Annie Gavica

My parents always used to joke that “If you were paid for all the Basque stuff you do, you would be able to retire at 35.”  

“If you were paid for all the Basque stuff you do, you would be able to retire at 35.”

I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in northern Nevada  -  I can ride a horse, brand calves, stack hay, and build fence. My great-grandparents emigrated from the Basque Country and worked mostly as sheepherders and cattle ranchers. I was fortunate to grow up in a very small town of less than 150 people, where the idea of children being raised by the entire community was well practiced and instilled a sense of pride in our community. Our extended family included neighbors, friends, and community members. I was raised to respect and listen and offer one’s own thoughts in a kind, clear way. At the Basque Museum, I love giving visitors that same welcoming community experience on a different scale.

I attended Boise State University with the intention of changing the world. I studied Spanish, Business, and Basque studies, then studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain – where I fell in love with traveling. Since then, I’ve been back to the Basque Country a dozen times to visit. The best part of each trip is seeing the looks on the faces of friends I’m with who are experiencing something new.

One of my favorite memories of this was in Downtown Boise in the Summer of 1996. I had traveled to Boise from Nevada to attend Basque Camp - a huge two-week gathering of people from all over the western US where we learned traditional Basque folk song and dance, played Basque instruments, and performed for family and the community. Our big final performance was on The Grove Plaza and we were dressed in our traditional Basque folk costumes, wool skirts, tights, long pants, long sleeve shirts, scarves, and hats. I remember so many people walking by, watching us sing and dance, like we were stars! I will never forget the fountain in the Grove, which was a saving grace to an eleven-year-old in a heavy costume on one of the hottest days of the year. It was a pretty cool experience for a kid from a small town in the big city. It was my very first memory of downtown Boise.

“I remember so many people walking by, watching us sing and dance, like we were stars!”

I love working in downtown Boise. There are certain things that make Boise ‘Boise’ in my mind. It has a big city vibe and a small-town rural community vibe (my favorite part). There are so many things happening all the time, but it’s still safe to walk around the city to meet friends at night or take your family to the farmers market on the weekend without worrying about it being overcrowded. Also, there aren’t so many people that you feel lonely or not part of the community. To me, the upside of downtown Boise is that you feel like part of the community, even if it’s your first visit.

“To me, the upside of downtown Boise is that you feel like part of the community, even if it’s your first visit.”