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INTERVIEW CATALOG NUMBER: 2018.170.001
NAME: Javier and Julian Gabiola
DATE OF INTERVIEW: July 25, 2018
LOCATION: Boise, Idaho
INTERVIEWER: Patty Miller
VIDEOGRAPHER: Toni Berria
LANGUAGE: English
INDEXED BY: Lucas Fritz
DATE OF INDEX: July 26,2022
RECORDING
MINUTE: SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
0-5:00 The brothers’ parents are Lolietta Jones Gabiola and Eusebio Gabiola. They were born in 1971 in Ontario, Oregon, and are twins. The family lived in Ontario until the boys were four and moved to Kuna, Idaho, for the duration of their upbringing. Around the turn of the century, Lolietta and Eusebio moved to Pocatello, Idaho.
Julian has only a few memories of growing up in Ontario. He recalls their great uncle, Anastacio “Mike” Gabiola, who lived with the family for a time. He remembers his funeral, as well.
Living in Kuna, there were many Basque families that the boys grew up with, such as the Urangas, Ostolasas, Urzas, and Mendiolas. The boys were involved in the Oinkari Basque Dancers in Boise up until high school and would attend Basque festivals in Boise and Gooding. Their mother does not speak Basque, but their father does. Growing up, their father taught them some of the Basque language, but Eusebio thought it would be more useful if his sons learned Spanish.
A memory of Ontario that Javier remembers is one instance where the two of them and their older brother, Jose, were helping an older Basque man, Domingo. They were around four or five years old and Domingo began smoking cigarettes around the kids. He offered each one of them a puff. Both Javier and Jose were coughing violently after they took their puffs, but Julian took it with a straight face.
5-10:00 Another memory that Javier recalls was when they were working with Domingo, unloading silage. The boys were in their truck and, somehow, the truck tipped over. Luckily, Eusebio rescued them from the overturned truck.
Jose was born in 1970 and their sister, Teresa, was born in 1972. Their parents were not expecting twins, so the two of them were a big surprise. The brothers went to Kuna High School and attended the University of Idaho. Both brothers studied Political Science for their undergraduate degrees and attended Law School at the University of Idaho. The brothers had a high school history teacher that thought the two of them would be interested in law, which helped push them towards attending law school. All four of the siblings were at the University of Idaho at the same time. After graduating from law school, Javier worked in Boise for a year and, then, moved to Pocatello. He mostly, specialized in personal injury litigation. Julian worked as a law clerk for multiple district judges out of law school before moving to Pocatello, where he is today.
Both brothers are married. Javier met Stephanie Davis when he first moved to Pocatello when she was working as a court reporter for Judge Pete McDermott.
10-15:00 Julian met his wife, Margie, when he was finishing his final year of law school. They met at St. Augustine’s Church, and got married in 1995 in Lewiston, Idaho. After the two of them graduated from the University of Idaho, they were able to begin their careers in Lewiston, Margie in education and Julian in law. Margie and Julian have three children: Miren, Amaia, and Mila.
When the brothers first got to Pocatello in the mid-1990s, the Mendive family was the cornerstone of the Basque community. Clara Eguilior, who had recently passed away when this interview was conducted, was another very prominent character in the Basque community. An International Food Fair takes place annually in Pocatello that the Mendive family takes part in every year, cooking chorizos, paella, and more. There is not a very large Basque population or culture in Pocatello compared to places like Gooding or Boise, where there are many Basque events throughout the year. The Gabiola family would attend the Gooding Basque Festival every year because their maternal grandparents, Frank and Marina Jones, lived near the park where it took place.
15-20:00 When the brothers came to Pocatello after finishing law school, there were multiple Basque-owned businesses, including Jimmy Gabettas’fly-fishing shop, the the Lennon’s (Louisa Astoreca Lennon) had the Arctic Circle, and Celeste Otazua’s jewelry store. Many other Basque individuals have had professional success, as well. Mike Mendive is principal of a charter school and Mark Mendiola worked as a journalist before retiring a few years before this interview.
Javier does not have any children, only nieces. Julian is optimistic about the future of the Basque culture in Pocatello due to the Mendive children. He has made an effort to show his children how special the Basque culture is and wants them to value their heritage. Javier and Julian were able to learn how to make chorizos from their father.
20-25:00 Eusebio had a very large garden when he was raising his family and Julian has carried on that tradition at his own home.
Hard work was a value that Julian and Javier’s parents instilled in them due to the farming they had them do growing up. Julian feels that this, as a result, instilled a great study ethic in them that allowed them to do well in school and obtain their law degrees. Julian feels his daughters have received these values, as well.
The brothers’ parents helped show them how unique it is to be Basque. They have a deep appreciation for the language and culture and want to share that appreciation in their community and family. Weeks before this interview, Javier had to explain to someone in his courtroom that he was Basque and what that meant, something that he enjoys doing.
25-30:00 Many people that the brothers have met have no idea what the Basque culture is and assume they are Spanish or Italian, giving them the opportunity to educate them on their heritage.
NAMES. PLACES, AND THEMES
NAMES:
Domingo (Last name unknown): Basque worker for Eusebio
Eguilior, Clara: Pocatello Basque family friend
Gabettas, Jimmy: Basque business owner in Pocatello
Gabiola, Amaia: Julian’s daughter
Gabiola, Anastacio “Mike”: The brothers’ great uncle
Gabiola, Eusebio: The brothers’ father
Gabiola, Javier
Gabiola, Julian
Gabiola, Lolietta Jones: The brothers’ mother
Gabiola, Margie: Julian’s wife
Gabiola, Mila: Julian’s daughter
Gabiola, Miren: Julian’s eldest daughter
Gabiola, Stephanie Davis: Javier’s wife
Gabiola, Teresa: The brothers’ sister
Jones, Frank: The brothers’ maternal grandfather
Jones, Marina: The brothers’ maternal grandmother
Mendive Family: Basque family in Pocatello
Mendive, Mike: Basque principal in Pocatello
Mendiola Family: Basque family in Kuna
Mendiola, Mark: Basque journalist in Pocatello
Ostolasa Family: Basque family in Kuna
Otazua, Celeste: Basque business owner in Pocatello
Uranga Family: Basque family in Kuna
Urza Family: Basque family in Kuna
PLACES:
Boise, Idaho
Gooding, Idaho
Kuna, Idaho
Kuna High School, Kuna, Idaho
Lewiston, Idaho
Ontario, Oregon
Pocatello, Idaho
St. Augustine’s Church, Moscow, Idaho
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
THEMES:
Basque Dancing
Children
Community Events
Cooking
Education
Family
Farming
Language
Marriage
Law
Picnics
Profession
Social Events