonely life. When enough money was saved, many returned to their native land of Euzkadi. Some returned with wives and family.
The Basques "American Home" stretched from the rangelands near Mountain Home to the interior of Oregon. Wherever sheep grazed, Basque sheepherders could be found.
Basques started in the sheep industry in Owyhee County in 1870. John Archabal came to the U.S. in 1893 and worked for the W. C. Cleveland ranch. After saving his money for 20 years, he bought the ranch. He furnished financial aid to other Basques in the sheep business. Soon he became a leader in the Boise Valley and started the annual Sheepherder’s Ball in Boise which is held just after Christmas, with a picnic following. It supports non- Basque charities.
Jordan Valley saw Jose Navarro and Antonio Azcuenaga arriving in 1889. It became a Basque community with other arrivals, including the Pedro Arritola, Luis Yturraspe and Cipriano Anacabe families. Three Basque hotels were built, the Madaraga, Elorriaga and Marquina.
Not all immigrants came to herd sheep. They became stone masons, miners in the Silver City district and merchants. Some even had herds of cattle. Sheep numbered over 200,000 head in Jordan Valley. The U.S. Basque population centered here.
Domingo Lequerica and Martin Achania were the first Basques in the McDermitt area in the late 1880s.
Tim Lequerica, Domingo’s son, came to the U. S. in 1903 and worked at the Birch Creek Ranch at Owyhee Crossing, Oregon. He became a partner with Antonio Aquenaga and soon had 12,000 head of sheep in six bands. When it was market time for the lambs, they were loaded on railroad cars at Murphy, Idaho.
At De Lamar, there were celebrations including street racing, dancing and contests on Memorial Day.
The Depression of the 1930s brought low prices for sheep, wool and also cattle. Many went broke and moved to the Boise Valley. Soon the area was the largest center of Basques - with 8,000 to 12,000 people.
Antonio Azcuenaga use some of his profits to build the Old Oregon Hotel in Boise. Jesus Urquides was the founder of Boise's "Spanish Village" on Main Street. He had been engaged in packing supplies to the Boise area mining camps in the early years.
To keep the ancient Basque customs alive, Juanita Uberuaga Aldrich of Boise, taught Basque boys and girls songs and dances of the old country to the music of the accordion, guitar, drum and tambourine. The romance of old Spain brought to life Basque folk dances - the fandango, farandole and arreska. The national folk dance is the La Jota. Vintage dances, the sword dance and weaving dance are enjoyed by young and old alike. Dance costumes are colorful and reflect the National Basque Flag. Girls wear red skirts and black satin bodices over white blouses. Men wear white with red sashes and black berets. Dance demonstrations by the Oinkari Dancers entertain thousands through the U.S. and Canada.
The Basques are proud of their heritage. They excelled as "keepers of the flock." Some became leaders in industry, politics and business.