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The relationship between Iceland and the Basque Country have not always been good; actually, there was a time where they were terrible, due to the killing of 32 Basque whalers who were stranded on the Icelandic coast in 1615.  Now, on the 400^th anniversary of the massacre, an international conference will analyze the cultural exchange between the two countries, when a symbolic event of reconciliation will also take place. 

Donostia-San Sebastian.   International experts from the Basque Country, Iceland, the US and England will gather this Sunday in Iceland to participate in a conference that will discuss the rich cultural exchange between the Basques and the Icelanders over the last four centuries..  

A rich exchange, let’s say, despite some very tense moments like the murder of 32 whalers from Gipuzkoa in Holvamik, Iceland.  The group was shipwrecked off the Iceland coast in September of 1615 and the surviving fishermen sought shelter there for months.  During this time they clashed with local authorities who finally ordered them killed.  The inhabitants, however, were not in agreement and one of these, Jon Gudmunsson, wrote a chronicle of the event, denouncing the authorities saying they had ordered the murder of innocent people.

Rich Exchange

Despite this tragic occurrence, the relationship between these two countries was later very rich with a large Basque presence and a great commercial and cultural exchange.  Documents attest to this,, as well as four dictionaries of pidgin, or the lingua franca Basque-Icelandic which are known as well as by archeologic excavations carried out so far. 

The conference will analyze this exchange as well as provide the opportunity for a symbolic reconciliation between the Basques and Icelanders.  The inaugural session will be on this Sunday, with a concert by Oreka TX along with Icelandic musicians.  Conference sessions will take place on Monday and Tuesday at the National Library in Reykjavik.

Reconciliation in Holmavik

Following, on Wednesday, the conference will move to Holmavik, the scene of the massacre that took place 400 years ago, where a symbolic reconciliation will take place with the participation of a descendant of each of the Basque whalers, and a descendant of the Icelanders who participated in their murder.  Participants in the event include, on the Basque side, Martin Garitano, Deputy General of Gipuzkoa and Ikerne Badiola, Deputy of Culture, Youth and Sports; and on the Icelandic side, the Minister of Culture Illugi Gunnarson.

The conference was organized by the Etxepare Basque Institute, the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, the Barandiaran Chair for Basque Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara, and the AIB, the Association of Icelandic Friendship in the Basque Country.

Experts participating in the conference include Bill Douglass and Xabier Irujo (University of Nevada, Reno), Einar G. Petursson, Torfi Tulinius and Helgi Þorláksson (University of Iceland), Alvaro Aragon and Mari Jose Olaziregi (University of the Basque Country/Etxepare Institute), Viola Miglio (UC Santa Barbara) and Michael M. Barkham (Cambridge University).

Complete program, here.