Jainko Galduen Bilduma (The Compendium of Forgotten Basque Gods) is a tribute to my Basque heritage. Born and raised in the Basque Country, I grew up surrounded by these overarching legends and cultural attributes. The Basque language, Euskara, was lost within my family amidst the political events of 20th-century France. It was forbidden to speak it at school, and my great-grandfather, probably out of shame and acustomed to Basque matriarchal tradition, never passed it down. However, the culture remained, and some could even say thrived.

Being a “kostalde”, a lad from the coastline in the Lapurdi region—one of the seven provinces that form Euskal Herria—my environment was ever open and far-seeing. Walking by the coastline, I would gaze out over the great Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay, seeing far into the distance. (Un)Like many of our daring fishermen, who ventured across the ocean to seek resources or a better future, I spent six years abroad in Eastern Asia.

Living abroad was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the world and how much humans have in common, despite our differences. It also deepened my appreciation for my origins. The Basque Country is a privileged place, one we should aim to both preserve and ensure thrives. We must remember our past while confidently walking toward our future.