spring 2010 newsletter

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The Poston Restoration Project www.postonalliance.org The Poston Community Alliance, Inc is a 501 (c)(3) non‐profit organization Spring 2010 OUR PROJECT Poston Restoration Project is actively working to preserve the physical artifacts as well as the stories and memories of life in the Poston camps and on the Colorado River Indian Reservation in Arizona during World War II. We want to emphasize the significant links and relationships between the Japanese American detainees and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. POSTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, INC. 2010-2011 BOARD MEMBERS President Jon Villalobos Director, Tribal Preserve Project Manager/Treasurer Marlene Shigekawa Born in Poston camp I Secretary/Archivist Dianne Kiyomoto, RD, CSO Descendant of Poston camp III Board Member/Newsletter Robert Shintaku Born in Poston camp II Board Member/Oral History Wayne Koga Descendent of Poston camp I Representative-at- Large Michael Tsosie, PhD Director, Tribal Museum Emeritus Ruth Okimoto, PhD Poston camp III survivor IN REMEMBRANCE OF RAOUL O. ROKO, PHD (1950-2008) Raoul O. Roko, Ph.D., was a structural engineer originally from Benin (formally Dahomey, West Africa) and later moved to Tucson, Arizona. He first learned about America’s concentration camps while in high school in his native country of Benin, Africa. After completing his graduate studies in the U.S., Raoul worked as an environmental consultant for the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), reporting to Dennis Patch. When Raoul learned that the Poston Concentration Camps

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Page 1: Spring 2010 newsletter

The Poston Restoration Projectwww.postonalliance.org

The Poston Community Alliance, Inc is a 501 (c)(3) non‐profit organization

Spring 2010

OUR PROJECT Poston Restoration Project is actively working to preserve the physical artifacts as well as the stories and memories of life in the Poston camps and on the Colorado River Indian Reservation in Arizona during World War II. We want to emphasize the significant links and relationships between the Japanese American detainees and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

POSTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, INC.

2010-2011 BOARD MEMBERSPresident Jon Villalobos Director, Tribal PreserveProject Manager/Treasurer Marlene Shigekawa Born in Poston camp ISecretary/Archivist Dianne Kiyomoto, RD, CSO Descendant of Poston camp III Board Member/Newsletter Robert Shintaku Born in Poston camp II Board Member/Oral History Wayne Koga Descendent of Poston camp I Representative-at-Large Michael Tsosie, PhD Director, Tribal MuseumEmeritus Ruth Okimoto, PhD Poston camp III survivor

IN REMEMBRANCE OF RAOUL O. ROKO, PHD (1950-2008) Raoul O. Roko, Ph.D., was a structural engineer originally from Benin (formally Dahomey, West Africa) and later moved to Tucson, Arizona. He first learned about America’s concentration camps while in high school in his native country of Benin, Africa. After completing his graduate studies in the U.S., Raoul worked as an environmental consultant for the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), reporting to Dennis Patch. When Raoul learned that the Poston Concentration Camps were located on the CRIT reservation, he enthusiastically began to do research on the subject. On one visit to the Colorado River Indian Reservation by researcher, Ruth Okimoto, she was introduced to the "man who was asking questions” about the Poston Camps. Raoul and Ruth decided to work together to develop an overview of the Poston Camps and proposed a developmental project to preserve the Poston site, with the financial grant assistance from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) and the National Trust for Historical Preservation, San Francisco Office. The Poston preservation effort would not have been possible without the vital guidance of Dr. Raoul Roko. On November 13, 2008, Dr. Raoul Roko died from a stroke. His enthusiastic energy, smile, and expertise has since been sorely missed.

Page 2: Spring 2010 newsletter

NEW POSTON BLOGS ….

Updates on Poston Restoration Project http://www.postonupdates.blogspot.com/ Most popular page being viewed are on books: fiction, non fiction and children’s books on Poston. ‐Many school libraries are frequent users. See photos of the most recently donated artifacts, and view some of the Poston barracks still surviving today. Poston-internee related current news is also posted. To receive a message when this site is updated, use the subscribe function on the blog.

Historical Information on Postonhttp://postoncamp.blogspot.com/ This site contains historical facts about Poston, including names of Poston family members who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. To receive a message when this site is updated, use the subscribe function on the blog.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP COMPLETEDDuring the summer of 2009, the project site was extensively cleaned-up using a fifteen-man crew working full-time for 3 months by the Colorado River Indian Tribe Environmental Protection Office. The removal of lead-based paint and asbestos from the camp buildings was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. This cleanup was required to make the buildings safe for entering the site to begin construction and restoration efforts on the site.

UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE GRANTSAs a recipient of the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant program from the National Park

Service for the 2009 fiscal year, the Alliance is currently interviewing former internees. Our interviewers and videographer, Wayne and Heather Koga, have already completed several interviews. Those that they’ve had the honor to speak with about their pre-war and internment experiences include: Fred Hatashita, Takashi Murase, Misako Shigekawa, “Chizuko” Judy Sugita De Quiroz, Robert Wada, Seichi “Sam” Yamakawa and Carl Yoshimine. They also will be arranging interviews with attendees of the Poston III reunion in April.

For the National Park Service grant period beginning March 2010, the Alliance has submitted grant applications for the following projects: Relocating a Barrack from Parker to Poston; and the Development of a Multimedia Tour that interprets and brings alive the historic details on the Poston Monument and Kiosk bronze plaques.

National Park Service awarded the first year funding for the Confinement Sites Preservation Program authorized by Public Law 109-442 to Poston Community Alliance-Parker, AZ “Saving the Stories: Oral Histories & Digitization of Former Poston Detainees & Staff” Colorado River Indian (Poston) Relocation Center $25,994.

Page 3: Spring 2010 newsletter

THE POSTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, INC GOES TO WASHINGTON DCJon Villalobos, President of the Poston Community Alliance, Inc., and Marlene Shigekawa, Treasurer

and Project Manager for the Poston Restoration Project, traveled to Washington DC in February to attend an important meeting for organizations working on preserving the WW II internment sites. A discussion of the importance of remembering the WW II Japanese American experience featured former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta and the retired U.S. Senator, Alan Simpson. Each camp presented an overview of their current preservation efforts and they learned keys to successful fundraising. Kara Miyagishima, from the National Park Service was available to assist with the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program application. Jon and Marlene met with representatives from Congressman Raul M. Grijalva's office from Arizona. District 7 is second largest in Arizona, which includes seven sovereign nations, including the Colorado River Indian Tribes. A reception was hosted by Congressman Mike Honda, with special recognition given to members of Congress for their efforts in support of WWII internment camp preservation.

Photo: L-R: Jon Villalobos, President, Poston Community Alliance, Inc., Marlene Shigekawa, Treasurer and Project Manager of the Poston Restoration Project with the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, U.S. Senator (retired) and Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Photo: Marlene Shigekawa with Jon Villalobos representing the Poston Restoration Project/Poston Community Alliance, Inc., with Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (Arizona)

PBS SHOW, "FACES OF AMERICA" VISITS POSTON In the first episode, "The Promise of America", Henry Louis Gates Jr. traced the Olympic gold medal figure skater, Kristi Yamaguchi's family history. Kristi’s maternal grandfather, George Akira Doi fought in the 100th Division, Quartermaster Corps, an all Caucasian unit, where he received battlefield ‐commission to 2nd Lieutenant, while his family was detained at Poston II.

The PBS film crew traveled to Poston with Dr. Jim and Carole Yamaguchi in June, 2009. Ruth Okimoto, PhD, from the Poston Community Alliance, Inc. was on site to give the group a lesson in Poston history.

FEATURED ARTICLE IN THE PACIFIC CITIZEN If you are not a member of the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL), the Poston Restoration Project was featured in a story published on October 16, 2009 in the Pacific Citizen newspaper. If you missed reading the article, you can view " Bringing Poston Back to the Present" " at:http://www.pacificcitizen.org/site/details/tabid/55/selectmoduleid/373/ArticleID/441/reftab/0/title/Bringing_Poston_Back_to_the_Present/Default.aspx

Page 4: Spring 2010 newsletter

ORAL HISTORY PROJECTThe Poston Oral History Project is recording and sharing of interviews from former Poston internees

about their past memories and internment camp experiences.Many thanks to the following former Poston internees/staff for recording their stories for future generations:

NAME CAMPClara (Tsuchiyama) Obayashi Camp 1,IIIBarbara (Washler)Curry Camp III high school teacherCarl Yoshimine Camp IIITak Murase Camp IChizuko Judy Sugita de Quiroz Camp ISeichi “Sam” Yamakawa Camp IIIMisako Shigekawa Camp IFred Hatashita Camp IIIRobert Wada Camp I

If you would like to volunteer to assist us with locating former Poston internees, interviewing, and/or scheduling appointments to record oral histories, please contact: Wayne Koga. email: [email protected] or call: 714.715.3003

FAMILY HISTORY PROJECT We continue to search and add to our growing list of former camp I, II and III internees. Included are all who arrived to the Poston Camps, babies born in camp, those transferred to camp from the Department of Justice internment camps or from elsewhere, as well as block/apartment number, in‐camp wedding dates, who served in the military, participation on sports teams, block managers, committee served, destination after camp, etc. If you would like to share your information, contact: Dianne Kiyomoto, RD, CSO email: [email protected] phone: 559.213.2614

ARTIFACT DONATIONS RECEIVEDWe need Poston artifacts for our future museum. The following items have been generously donated

and will be safely stored at the Tribal Museum in Parker, AZ until our building project is completed.Many thanks to the following:

DONOR ITEM CAMPAiko (Yano) Uyeoka 2-block 221-222 1993 reunion t-shirts

1-Poston Monument cap, 1-Poston t-shirt,2-Go For Broke 442nd

t-shirts

Camp II

Family of Mrs. Clara Obayashi Statement of claim filed. Dept of Justice award papers & postmarked envelope.Clara's wedding invitation, bridal book with wedding guest list & signatures, wedding gift list, camp wedding announcement

Camp I. III

Thomas Kurihara photo Block 308 cooks Camp III

Page 5: Spring 2010 newsletter

Family of Paul Suyeda Mohaveland Directory Camp IIIFamily of Yoshiyuki Nakamura camp 3 blueprints Camp IIIFamily of Mr. K. Oda Trunk, 2 wood crate boxes. Mohaveland, Red Cross

Directory, Campus Echos 1945 (Poston High School Yearbook), Santa Fe Department of Justice Roster of Internees 1944.

Camp III

Chizuko Judy (Sugita) de Quiroz 60 watercolor print collection: Camp Days 1942-1945

Camp I

Yuki Kawamoto 4 frames made from Poston barrack woodBob Iwamasa Poston census Camp II

If you have artifacts from Poston that you would like to donate for display in our future museum, please contact: Dianne Kiyomoto email: [email protected] or leave a message at: 559.431.9728.

....THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS 2009-2010 SPONSORS....Ikeda, Bruce & Anne. Alexandria, VAIkeda, Carolyn & Edward Linhart.Ikeda, Doug & Tanya Ikeda.Ikeda, Jane & Steven Gohsler.Tajii, Fumi. Santa Rose, CA.Tajiri, Akira. Reedley, CAYamaguchi, Ronald. Burbank, CA.Yamauchi, Shizuko. Newark, CA.

Memorial DonationsAkaishi, Amy. Eastchester, NY. In memory of Tadashi Akaishi, and her parents, George & Tamaji Nagata, block 305, Poston III.

In Kind DonationsIwasaki, Miki. San Diego, CA. Logo designKawamoto, Yuki. San Diego, CA. wood crafted picture framesKiyomoto, Dianne. Fresno, CA. On the Road Back to Poston tour.Mukai, Doug. Los Angeles, CA. Logo design

POSTON RESTORATION PROJECT MARKETPLACE

"PASSING POSTON " DVD We now have in our inventory, this award-winning documentary. You can own a copy for $30 with the payment to: "Poston Restoration Project". A limited number of DVDs will be available for sale at the Poston III Reunion April 5-7, 2010. Contact: Dianne Kiyomoto, RD, CSO. email:[email protected] phone: 559.213.2614

(Dianne's review) In case you haven't already viewed this award winning documentary film, Ruth ‐Okimoto (block 327), Kiyo Sato (block 229 12 B), Mary (Kinoshita) Higashi (block 6) ‐ ‐and Leon Uyeda (block 11), former internees of the Poston Relocation Center are interviewed. Each one of them has struggled to reconcile the trauma of their youth.

Page 6: Spring 2010 newsletter

Now in their senior years, the search for their proper place in this country continues for some. The directors, Joe Fox and James Nubile were captivated by the well kept secret ‐of why Poston was created, as it served another purpose for the U.S. government ‐other than an internment camp.

"Sharing a Desert Home: Life on the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Poston 1942 1945.‐ By Ruth Y. Okimoto, PhD. Heyday Books (2001). ASIN: B0006RV18M

(Dianne's Review ) Ruth Y. Okimoto, Ph.D, researched and uncovered the evidence which she traced to the Office of Indian Affairs' decision to offer Poston, Arizona as one of 10 desolate relocation campsites for over 18,000 West coast Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II following President Franklin D. ‐Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. You will not read this type of factual information in any textbook. Learn about the uniqueness of the intermingled history between the Japanese and Japanese‐Americans and the Colorado River Indian Tribes, who were forced to relocate from their homes to the desolate Arizona desert. Learn how their desert home was pre destined to become today's prime agricultural land. This report was the ‐driving force behind the creation of the Poston Restoration Project, sponsored by the non profit organization, Poston Alliance, Inc.‐

NOTE: A limited number of copies remain in print and are available for purchase for $15 from the Poston Community Alliance, Inc.

SEND YOUR “TAX-DEDUCTIBLE” DONATIONS TO:The Poston Restoration Projectc/o Marlene Shigekawa, Treasurer956 Hawthorne DriveLafayette, CA 94549*Donations can also be made with Paypalemail: marshige@gmail com