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A Meeting of Minds: IV Onomastics Conference in Reno by Linda White They came from Euskadi, Great Britian, Chile, Uruguay, and the United States, drawn together by a common interest in Basque culture and twenty-three lifetimes devoted to Basque-related research. They traveled to Reno, Nevada to attend the Fourth Onomastics Conference of Euskalzaindia, the Academy of the Basque Language, and exchange information about the history of Basque place names in the Americas and the Philippines. And after six days of information exchange, dialog, networking and tourism, they left with memories of rabbit brush, outdoor weddings at Lake Tahoe, and the Bucket of Blood Saloon. Enrike Knörr, President of the Onomastics Commission of Euskaltzainda, along with José Luis Lizundia, Secretary of the Commission, Juanjo Zearreta, Treasurer of Euskaltzaindia, and Linda White, Assistant Coordinator of the Basque Studies Program, began planning the conference almost a year in advance. However, until the President of Euskaltzaindia, Jean Haritschelar, made a formal proposal to Joseph Crowley, President of the University of Nevada, Reno, those plans were tentative. President Crowley responded by donating conference rooms to the effort and the conference became a reality. Silver Anniversary Reno was chosen for the conference site in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Basque Studies Program. Euskaltzaindia sent a silver plaque and a letter from Jean Harischelar praising the accomplishments of a quarter century devoted to Basque-related research. President José Antonio Ardanza of Euskadi and President Juan Cruz Alli of Navarra both wrote letter acknowledging the Program’s history, and the University of the Basque Country and the Public University of Navarra sent representatives to express their admiration for one of the University of Nevada’s Centers for Excellence. Patxi Goenaga, Vice-Rector of the Alava Campus of the University of the Basque Country, spoke of being a young student when he first heard of the Program. Javier Etxeberria, Secretary General of the Public University of Navarra, was present, and Patricio Hernandez, Vice-Rector of Services at the Public University of Navarra, also spoke in praise of the Program. Patxi Goenaga later presented a second plaque to Coordinator William A. Douglass on behalf of the Universidad del País Vasco. The University of Nevada, Reno also took the opportunity to confirm and strengthen the relationship between Euskaltzaindia and the Basque Studies Program. Joseph Crowley, President of the University, welcomed the conference attendees at opening ceremonies on September 2 and presented a proclamation from Governor Robert Miller in honor of the proceedings. Robert Hoover, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, spoke at the closing ceremony and presented University ties to Endrike Knőrr and Jos‚ Luis Lizundia. Mark Dawson, Chancellor of the University of Nevada System, closed the conference with a brief speech. The Importance of Names Onomastics is the study of names--place names, people’s names, how mountains or prairies or states came to be named, who named them, and why. The scholars who came to Reno brought information about Basque place names from all over the Americas and the Philippines. Not everyone was able to make the trip, so papers submitted by absentee scholars were read to the group. Luis Moreno spoke to the group on “Bibliografía de la onomástica vasco-americano-filipina.” Justo Garate submitted two papers on “Toponimia y antroponimia vasco-argentina” and “Ojeada general de onomástica vasco-americano-filipina.” Ricardo Goldaracena submitted a paper on “Nombres vascos en la nomenclatura urbana en Uruguay.” Martin Ospitaletche spoke to the group on “Topónimos vascos en el Uruguay.” Ricardo Cierbide presented his paper entitled “Informe de la visita pastoral de D. Martín, obispo de Caracas (s.XVIII), dirigido a D. Márquez de Sonora, Secretario de Estado y del Despacho de Indias.” Roberto Hernández and Julene Salázar were both present to report on “Toponimia vasca en Chile.” Angel Ayestarán submitted a paper on “Nombres vascos en la historia política de Uruguay.” Miren Egańa spoke on “Basque Toponymy in Canada.” Selma Huxley and Jerardo Elortza shared the podium to discuss “The Evolution of the Coastal Toponymy of Southern Labrador and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, between 1517 and 1763.” Enrike Knőrr presented his paper on “Materiales de antroponimia y toponimia vasco-americano-filipina.” José Garmendia spoke to the group about “Onomásticos vasco en América desde los Archivos de Sevilla y Cádiz.” Linda White presented her paper entitled “Herrikomina: Onomástica vasca en el Oeste de los Estados Unidos.” Hernan Lux-Wurm sent a paper entitled “Sobre la Patronimia vasca en Argentina.” Mikel Gorrotxategi and José M. Fernández Anakabe submitted a paper presented by Gorrotxategi entitled “Vascos a las Indias: 1509/1538 y 1578/1599.” Luis M. Mujika submitted a paper to be read entitled “La aportación de Joseph Francisco Irigoyen y su Colección Alfabética de Apellidos Bascongados con su significado (México, 1809).” Jon Bilbao, Mikel Gorrotxategi, and José M. Fernández Anakabe submitted a paper entitled “Repertorios onomásticos vasco-filipinos.” Patxi Oroz sent a paper entitled “En torno a la toponimia de America y Filipinas: Pamplona.” Alfonso Irigoyen spoke to the group on “Réplicas de topónimos vascos en América.” Javier Garcia Ariza sent a paper entitled “Presencia navarra en América del Sur.” In addition, Jose Mallea spoke briefly to the group on his current research of Basque tree carvings in the American West, explaining their historical significance and igniting sparks of interest among the attendant scholars who were for the most part unaware of this Basque-American phenomenon. Dinner at the Pyrenees All work and no play can make a conference unbearable, but such was not the case for the Onomastics group. On Thursday, September 3, Euskaltzaindia and the Onomastics Commission hosted a banquet at the Pyrenees Restaurant in Reno for the scholars. Also in attendance were: William A. Douglass, Coordinator of the Basque Studies Program, and his wife, Jan; Carmelo Urza, Coordinator of the University Studies Abroad Program, and his wife, Monique; historian Jose Mallea; and Sara Velez of the University of Nevada Press. The highlight of the evening was a performance by the University of Nevada Basque folk dance ensemble, Zenbat Gara! Led by Lisa Corcostegui, who also acted as emcee for the performance, the group demonstrated their considerable skill for half an hour. The group opened with the Gipuzkoako Ezpata Dantza and closed with the Iturengo Soka Dantza. The dantzariak for the evening were Lisa and Enrike Corcostegui, Regina Erquiaga, Marcelino Ugalde, Cathy Schwartz, Javier Cillero, Caroline Izoco, Chris Upchurch, Denise Inda, and Paul Woodin. Tahoe and the Comstock After the serious business of presenting papers, many conference attendees were ready for some relaxation. On Saturday, they left on a tour that began with a stop at the Monument to the Basque Sheepherder, created by artist Nestor Basterrechea. The second stop was Virginia City where the group had a picnic lunch and toured the cemetery before going into town to see the sights and so some fast shopping. Lake Tahoe was the next destination where the surprise of the day was finding four brides and grooms lined up to be married at Lookout Point. The weather was perfect, and our busload of scholars climbed up onto the rocks to watch the wedding in progress. When the groom kissed the bride, there was much cheering and applauding. It seems that getting married out of doors is a very American event, and becoming an instant wedding party was the serendipitous climax to the day’s tour. The last stop was the Gardnerville Country Club where the group enjoyed a Basque dinner a la Nevada. And although there was no time to linger at the table for conversation and song, the bus ride back to the hotel provided the perfect opportunity for blending voices in Basque favorites such as “Agur Ziberoa” and “Agur Jaunak,” the perfect ending to a week dedicated to Basque scholarship. |
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