Nevada History: On The GO! – From the Basque Country to the Great Basin: Unearthing the Untold Stories of Early Basque Immigrant Women (Off-site, SVL)

February 6, 2027, 1 – 2:00 pm

Title of Program: “From the Basque Country to the Great Basin: Unearthing the Untold Stories of Early Basque Immigrant Women”

Speaker: Dale Erquiaga, historian and author

Summary of Program: Join author and second-generation Nevadan Dale Erquiaga for a presentation exploring his book, Three Wives’ Tales. Blending historical research, family lore, and bio-fiction, Erquiaga brings to life the formidable journeys of Victoria, Eladia, and Annie—three Basque women who became the quiet backbone of their families in the American West. Erquiaga will discuss the realities of early 20th-century Basque immigration and the lived experiences of women, spanning from those who crossed the ocean from the Old World to those, like Annie, born into the rugged landscape of Nevada. He will also share insights into the creative process of turning family history into compelling literature. A program you won’t want to miss!

Dale Erquiaga, author and historian

Speaker Bio: Dale Erquiaga is an author and education strategist currently exploring the intersection of history, policy, and the future of learning. A 2025 inductee into the UNLV College of Education Hall of Fame and UNR’s 2026 Alumnus of the Year, Dale is the only person in state history to have served as both State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Throughout his career in public service—which included serving as a key advisor to Governor Brian Sandoval—Dale has been at the forefront of systemic reform in the Silver State. His leadership extended nationally as the President and CEO of Communities In Schools, the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization, where he championed integrated student supports to ensure equitable access to learning.

The grandson of Spanish Basque immigrants, Dale holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from UNR and a master’s degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University. He has been recognized as a fellow with Results for America and the Pahara Institute, and as a guest expert at numerous Aspen Institute convenings.

Bridging his public life with his literary pursuits, his debut novel, Three Wives’ Tales, won the 2020 Basque Writing Contest sponsored by the UNR Center for Basque Studies; his second novel, A Soldier’s Road, continues that saga. Dale is the proud father of two, grandfather of six, and resides in Northern Nevada with his dog, Ezra.

We would like to thank our community partner, the Washoe County Library System and the Sierra View Library, for hosting our off-site lectures.

Sierra View Library has been serving communities from Midtown to South Reno since 1987. Located inside the Reno Town Mall, directly across from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, the library has two entrances. The front entrance allows visitors to stroll by shops and businesses in the mall, while the second entrance is accessible from the rear, south side of the mall. This back entrance has an ADA accessible lift. The address is 4001 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502.