KOKORO KARA Fall 2013 HEART MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

In This Issue: n Two JACS Grants Awarded n 2013 Pilgrimage Recap n Smile at Heart Mountain Message from the Chair: Shirley Ann Higuchi

This summer was a busy one for the served as a preview of the 26th Annual trial, and the small minority who did faced Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. Meeting of the National Consortium on discrimination that went unrecognized for In addition to celebrating two years since Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts years. Board Members Eric Muller, Aura opening the doors of the Interpretive (NCREFC), which will take place June Newlin, Kathy Yuille and Claudia Wade Center, we have continued with outreach 25–28, 2014. The annual meeting will be are already hard at work planning for this across the country. held in Wyoming and will be hosted by the event, and I look forward to sharing more In the beginning of July, I traveled to Foundation. The cocktail reception fea- details with you as they become available. Seattle with HMWF Board Member Tak tured Justice Edward C. Clifton of the Su- This is an important time for the Heart Hoshizaki and Memory and Justice Coun- perior Court of Rhode Island, who is Pres- Mountain Wyoming Foundation, as we try cil Leader Bill Collier for the ident of the NCREFC; Judge to secure our future and continue to pre- 2013 Japanese American Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, of serve our history. Whether you volunteer National Museum (JANM) the D.C. Court of Appeals; or become an annual member, whether Conference. Although they and myself. We were joined you give to our Memory and Justice Fund come from two different by several members of the or donate a cherished artifact, you are generations, both Tak and Heart Mountain communi- helping to ensure that the story of Heart Bill spoke movingly about ty at the event. Thank you to Mountain will be shared for many more their connections to Heart all who supported us. generations. n Mountain—Tak as a Heart On October 18–19, Mountain draft resister and HMWF board members HONORARY ADVISORS Bill as a yonsei Heart Moun- will travel to Jackson Hole, Norman Y. Mineta tain descendant. We also Wyoming, for a reception in Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation had the chance to see Board PHOTO BY ERIC MULLER collaboration with the Na- Alan K. Simpson Member Allyson Nakamoto tional Parks Conservation U.S. Senator (ret.) in action; she works tirelessly for JANM. Association and the National Museum of The month ended with our annual sum- Wildlife Art. A short film on Heart Moun- BOARD OF DIRECTORS mer Pilgrimage, which was a huge success tain will be shown, and Board Member Shirley Ann Higuchi, Chair with over 200 attendees from all over the Eric Muller’s exhibit for his book Colors Douglas W. Nelson, Vice-Chair country for two days of remembrance. of Confinement will be on display. Senator Claudia Wade, Treasurer Many thanks to those of you who Al Simpson and Secretary Norman Mineta Rick Ewig, Secretary joined us in Wyoming for the Pilgrimage, have kindly agreed to speak at the event on Kris Horiuchi Pete Simpson and particularly to those who join us year a panel about their experiences at Heart Takashi Hoshizaki Shigeru Yabu after year. This year, Secretary Mineta gave Mountain and in government. In addition, Alan Kumamoto Kathleen Saito Yuille an inspiring speech in which he encour- HMWF Vice-Chair Doug Nelson will be Eric Muller LaDonna Zall aged young people to take an active role in advocating for our endowment. Allyson Nakamoto Aura Newlin ensuring the future of the site. I also want to thank our friends at the law R. Dana Ono We were pleased that over 30 people firm Holland & Hart, who have graciously signed up to be part of our Memory and offered to host the HMWF Board’s fall STAFF Justice Council, and we hope to recruit meeting at their Jackson Hole office that many more. I was busy doing just that weekend. Brian Liesinger - Executive Director and found someone who I am hopeful As Chair, my deepest wish is to secure Bethany H. Sandvik - Operations Manager will some day ably fill my shoes as Chair the Foundation’s future so that it will flour- Kim Barhaug - Facilities Manager of the Board: “Mai Mai,” Toshi Ito’s great- ish for years to come. To do so, we must Hana Maruyama - Newsletter Contributor granddaughter (pictured with me above). share our story in new places and with new Of course this may not happen until 2050, people. That is exactly what we are doing A special thanks to our summer but like Secretary Mineta, I look forward in D.C. and in Jackson Hole—and what we Interpretive Center staff for to seeing what future generations will will continue to do at next June’s NCREFC another great season: accomplish. Conference. The NCREFC seeks to ensure The busy summer is to be followed that our courts examine the treatment ac- Anna Clifton by an equally busy fall. On October 3, in corded to minorities in the courts and we Danielle Constein honor of Diversity Month, the law firm of feel that Heart Mountain is a historically- Sharyl McDowell Epstein Becker Green generously hosted significant venue for this event. Most of Kathryn McKee a cocktail reception in Washington, D.C., those incarcerated at Heart Mountain and Carter Reed featuring the Foundation. This reception other confinement sites did not receive a

2 Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation | Fall 2013 Message from the Executive Director: Brian Liesinger

Recently moving from Minneapolis, move here to make something grow. historical pieces large and small: from pho- Minnesota, to Powell, Wyoming, and tran- The Foundation has its own list of “firsts” tos to watercolor paintings to government sitioning from working at a massive insti- to boast about from this past summer, and documents to garden implements. We are tution (the University of Minnesota) to a I am honored to have been a part of them. incredibly grateful to those who bring in small (but mighty) non-profit has resulted For the first time, a naturalization cere- pieces of Heart Mountain history. in something akin to culture shock. But my mony was held at the Center in June, where And yet with all that has happened this first months with the HMWF have been as seven people were sworn in as American summer—during which we also celebrated gratifying as they have been eye-opening. citizens by District Court Judge Steven the second anniversary of the Interpretive I continue to be impressed by the staff, the Cranfill. It was a moving ceremony, dur- Center—the schedule remains full with board and the compliments ing which Chair Shirley Ann planning for fall and for 2014: from visitors at the Interpre- Higuchi, Board Member • If you can make it to Jackson Hole on tive Center. Pete Simpson and U.S. Sena- October 18, please join us for a “Build- Having a contemplative tor Alan Simpson spoke. The ing Community for Heart Mountain” spirit, I have gotten into the poignancy of welcoming event (highlighted on page 8), featuring habit of taking note of many new citizens on a site where a film on Heart Mountain and a panel of my “firsts” in this new role: U.S. citizens were at one time discussion with Secretary Norman the first visitors I checked in; unjustly denied their rights Mineta and Senator Al Simpson. the first board meeting; the was not lost on those pres- first fire alarm; and my first ent. • With the help of another Japanese Pilgrimage. There will be The first crop of our mod- American Confinement Sites grant, many more visitors checked ern incarnation of a Victory we’re also in the process of hiring an ar- in, hopefully fire alarms of Garden went in the ground chivist to tackle the organization of our only the testing variety and, in June as well. With tre- Archives Center. We hope to have can- with luck, many more Pilgrimages. mendous contributions from volunteers, didates identified and interviews con- But my very first connection with Heart local businesses and staff, the James O. Ito ducted this fall. Mountain happened long before I was Historical Garden was dedicated at the Pil- • We’re growing our outreach through born—during the last of the homestead- grimage in July, with four generations of a new Memory and Justice Council, ing days in Wyoming. My grandparents, his family present. By now, the cucumbers, which is detailed in the story on page 7. both veterans of World War II, roamed the tomatoes, eggplant, squash and daikon Let us know if you’d like to be involved. camp in the early 1950s. They had secured have been producing, while the hollyhocks a farm plot north of Riverton, Wyoming, are nearly taking over the north end of the • In addition to our annual Pilgrimage and were given rights to collect materials garden. in August next year, we are bringing from the Heart Mountain Relocation Cen- The first renovations to the Honor Roll another major event to the area by host- ter. My grandfather dismantled one of the Memorial have been completed by work- ing the annual meeting of the National hospital buildings and used the materials ers from the National Park Service’s Big- Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fair- to construct a homestead house. horn Canyon National Recreation Area. ness in the Courts in June. On one level, I’m perturbed. I lament the The crew stabilized the staircase up to the Having wrapped up a summer season loss of nearly all of the camp structures— monument and equipped it with a handrail at the Center, during which we met thou- we have to rely heavily on our imaginations support—all while maintaining the struc- sands of visitors, we now set our sights on and our exhibits to envision the layout of ture’s historical integrity. We thank them these and several other initiatives in the the camp. But on a greater level, I am for- for completing this work, and we look for- works. tunate that his desire to live in Wyoming ward to working with them on future reno- In closing for my first column in theKo - ensured that I would have roots here. Heart vations. koro Kara newsletter, I would like to take a Mountain exerts the same mythical, mag- I am also happy to report that the first moment to recognize Stevan Leger for his netic pull on me that it did on him. funds for the newly-acquired Heart Moun- work with the Foundation. Steve retired in Today, I channel his ingenuity in my tain root cellar have come in. Thanks to April from the Executive Director position work, despite the difference between our a grant from the National Park Service’s after nearly two years of service. The best Heart Mountain experiences. The main Japanese American Confinement Sites pro- way I can think of to thank him for this point of difference being that his en- gram, we will begin exploring options for service is to follow through on the strong ergy went into dismantling while mine is preservation and, hopefully, exhibition to plan he helped set in motion here and to devoted to preservation. Otherwise, his in- the public in the future. ensure the vitality of the HMWF for many tentions in Wyoming were not dissimilar I would also be remiss if I did not years to come. from mine—we were both compelled to mention the acquisition of a number of

www.HeartMountain.org 3 Pilgrimagepilgrimage 2013 Celebrates the Legacy of Heart Mountain

This past July the ever, Mineta talked attendees viewed the newly restored hos- Heart Mountain In- about the responsi- pital chimney, which is attached to the for- terpretive Center cel- bility of future gen- mer boiler house of the hospital complex. ebrated its second erations to ensure that Vice-Chair Doug Nelson thanked some annual Pilgrimage, at- this piece of history of the organizations involved with the tended by more than lives on. project, while , Direc- 200 people. A flurry of “We leave it to you tor of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural activity took place over to continue the story Resources, spoke about the challenges of the course of the week- into the future so that completing this kind of work. In addition, end as former intern- David Ono Lance Ito future generations will Northwest College Professor Amy McK- ees, staff, supporters and friends walked always remember what happened here, inney spoke about the conditions of the through our doors to celebrate with us— what happened at Manzanar, Poston, Gila hospital and health care in camp. A ribbon and there was plenty to celebrate. River, Rohwer, Jerome, Tule Lake, Mini- cutting ceremony was performed by five of At the Friday night dinner, Keynote doka, Topaz,” Mineta said. “And that it was the “babies” born at the hospital. Speaker Judge Lance Ito spoke to guests, not just a quirk in history, but it’s a time to Also on Saturday, the Foundation pre- including his mother Toshi and other be remembered so that it never ever occurs sented a plaque to the Ito family in memo- members of the Ito family, about his par- again.” ry of James Ito for the recently completed ents’ experiences at Heart Mountain. Ito’s The law firm of Holland and Hart was James O. Ito Historical Garden. James address was followed by a viewing of Wit- also recognized at the Saturday morn- Ito was a former internee who worked as ness: The Legacy of Heart Mountain, a doc- ing ceremony for their many hours of Assistant Superintendent of Agriculture at umentary produced by ABC 7 Los Ange- pro bono work contributed to the Heart Heart Mountain, where he contributed to les’s David Ono and Jeff MacIntyre. Mountain Wyoming Founda- On Saturday morning, attendees gath- tion since its inception. Hol- ered outside of the Interpretive Center land and Hart lawyers Walter to hear remarks from former Secretary Eggers and Kelly Johnson ac- of Transportation, Norman Mineta, who cepted a plaque on behalf of spoke about his family’s experience at the firm. Heart Mountain. More importantly, how- After opening ceremonies,

PHOTO BY BACON SAKATANI PHOTO BY SHARYL MCDOWELL The Nishizu family was represented at the 2013 Pilgrimage with 15 family members—all The James O. Ito Historical Garden sits adjacent to the Heart sporting matching “Nishizu University” t-shirts to the event. Mountain Interpretive Center.

4 Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation | Fall 2013 many agricultural innovations that are still was thrilled to learn that used in farming in Park County, Wyoming. we were awarded a grant Although James Ito passed away last from the National Parks fall, his wife Toshi and his children Judge Service’s Japanese Ameri- Ito and Chrislyn Ito Kodama were able to can Confinement Sites see the new growth in the garden. The gar- program to begin assess- den, which was funded in part by the Wyo- ing the root cellar in order ming Department of Agriculture, is mod- to plan for its future. eled after World War II “Victory Gardens” Thank you to everyone nurtured by internees outside of their bar- who joined us for this Pil- racks in the camp. grimage. For those of you Finally, the Heart Mountain Wyoming who couldn’t make it, we Foundation celebrated the impending hope to see you next year acquisition of one of the original Heart on August 22 –23, 2014! n PHOTO BY SHARYL MCDOWELL Mountain root cellars. The Foundation Members of the Kuwahara family pose for a photo during the Pilgrimage’s second day of activities on July 20.

THANK YOU TO OUR PILGRIMAGE SPONSORS: Party Time Plus • Blair Hotels Borrows Company Inc. Big Horn Horticulture Marquis Awards & Specialties, Inc. PHOTO BY BACON SAKATANI Secretary Norman Mineta with Cody Boy Scout Troop 78.

Heart Mountain Awarded Two Grants From NPS Grants totaling $130,900 have been commitment to the concept of ‘equal jus- the recently-acquired Frank Emi Papers. awarded to the Heart Mountain Wyoming tice under law’ that grew out of these and HMWF Executive Director Brian Foundation by the National Park Service’s other civil rights experiences.” Liesinger was pleased with the news. “With Japanese American Confinement Sites The Heart Mountain Root Cellar Plan- this funding, we’re able to begin securing (JACS) Grant Program. The grants enable ning and Preservation Project award, crucial pieces of Heart Mountain history,” the Foundation to formally assess the re- which totals $33,621, will be used to ad- Liesinger said. “Both the root cellar and our cently-acquired Heart Mountain root cel- dress immediate needs for structural and archival holdings are invaluable to the site. lar and to hire an archivist. engineering evaluation, plans for stabili- I’m thrilled about any steps we can take Heart Mountain is one of several orga- zation, preliminary historical documen- toward further preservation and toward nizations benefiting from more than $1.3 tation and conceptual architectural plans making them accessible to the public.” million in grants to preserve and interpret for restoration. Funds will also help with The JACS Grant Program supports the sites where more than 120,000 Japanese a legal appraisal as well as survey and title projects in seven states. To date, grant Americans were imprisoned during World work necessary as first steps in the acquisi- totals equal $12 million of the $38 million War II. tion of the root cellar. Congress authorized when it established National Park Service Director Jonathan A new archivist was also funded by a the program in 2006. Grants from JACS B. Jarvis notes, “Our national parks tell the JACS grant in the amount of $97,279. This may go to the 10 War Relocation Authority stories not only of American success, but two-year grant will enable the HMWF to camps established in 1942 or to more than of our failures such as the dark history hire a temporary, full-time archivist to 40 other sites, including assembly, reloca- of the internment of Japanese Americans establish a robust, fully-articulated Ar- tion and isolation centers. These are com- during World War II. We make these grants chives Program at the Interpretive Center. petitive grants with required matches—a so that present and future generations are The project will include arranging, de- dollar of non-federal funds or $2 in-kind reminded what happened and how the scribing and making accessible for research contributions for every grant dollar. A full people survived these camps. And we make and outreach more than 200 linear feet of list of the funded projects can be found these grants to demonstrate our nation’s significant archival collections, including at http://www.nps.gov/hps/hpg/JACS/. n

www.HeartMountain.org 5 On July 20, 2013, the Heart Mountain the Foundation $10,000 to help save the Milward Simpson, Director of the Wyo- Wyoming Foundation and Pilgrimage Chimney,” he said. ming State Parks and Cultural Resources attendees celebrated the completion of the Blackburn, who passed away in 2008, was and son of HMWF Board Member Pete Hospital Chimney restoration—an effort among the first to understand the pressing Simpson, was a constant advocate for the that took over ten years to complete. As one need to restore the chimney. The Founda- hospital chimney. He spoke at the ceremony of the few remaining structures of the Heart tion was honored to be joined by Black- about his department’s role in this project. Mountain Relocation Center, this chimney burn’s daughters, Ruth Blackburn Pfaff and Afterwards, Amy McKinney, a professor of is a priceless symbol of our history. Jane Blackburn Chelberg, at the ceremony. history at Northwest College, shared some The chimney originally was attached to The Bureau of Reclamation also donated of the history of the hospital. the hospital boiler house. Stiff winds and $10,000 to the project. Though the remain- But the highlight of the program was the the repeated freezing and thawing of mois- ing hospital buildings sit on Bureau of Rec- ribbon cutting ceremony, performed by five ture in the smokestack caused it to tilt 18 lamation land, the organization allows the former internees who were born at the hos- inches to the east. Foundation to use these facilities for inter- pital: Jeanne Shannon, Erik Emi, Kathleen This summer, a series of repairs strength- pretation. In addition, the Wyoming State Yuille, Madeline Chandler and Carole Seki- ened the structure. Brick joints were re- Historic Preservation Office and the Foun- moto. This chimney is one of the last signs mortarted. A concrete liner, helical pins dation received a joint grant from the Na- of the place where they were born, the place and new grout were used to stabilize it. The tional Park Service Japanese American Con- where their parents lived for three years. grout and metal flashing will keep moisture finement Sites Grant Program to aid with For us, as Nelson said, “This lonely, out to make the chimney more durable. the chimney’s restoration. haunting, lovely hospital chimney behind us Though it will always lean slightly, its suc- “The big benefactors in this great work has stood as a monument, symbol and re- cessful stabilization means that the chimney were the National Park Service, which is rep- minder of the tragedy and triumphs of what will stand tall for future generations. The resented today by Heart Mountain friend happened here between 1942 and 1945.” outcome for this chimney could have been Kara Miyagishima,” continued Nelson, “and For the “babies of Heart Mountain,” this very different, however. Engineers predicted by the Wyoming Department of State Parks chimney is that and more: it is one of the last its imminent collapse years before the re- and Cultural Resources.” signs of their first home. n pairs were completed. HMWF members donated thousands of dollars to the cause, but the Founda- tion could not tackle this project alone. We teamed up with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails and the Wyo- ming State Historic Preservation Office to complete the project. In his opening remarks, HMWF Vice- Chair Doug Nelson recognized the vision- aries without whom this work would have never happened. “Homesteader and Heart

Mountain preservation pioneer Mary PHOTOS BY BACON SAKATANI Blackburn—with amazing foresight—left Above: “Babies” born in the Heart Mountain Hospital led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the chimney stabilization project. Below: 2013 Pilgrimage attendees get a first look at the project.

6 Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation | Fall 2013 Memory and Justice Council Expands Heart Mountain Outreach

The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foun- include starting a book club focusing on of oral storytelling with the digital media dation has launched a Memory and Justice internment or social justice issues. It could we have come to rely on for communication Council (MJC) to encourage supporters include collecting oral histories or conduct- today.” near and far to get involved with the organi- ing digital storytelling workshops. It could In addition, the digital stories initia- zation on a deeper level. The MJC is an out- include writing groups or film clubs. But tive builds upon an oral history project reach group intended for anyone interested honestly, we’re open to however people want already in the works. The oral history project in actively taking part in activities revolving to connect with us—even from a distance.” encourages volunteers to sit down with around the preservation of Heart Mountain Liesinger’s first focused initiative for the former internees to record their personal history and sharing Heart Mountain stories. MJC is to collect digital stories about intern- accounts of confinement. Kathryn McKee, The MJC launched at the 2013 ment at Heart Mountain—a project that who is the Center’s Education/Archives Pilgrimage and absorbs the former Youth he has considerable experience with. In his Assistant, said, “Passing along the stories Council. Unlike the Youth Council, there is former position with the Learning Abroad that make you who you are allows future no age limit for MJC participants. Bill Col- Center at the University of Minnesota, generations to understand you and the lier, who was instrumental in forming the Liesinger taught students and educators events you lived through, great or small, a Youth Council, now turns his efforts toward how to use digital storytelling to create pow- little bit more. Sometimes you are the only growing the MJC. erful visual narratives. person to see the things you’ve seen, and Collier sees the MJC as an opportunity Digital stories are short narratives woven your story needs to be told.” for the sansei, yonsei and even gosei to take together using photographs, video, audio Since many of the former internees do an active role in the Heart Mountain Inter- recordings and music to convey a story. He not live near Heart Mountain, it is difficult pretive Center’s future. hopes to feature future stories at the Cen- for the staff to conduct these oral histories. “I think that it is extremely important ter, as well as on the Heart Mountain web- The HMWF hopes to enable MJC volunteers for the younger generations to be involved site. One advantage of digital stories is that to collect oral histories with former intern- in sharing the Japanese American intern- they are easy to create, even for those who ees living in their areas. These oral histories ment as a historical event and to help out may not feel they have much experience would then be submitted to the Center for in the preservation of camp sites,” he said. with technology. And to maximize ease of preservation in their archives and would be Descendants of internees as well as creation and access to necessary technolo- made available to the general public. various Heart Mountain supporters are gies, Liesinger focuses on using free, open- “While the physical remains of the camp scattered across the country. The MJC hopes source software to help people create the are limited to a few structures and the Hon- to provide a solution for those who want stories. or Roll Memorial, we have a vast number to participate in Heart Mountain activities “We can engage people more deeply with of Heart Mountain narratives available to but do not live near the Interpretive Center Heart Mountain stories and share them us,” Liesinger said. “We feel a strong need in Wyoming. It will breach this geographic more readily when they are crafted digital- to go out, find more of them and capture divide by using media and local initiatives. ly,” he explained. “I view digital storytelling as many as we can. The MJC can be a great “I hope to find people willing to devote projects as a combination of the age-old art asset in this endeavor. The stories we collect time to advancing our mission together serve as a powerful and spreading the history and reminder of the events of con- lessons of Japanese American finement and the effect on the confinement on their own lives of nearly 14,000 people.” turf,” Executive Director Brian Liesinger said. “As a non-profit, If you or someone you we will always be asking for fi- know would like to join the nancial assistance, but for par- MJC, please email info@ ticipants in the MJC, we are heartmountain.org with the asking for an active contribu- subject line “Join MJC.” In- tion—hopefully one that is as clude your name, e-mail and enriching to their lives as it is to mailing address. n the HMWF mission. This may

PHOTO BY BRIAN LIESINGER

www.HeartMountain.org 7 Jackson Event Features Mineta-Simpson Story and Builds Support The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foun- ‘alive’ than they are accustomed to,” Muller II Japanese American experience and pres- dation has teamed up with the National said. ent day issues with all Americans who are Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) After the reception, the audience will considered ‘other.’” and the National Museum of Wildlife Art gather to see a short film about Heart Sandvik intends to show the students to introduce the story of Heart Mountain Mountain, followed by a panel discussion a film titled, “A Flicker in Eternity,” which to the Jackson Hole community during with former Secretary of Transportation, follows the diary of Stanley Hayami at events taking place October 18–19, 2013. Norman Mineta and U.S. Senator Alan Heart Mountain. Hayami was 16 years-old “We hope that these events will raise Simpson (ret). Secretary Mineta and Sena- when he arrived at Heart Mountain, mak- awareness of the importance of the Heart tor Simpson met as boy scouts during ing his story particularly engaging for high Mountain site and preservation of cultural World War II, when Simpson’s troop came school students. and structural resources and support fund- to Heart Mountain for a jamboree with the During the weekend, HMWF leader- ing and preservation and protection of the Heart Mountain boy scouts—one of whom ship will be encouraging donations to the site,” said Sharon Mader, NPCA Grand was the young Norman Mineta. They will Memory & Justice Fund, the Center’s en- Teton Senior Program Manager. discuss how their friendship at Heart dowment. Six months ago, the Foundation For the past five years, the NPCA has Mountain shaped their later relationship developed a goal of $2 million for an en- collaborated with the Foundation to pro- and work in government. The panel will be dowment that will protect the Center’s fu- mote awareness of the Heart Mountain moderated by HMWF Chair Shirley Ann ture, while allowing it to grow—to acquire story. “The sponsorship of this event is the Higuchi and Board Member Pete Simpson, new artifacts, to preserve the site and to next logical step in raising the profile of the who is also Senator Simpson’s brother. participate in programs and activities that work of the Heart Mountain Foundation “This is a compelling and unique Heart will advance the Interpretive Center. to other interested communities in Wyo- Mountain story,” said Higuchi. “We are “An endowment gives us a source of ming,” said Mader. thrilled to be able to share it with the Jack- long-term and growing support so that our These events will begin with an exhibit son Hole community.” ability to stay the course and be there fifty of Bill Manbo’s color photographs of Heart Operations Manager Bethany Sandvik years from now is secure,” said Vice-Chair Mountain on display at the National Mu- will also visit Jackson Hole High School, as Doug Nelson. seum of Wildlife Art. Board Member Eric a new way to expand the Interpretive Cen- The endowment is off to a strong start, Muller, who wrote Colors of Confinement: ter’s outreach to schools in Wyoming and with generous donations from Margot Rare Kodachrome Photographs of Japa- Montana. and Cynthia Walk and the Higuchi family. nese American Incarceration in World War “I want the students to gain a better un- Many board members and others have also II, will kick off a cocktail reception with derstanding of what went on here at Heart made substantial contributions. remarks about the photographs. Mountain, and more importantly to think Recently, the Foundation received an These color photographs make the about how they would feel if it happened anonymous challenge grant of $250,000, experience of internees at Heart Moun- to them,” Sandvik said. She hopes that “stu- but the grant’s terms require that the tain come alive for the audience in dents find this story compelling and can Foundation match it. The event in Jackson Jackson Hole, as they have for count- make correlations between the World War Hole will help raise awareness about Heart less others around the country. Mountain among potential do- Colors of Confinement has been nors and show them the impor- featured in major media outlets tance of the site and its relevance since its publication in 2012. It today, bringing the Foundation recently won the biennial Joan a step closer to its goal. Patterson Kerr Award, which “We are excited about the goes to the best illustrated book opportunity to bring this piece about the American West. of history to another part of “People who see Bill Manbo’s Wyoming,” Nelson said. “Our Kodachrome photographs of For more information on attending, contact Meghan Quinn at the goal has always been to educate Japanese American incarcera- National Parks Conservation Association at 307-733-4680. the wider public about Heart tion typically feel a great intima- Mountain, and at times this cy and attachment to the people If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute to the means finding ways to bring pictured and a sense that what’s Endowment, visit shopheartmountain.org/Donate_c11.htm Heart Mountain to the outside pictured is more current and world.” n

8 Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation | Fall 2013 Advisory Council Spotlight Sam Mihara

though teachers are expected to teach about “internment” was justified. Those who this facet of our history, many lack the tools oppose Mihara’s perspective will remind to do so. him and the audience that the country “In my opinion, teachers really need was at war or that American soldiers in more basic information about what Japan suffered far worse atrocities than the happened and why it happened so that they internees. When this happens, Mihara will can, in turn, use that information to teach,” let them have their say, but in the end, is Mihara said. sure to point out that, “We’re talking about Even when given these tools, hearing the United States of America. We’re talking the story from Mihara himself has a much about the Constitution and the lack of civil more profound impact on students. When rights during that time in this country.” he announces to a class, “I am a former Fortunately, most people recognize peaking publicly about the prisoner from a concentration camp,” how important it is for this story to be incarceration of people of history takes a step into the present—into shared, like Dr. Susie Woo, a Professor at S Japanese ancestry during World their classroom. the University of Southern California who, War II is not a job that Sam Mihara “I think the students tend to remember after Mihara spoke to her students, wrote in envisioned for himself. A former rocket better if they hear it from someone who’s her recommendation, “The stories that he scientist for Boeing, Mihara was enjoying been there,” Mihara said. shared with us that day will stay with us for retirement when the Heart Mountain For students, hearing this story from a lifetime.” Interpretive Center’s former Deputy someone who was their age at the time Mihara continues to speak about his Director Christy Fleming contacted him in better illustrates how unjust the camps experience at Heart Mountain and will be 2011. Fleming told Mihara that the Center were. When considering injustice, most kids at the following locations over the next had received several calls from schools will remember a time they were “grounded” year. If you are interested in attending, and groups interested in hearing a former by their parents. Mihara remembers being please contact him directly at smihara@ internee’s perspective and asked if he would taken from his home by military police and socal.rr.com: be willing to speak with them. the “horrible signs that were in Cody.” He • October 10 in Orange County, CA, at Thus began a journey that has taken remembers when his father went blind and Cal State University Fullerton Mihara from California to Virginia and when his grandfather suffered a painful • November 1–2 in Tokyo, Japan, at many places in between. This fall, it will death in the camp hospital, “all primarily various colleges and universities take him all the way to Japan. due to the lack of adequate medical care.” • March 20–22, 2014 in Albuquerque, Mihara has spoken with great success at Despite the injustice his family faced, NM at the National Conference of places as diverse as social clubs, community Mihara enjoys speaking to others about his History Educators centers, the Wyoming Department of experience at Heart Mountain even when Justice and the National Conference it comes with challenges. Occasionally, • October 16–17, 2014 in Missoula, MT of History Educators. It was at this last there will be someone in the audience at the Montana State Conference of n conference where Mihara learned that even who disagrees with Mihara, insisting the History Educators

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM MIHARA PHOTO BY STEVAN LEGER PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM MIHARA Mihara family prior to incarceration. Mihara delivers a presentation at the Interpretive Center. Mihara family in front of barrack at Heart Mountain.

www.HeartMountain.org 9 Smile at Heart Mountain BY HELEN YOSHIDA Heart Mountain Camera Club. Stand- the photographs and start to archive them. In our house there are three framed ing in the second row was a young man I had thought about investing in a scanner photographs of my grandfather, Masayuki in his twenties. He wore a leather jacket for some time but never took the plunge. Yoshida. As a young husband he stands and wire-framed glasses, and he was the Soon after we met, I bought one. proudly beside his bride. As a father he sits only one smiling. I compared that picture With help from my mother, who next to his wife and their three sons posing to some of my grandfather’s photographs. brought one of my grandfather’s photo for a family portrait on the couch. As a re- Sure enough, he was my grandfather. albums from my family’s house in Califor- tired gardener he stands on the beach, the Seeing him in that group photograph nia, and my father, who identified some waves crashing on the sand behind him. and on the Interpretive Center wall relatives and family members, I have ar- In these photographs his lips press into inspired me to archive his photograph chived more than 400 photographs, 75 of a straight line as he stares at the camera, collection. It was not until I met HMWF which are from Heart Mountain. I’m cur- waiting for it to click. Board Member Eric Muller, editor of the rently interviewing family members and As a girl gazing into these photographs, book Colors of Confinement and saw his planning to visit my uncle in California so I wondered what he was like when he was presentation at the National Archives alive. Did he like to eat ice cream? Could he in February 2013 that I started to make draw? Did he ride bikes around the neigh- headway on that idea. borhood like me? These, it seemed, were In Colors of Confinement, Bill Manbo, the important questions. When I was old- a nisei and an amateur photographer, er, I learned that he was sent to the Heart offers a window into life at Heart Moun- Mountain Relocation Center during World tain that is all the more immediate War II, where he met my grandmother. Yet because his photographs are saturated the time they spent at Heart Mountain was with bright colors. Manbo was also a something he never discussed and that was part of the Heart Mountain Camera never inquired about. Club. I met with Eric to tell him my From this and those three photographs grandfather’s story and show him some

I concluded that those experiences turned of the photographs that my grandfather PHOTO COURTESY OF HELEN YOSHIDA him into a serious and quiet man. When I had taken. He encouraged me to scan Masayuki Yoshida. attended the Grand Opening of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, I learned that I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was my turn to pay the campground fee when my friend and I pulled into a campground in Cody, Wyoming, on August 19, 2011. I paid my fee and bought a copy of the Cody Enterprise. Inside was a magazine commemorating the opening of the Center and featuring stories about camp life. While I knew much about Heart Moun- tain through my research for my under- graduate thesis “The Flying Cranes and Other Stories,” which included studying a handful of photographs that my grand- father took while at camp, I knew very little about my grandparents’ experience at Heart Mountain. As I flipped through the pages I felt like I was taking a step to- wards discovering more about them, and I secretly hoped to see them or their family friends in those pages—anything to unlock PHOTO COURTESY OF HELEN YOSHIDA this unspoken time in their lives. Helen Yoshida stands next to a display at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center where her grandfather is Then, I paused at a photograph of the pictured with the Camera Club. Mr. Yoshida is standing in the back row, third from the right in the picture.

10 Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation | Fall 2013 Smile Continued from page 10 that he can help me identify others in these food, and as an amateur photographer he photographs. captures friends and family, co-workers, Photography was a lifelong hobby for my festivals, landscapes and day hikes. I see grandfather and through archiving these he’s a loving husband, a charismatic father photographs I am meeting him for the first and a dependable friend. time. I see him as a kibei in Japan, study- His photographs show his optimism, ing and spending time with his friends. As kindness and easy-going personality, a young man in southern California, he bringing to life a totally different man than works at a nursery. But he is also a sharp that of my childhood imagination. With dresser, wearing tailored suits and wing tip each new photo album and photograph PHOTO COURTESY OF HELEN YOSHIDA shoes. As a mess hall cook at Heart Moun- that I scan, I will continue to preserve his Photo taken from a barrack rooftop by Masayuki tain, he smiles as he helps prepare the day’s memory for future generations to come. n Yoshida.

Upcoming exhibits at the heart mountain interpretive center Heart Mountain Barracks Revisited November 1, 2013 through January 15, 2014 After the Heart Mountain Relocation Center shut down, Heart Mountain barracks became building blocks for homesteaders settling in Park Coun- ty, Wyoming. Barracks were transformed into houses, barns or outbuild- ings on farms and ranches. Many still survive today as witnesses to a story that begins during World War II and extends to the present. This exhibit features photographs of surviving barracks in their various incarnations, captured by members of the American Studies Program at the University

SHOSHONE IRRIGATION DISTRICT PHOTO of Wyoming. The group was able to locate more than 60 of them and also interviewed many current owners of the barracks. The exhibit was assem- bled in collaboration with the Homesteader Museum in Powell, who is loaning it to the Interpretive Center.

Playing The Game: Sports At Heart Mountain February 1 through April 15, 2014 Photos and Heart Mountain Sentinel articles illustrate the importance of sports at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center for youth and adults alike. Photos from the Okumoto and Kubo collections illustrate how playing the game often meant finding creative solutions in order to be able to compete. HMWF YONE KUBO COLLECTION

Juvenile-In-Justice May 1 through June 30, 2014 Photographer Richard Ross’ Juvenile-in-Justice exhibit includes images of juveniles and administrators from various facilities throughout the country. The hope is that by seeing these images, people will have a better understanding of the conditions that exist within the juvenile justice system.

PHOTO BY RICHARD ROSS

www.HeartMountain.org 11 NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation PAID 1539 Road 19 BILLINGS, MT Powell, Wyoming 82435 PERMIT NO. 1 www.HeartMountain.org

From DVDsdvds our Gift Shop Hiro: A Story of An American A Flicker in Eternity

Japanese Internment Contradiction The coming-of-age tale of a gifted teenager BY KEIKO WRIGHT BY VANESSA YUILLE caught between his dream of becoming HIRO details the memories of Hiroshi Seeking knowledge about her country and a writer/artist and his duty to his country. “Hiro” Hoshizaki, a former internee of the heritage, filmmaker Vanessa Yuille journeys Based on the diary and letters of Stanley Heart Mountain Relocation Camp during to her mother’s birthplace, Heart Mountain, Hayami, the story is seen though the eyes World War II. At age twelve, Hiro, an Wyoming, where Japanese Americans were of a promising young man thrown into the American-born citizen, and his family were incarcerated during World War II. Through turmoil of World War II. forcibly removed from their homes. The her investigation, Vanessa challenges us $25.00 voices of HIRO tell a story of the political to correctly define the true nature of what hysteria, racism, and scars that internment happened in this ‘illegal place.’ evoked—feelings that still echo to this day. $15.00 $15.00

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