Boise State University and the government of the Basque Country signed a new five-year agreement today that strengthens their existing partnership in BSU's Basque Studies Program, and includes $390,000 in funding for faculty and more. “Basques of North America know very well, over the years, through the Basque centers, through universities, programs, Jaialdi itself, that you create social bonds,” Basque President Patxi Lopez said as the agreement was signed amid the once-every-five-years Jaialdi Basque culture celebration this week in Boise. “But you do more than this: you keep the culture alive.  Our culture does not belong to anyone, but is a universal wealth.” Click here to read the full announcement.

Meanwhile, a sister-state agreement is in the works between Idaho and the Basque territory of Bizkaia.