euskalkultura.eus

San Miguel, Argentina.  Askatasunaren Bidea was born in June of 2009, with the purpose “of animating the Basque culture,” in San Miguel county.  With Maria Jesus Andres, Mariana Fernandez Castelli, Nestor Fernandez, Cesar Mhor and Horacio Marotto as main supporters of the project, the group was tasked with the dissemination of the culture in various areas, strengthening communication with local institutions and in Euskal Herria, organizing events and working jointly with other institutions in the city. 

Five years later, Askatasunaren Bidea will celebrate its anniversary on June 21^st at the La Positiva Restaurant located on Belgrano Street 980.  Guests may choose from three menus with prices from $120-$150, without beverages. 

Five years of activity 

One of the group’s strengths is without a doubt its blog.  From that page, they publish informative articles on a variety of topics related to the Basque culture such as festivities, customs, traditions, history, geography, archeology and art.  They also include photographic reports and opinion pieces.  The Askatasunaren Bidea blog is constantly updated and includes  Floren Aoiz, Fr.  Tarsicio Azcona, Aitzol Altuna Enzunza, Beñi Aguirre, Patxi Abasolo López, Pedro Esarte Muñain, Koldo and Maite Zabalondo, Luis María Martínez Garate, Aitor Pescador Medrano, Iñigo Saldise Alda, Mikel Sorauren, Ana Sstanic, Tomás Urzainqui Mina and José Joaquín Saldías among its collaborators. 

Parallelly, Askatasunaren Bidea has also dedicated itself to strengthening contacts with institutions in the Basque Country and locally.  For example, one of the first is with Alberto Cañada Zarranz, Coordinator of the Filmotech in Navarre, on Miguel Machinandearena, and his contribution to the culture of cinema in Argentina as founder of the San Miguel Cinematographic Studies.  This exchange was also helped along by Carlos O’Brien, from the Bella Vista Cultural. 

The group has also worked with local institutions and has collaborated to create a Basque book section at the local Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Public Library.  The books belong to the group and a large part has been donated by other Basque institutions.  The library also serves as the site for workshops on Euskera and Basque culture coordinated by Professor Mariana Fernandez Castelli.  Marina Aranguren from Eusko Kultur Etxea-Eusketxe, also participates in these. 

2014 Activities and Festivities 

The Fifth Anniversary lunch will not be the only festivity that will be celebrated this year.  Other proposals include the San Miguel festivities, a ceremony that will include the screening of a documentary on the history of the party. 

The 2014 talks will be as follows: “Miguel de Unamuno,” by Olga Aristegi; “The Basque Whalers,” by Emilio de Candido; “The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu,” by Ana Maria Palavecino; and “Basque Mythology,” by Celia Escudero.  Film will also be present thanks to Carlos Gabilondo.  Films to be added to the three already shown this year, Secretos del Corazón, Aupa Etxebeste and Kutsidazu Bidea, Ixabel will be published shortly. 

The group has also planned a Basque-Argentine activity with the participation of the Ekin Dantzari Taldea and local folklore groups in the Carretas Plaza, and is also organizing a guided visit and outing to a concert by the Chamber Choir of Bella Vista. 

“In 2009, those of us who constituted Askatsunaren Bidea committed ourselves to the dissemination of the Basque culture in San Miguel.  We do so by supporting research and cultural exchanges between the Basque Country and the Diaspora at all levels and in all areas.  In this way we support the strengthening of the traditional values of the Basque people. We promote Euskera, history and reality, literature, theater and bertsolaris, dance, song, music, fine arts, audiovisual production, heritage, environment, Basque sports and training of cultural actors,” they said.