(Bayonne) Three million Basque people circulate in the French Basque Country, a territory twice the size of Mont-Tremblant Park and populated by only 300,000 inhabitants. Created in 2013, this local currency is the largest in Europe. The objective of Eusko is to grow the territory’s economy by promoting local trade and production. But it also has a cultural objective: to promote the Basque language.
At first glance, the banknotes lined up on the counter of the Café des Pyrénées in Bayonne, the largest city in the French Basque Country, located in the southwest of France, look like euros. But closer, the cuts of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 euskos display unusual photos: a txalaparta (Basque percussion instrument), a blackboard with the pronouns Nor-Nori-Nork (who, what, to whom ), or a vineyard surrounded by mountains. “When you have Basque in hand, it always encourages you to speak Basque a little more,” explains Sandrine Dulong, owner of the Bayonnais café, in an accent typical of the south of France which accentuates the ns and rolls the rs.
To join Eusko, traders must be actively involved in the promotion of the Basque language, Euskera. If they are not Basque speakers, they must choose between bilingual display (opening hours, menu, etc.) or 20 hours of Basque lessons. Objective: to ensure a minimum reception in the Basque language. “This language deserves to be saved, but for that, it must be brought to life,” pleads the co-founder of the currency, Dante Edme-Sanjurjo, a former journalist in the social and solidarity economy.
PHOTO RENAUD LABELLE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Dante Edme-Sanjurjo, co-founder of eusko
According to the Public Office for the Basque Language, around 20% of the local population understand and speak this language, which is considered to be one of the oldest in Europe. Basque is also classified as a “vulnerable language” by UNESCO.
At the Café des Pyrénées, Iza is lounging on the terrace and will pay for her coffee in Basque. The 48-year-old woman is one of the 4000 individual members, who can obtain supplies in the local currency from 1200 traders and producers. She claims to spend an average of 50 euskos (or 50 euros) per week. If the principle of supporting the local economy convinced her, that of safeguarding Basque seduced her.
When I enter a store that accepts Eusko, I always have the instinct to speak Basque.
Iza, met in a café in Bayonne
At La Crêperie d’Aurélie, located on the edge of the Adour river in Bayonne, owner Aurélie Pitois has been offering her menu in the Basque language since September 2021. “I left my menu with the Eusko team and they let me know. ‘returned fully translated two months later, ”relates the entrepreneur of Breton origin. “I’m not from here, so for me it was important to adapt to the region,” says the one who has only obtained three payments in Basque since joining in September 2020.
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According to the eusko team, 61% of users say they spend more in small businesses since joining.
Since 2013, 750 member businesses and businesses have committed to offering bilingual signage. Of these, 280 have already done so, 250 are in the process of doing so. And the others ? “You still have to go and see them,” explains Edme-Sanjurjo. 25 to 30 new companies are brought into the network each month. There are not enough of us to follow everything. ”
The Bookstore bookstore in Biarritz has also fallen through the cracks. “We weren’t asked for anything,” says Kristel Bourg, the manager. Even though she has lived in the Basque Country for 25 years, the native of Bordeaux does not speak Basque and does not intend to display in Basque or attend classes. “I would be very annoyed to comply with these rules,” admits the one who estimates at 5% her sales paid in local currency.
“Militant, without being an independentist”
Dante Edme-Sanjurjo does not hide it, there are traders who are reluctant to join the network. “Too Basque”, “too pro-independence”, “too closed”. The labels that we stick to Eusko, its co-founder has heard them all. “These false perceptions close doors to us, regrets the native of Bayonne. We are activists, but we may want to save Basque without being pro-independence. ”
A complementary currency is always militant. Behind each of them, there is a political project which is based on often solidarity or environmental objectives. The peculiarity of Eusko is that the founders added the objective of the Basque language.
Julien Milanesi, lecturer in economics at the University Paul-Sabatier in Toulouse
Between 300 and 400 local currencies circulate in the world, according to Jérôme Blanc, an economist specializing in local currencies at Sciences Po Lyon, the city where the Gonette was created. In Europe, there is also the Chiemgauer in Bavaria or the Bristol Pound in England. In Quebec, one finds among others La Chouenne in Charlevoix or L’îlot in Montreal, which remain little known.
And what does the future hold for Eusko? Extend the project to the Spanish Basque Country? “It’s a possibility,” says Edme-Sanjurjo. But the priority, he insists, is to encourage more individuals, traders and even tourists to use Eusko and to integrate the Basque language in their communications. “It’s a cultural battle to be won,” he defends. Basque must live on an equal footing with French. ”