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Oinkari Basque Dancers

In the 1860s, after the gold strikes in California, records of Idaho Territory show the names of a few Basque pioneers. To an extent, this surge of immigration was the result of a restricted economy and military conscription in the Spanish and French Basque provinces. The first Basque communities in the Americas consisted primarily of single men who found opportunities to enter the workforce by herding sheep. The advent of the Basque boarding houses or ostatuak, traditionally run by a couple, provided much needed hospitality for the herding off season, an opportunity for socialization, and job information. In time and with the arrival of young wives, the new families started the first dinners, community picnics, and the annual Sheepherder’s Ball at the end of the year.

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Watch Past Performances

The Oinkari Basque Dancers 7/14/04: The Oinkari Basque Dancers

The Oinkari Basque Dancers, of Boise, Idaho, perform the traditional dances of the Basque region in France and Spain.

The Oinkari Basque Dancers

The Oinkari Basque Dancers, of Boise, Idaho, perform the traditional dances of the Basque region in France and Spain.

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