Yesterday, September 8, the institutional event for the third annual Day of the Basque Diaspora was held with a live speech by Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu, in his first official act since being sworn in for his third term as the head of the Basque Government.
We here at the blog have always followed this event very closely. We’ve done so since the government started asking people what day should be agreed on to remember and pay homage to all the Basques who have had, and who have, to abandon their Homeland.
As we discussed in an earlier entry, this year, because of the special circumstances COVID-19 requires, the event went from being just one day to spreading out over a whole week. But that didn’t stop the official institutional event from being held on the 8th, with the recently re-elected lehendakari at the helm.
The Irekia website, sharing updates from the Basque Government, covered this event in a press release which included not only a chronicle, but also photos, videos, and the text of the Lehendakari’s speech. We bring all of that to you here.
Finally, we would like to remind everyone, including all Basque Centers around the world, that they have until September 13 to send in videos documenting the different events they’ve held. These videos will be used to create a documentary. Find out how to contribute here.
We’ve already shared ours: a video with a greeting from the recently-named Bishop of the Vicariate of Yurimaguas, Basque Jesús María Aristín. His message and a full interview we had with him this past week were all carried out in collaboration with the Basque Passionists who have spent over 100 years working in the Peruvian Amazon, with the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Aranzazu of Lima, and the Basque Center that was born of it: Limako Arantzazu Euzko Etxea – Lima Basque Center.
Irekia – 9/9/2020 -Euskadi
El Lehendakari muestra su compromiso de seguir trabajando por todas las vascas y vascos en Euskadi y el mundo
El Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu ha presidido esta tarde el acto organizado con ocasión del Día de la Diáspora Vasca que ha tenido lugar en Ormaiztegi. El Día de la Diáspora Vasca se celebra todos los años el 8 de Septiembre para rendir homenaje a todos los migrantes; y en esta tercera edición del evento, se ha hecho especial mención José María de Iparragirre. En el acto han participado representantes del Gobierno Vasco, la Diputación de Gipuzkoa y los alcaldes de Ormaiztegi y Urretxu, pueblo natal del bardo José María de Iparragirre.
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Video summary of the event
Video and text of the Lehendakari’s speech
The Lehendakari’s speech
Video and images of the Official Events of the 2020 Day of the Basque Diaspora
Last Updated on Feb 27, 2021 by About Basque Country