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Donostia-San Sebastian.  Mr. Basque is the title of William Douglass’ biography that was presented Wednesday afternoon just prior to the official opening of the Congress.  Douglass who was invited by the administration, carried out the opening speech, just as he had at three other editions of the Congress. Mr. Basque as he is called by some in the US, due to his dedication to Basques there, was written by journalist, writer and photographer Mielanjel Elustondo who specializes in the Basque Diaspora in the United States.  The book is the fruit of many years of conversations, understanding, complicity and research.  Published by Pamiela, with the support of the Provincial Government of Bizkaia, the book includes a prologue written by sociologist Alfonso Perez Agote.  We continue with photos. 

[Presentation of Mr. Basque.  Moderator Guillermo Echenique.  At the table from left to right, Joseba Zulaika, co-director of the Center for Basque Studies in Reno; author Mielanjel Elustondo; anthropologist William Douglass; Josune Ariztondo, Deputy of Culture of the Provincial Government of Bizkaia, Guillermo Echenique, Secretary General of Foreign Action of the Basque Government; Alfonso Perez Agote, Professor at the Complutense University; not pictured is Gregorio Monreal (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

 [Mielanjel Elustondo presents the book under Bill Douglass’ watchful eye and Josune Ariztondo (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Everyone at the table spoke, one after the other.  During Joseba Zulaika’s talk, colleague, friend and Bill’s successor at the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada in Reno (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Official opening of the 5^th World Congress of Basque Collectivities Abroad at the Kursaal in Donostia.  Guillermo Echenique speaking.  The act was emceed by Maria Corral journalist at ETB (Photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[During the act the oldest Basque clubs were recognized, many of which are a century old, as New York’s Eusko Etxea who will celebrate its centennial in 2013.  In the picture, club president, Itziar Albisu, along with Patxi Lopez, Guillermo Echenique and Julian Celaya (photo (EuskalKultura.com)]

[All of the representatives of the veteran Euskal Etxeak honored along with the Lehendakari.  Three of 100 year old clubs were not present, the Basque-Navarre Association of the Charity of Havana, Euskal Erria Basque Center of Montevideo, and Rosario’s Zazpirak Bat in Argentina.  Pictured from left to right, Guillermo Echenique, Javier Ederra (Basque Union of Bahía Blanca), Lourdes Arrechea (Euskal Etxea of Mexico DF), Itziar Albisu (Eusko Etxea of New York), Lehendakari Patxi López, Pedro Oyanguren (Euzko Etxea of Santiago, Chile), Pedro Arin (Centro Euskaro of Montevideo), Miguel Fagoaga (Euskal Echea Association of Buenos Aires), Norma Rios (French-Basque Center of Buenos Aires) and Arantxa Anitua (Laurak Bat of Buenos Aires) (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Anthropologist William Douglass, delivering the keynote speech, where he states that he thinks positive strides have been made in the Basque Diaspora over the last few years (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[The opening ceremony was followed by a cocktail party attended by several guests, including former members of the Department of Foreign Action and Basque Collectivities of the Basque Government.  In the photo, former director of Basque Citizens and Basque Collectivities Abroad, Josu Legarreta, greets current director Julian Celaya (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[The day ended with dancing to a txistu that included congress participants of all ages.  Among them was Ernest Behaxateguy, representative of Euskaldunak of Montreal, in Quebec, who at 77 years old was just as active and dynamic as his counterparts attending Gaztemundu (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

 (to be continued)