The power of women — in particular Basque women — was evident Oct. 21 at Basque Cultural Day in South San Francisco. The event, sponsored by the Basque Educational Organization, brought together women from several generations and the audience that came to hear them speak was enchanted.

Patty Miller, former director of the Basque Museum, related funny and fascinating quotes from dozens of older Basque women who had been interviewed and photographed by the museum for the exhibit “Inner Strength: Portraits of Basque Women.”

“What hit me the most, emotionally, was the courage of the immigrant women and their strength,” said Michelle Lanathoua Kelly, who attended the Cultural Day from Southern California. Kelly and other family members came to celebrate their mother, Germaine Lanathoua, who was included in the museum exhibit and was also in a book about the exhibit. See link for the book here.

The 2023 Basque Cultural Day attracted perhaps its largest audience ever, according to organizers. The event, which is held at the Basque Cultural Center every two years, began 30 years ago in 1993.

Read MORE STORIES about Basque Cultural Day

Several women who worked at or owned Basque boardinghouses spoke about the difficulties and the good times they experienced during the boardinghouse era, when mostly young men lived at the hotels in Basque neighborhoods across the West.

Gallery • 15 Photos

Basque Cultural Day 2023

Ana Iriartborde made the audience laugh with stories about life after she married her husband and came from the Basque Country to work at Les Alpes on Broadway in San Francisco. Marie Louise Lekumberry and Bernadette Berterreche Helton spoke about growing up in their families boardinghouses — JT’s in Gardnerville, Nev. and Centro Basco in Chino, Calif. Jenny Maitia Poncetta, owner of the Woolgrowers’ Restaurant in Bakersfield, Calif. related stories of early boardinghouse days at Noriega’s Hotel that she heard from her mother who worked there. Meggan Laxalt Mackey reported on life at her grandparents’ hotel, the French Hotel in Carson City, Nevada. (Buy the memoir “The Basque Hotel” from Amazon. More information about Basque boardinghouses can be found in Jeri Echeverria’s book, “Home Away from Home” on Amazon.)

Another panel included discussion by several Basque women who talked about how they promote the Basque culture in their daily lives. Painter Zoe Bray said one facet of the culture she appreciates the most is the Basques’ connection to the land. Boise State professor Nere Lete spoke about the importance of teaching her children Basque. The Euskera instructor is also one of the founders of Boise’s Basque preschool, Boiseko Ikastola. Her daughter, Madalen Bieter Lete started a Basque radio program. Euskera teacher Esther Ciganda told the audience about her journey learning Basque and Argia Beristain, Associate VP for Development at Boise State University, related all the difficulties she encountered when trying to organize a Basque Soccer Friendly game between Basque team Athletic Bilbao and the Mexican team Club Tijuana in July 2015.

A traditional Boarders dinner, recalling the dinners that used to be served family style at Basque boardinghouses, was served in the evening and accordionist Iñaki Reta played for the crowd.

We may earn a small commission for links to Amazon products provided here.