euskalkultura.eus

Ezterenzubi, Lower Navarre.  The book presentation took place in the heart of the Ezterenzubi’s annual festival that began last Friday and ended today, in an event that was attended by the town’s Mayor, the head of the Maiatz publishing house, Luzien Etxezaharreta; Joseba Etxarri, director of EuskalKultura.com and author of the book’s forward, along with Mattin himself.

Urruneko Mendebaldean artzain (Sheepherder in the Far West) is a narrative in the first person where Mattin Etchamendy, born in Ezterenzubi in 1939, tells his life journey that begins in Behe Nafarroa and culminates in Bakersfield, California, where he currently lives.  Following a familiar path, the author emigrated to the United States in 1961 as thousands of other Basques had done for nearly a century, to start a new life there as a sheepherder.

Today, Mattin Etchamendy will be doing another book presentation and will speak at the Basque Museum in Baiona, at 6pm.  Next week, on the eve of the annual reunion of former sheepherders who worked in America, he will sign copies of the book at the Kukuxka bookstore (3, Zitadela karrikan), in Donibane Garazi at 6pm along with writers Philippe Etchegoihen and Gaby Etchebarne.