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Report to the President:
Japanese-American Internment Sites Preservation
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January 9, 2001
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am honored to provide the Department of the Interior's report and recommendations to preserve the World War II Japanese-American Interment sites, as directed by your November 9, 2000, memorandum.
As you requested, we consulted with States, Tribes, local and national organizations involved in the preservation of the Japanese-American internment sites. We have included many valuable comments submitted as a result of these consultations in the appendix to this report. We look forward to continuing these relationships and continuing the work we have begun to protect these important sites.
I welcome the attention that you have shown to this important issue. As you stated in your memorandum, the Japanese-American Internment sites represent a tangible reminder of the grave injustice done to Japanese-Americans. The Department looks forward to implementing these recommendations to help ensure that this period in American history is never forgotten.
Respectfully,
/s/ Bruce Babbitt
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/internment/report1.htm
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Site Specific Information and Recommendations
Poston
Poston is located on Colorado River Indian Tribal lands in Arizona. It is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Relocation Center included three separate units, Poston I, II, and III. Poston I was the largest of the three units and contains most of the remaining structures. The elementary school is the most prominent of the remaining features. The adobe auditoriums and nearby school buildings are still standing. In addition several buildings in the former garage area and the sewage treatment plant remain. Little remains at the other two sites.
Along the road at Poston I, there is a large monument and kiosk. The monument, dedicated in 1992, consists of a 30-foot-high concrete column with a 7-foot-wide hexagonal base shaped like a Japanese stone lantern. There is also a kiosk, dedicated in 1995. Both the monument and kiosk have interpretive signs that discuss the history of the relocation, Japanese-American military service, and the Colorado River Indian Tribe.
The Department plans to consult with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Colorado River Indian Tribe to determine their interest in preservation, protection, and recognition efforts. The Department also plans to coordinate with the State and local organizations to investigate the feasibility of developing off-site interpretation.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/internment/report5.htm
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Poston Relocation Center
Colorado River Indian Tribal Land
Arizona
Background:
The Poston Relocation center was located in southwestern Arizona in La Paz County, 12 miles south of the town of Parker on Colorado River Indian Tribal land. The Relocation Center included three separate units, Poston I, II, and III. The Relocation Center opened on May 8, 1942. The maximum population was 17,814, making it Arizona's third largest city at the time. Evacuees were from California.
Current Status/Interpretation:
Poston I was the largest of the three units and contains most of the remaining structures. The elementary school there is the most prominent of the remaining features. The adobe auditoriums and nearby school buildings are still standing. In addition, several buildings remain in the former garage area and the sewage treatment plant. Little remains at the other two sites.
Along the road at Poston I, there is a large monument and kiosk. The monument, dedicated in 1992, consists of a 30-foot-high concrete column with a 7-foot-wide hexagonal base shaped like a Japanese stone lantern. There is also a kiosk, dedicated in 1995. Both the monument and kiosk have interpretive signs that discuss the history of the relocation, Japanese-American military service, and the Colorado River Indian Tribe.
Regional Context:
The site of the Poston Relocation Center is located approximately 110 miles west of Phoenix on the Arizona-California border. Interstate 10 runs about 30 miles to the south of Poston. The area is rural and the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is about 40 miles to the south. The area is also near several state parks.
Interested Parties/Stakeholders and Opinions:
Colorado River Indian Tribe
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Mr. Mich Himaka, Poston 3 Reunion Committee
Mr. Ben Segawa, Poston 3 Reunion Committee
Future Consultations:
Colorado River Indian Tribe
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Recommendations:
The DOI will work through BIA to determine tribal interest in preservation, protection, and recognition efforts. In addition, the DOI will work with State Historic Preservation Officer to determine suitability for listing on National Register of Historic Places, and work with Federal, state, and local organizations to develop an off-site interpretation center.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/internment/reporta8.htm
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Report to the President:Japanese-American Internment Sites Preservation
January 5, 2001
e-mail correspondence from Dr. Don Estes
The two people most immediately involved with the Poston renewal project is Dennis Patch who is the Education Director for the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) and Raoul Roko, Ph.D., a structural engineer originally from Benin (formally Dahomey in West Africa) now living and working from Tucson, Arizona.
Raoul tells me that he first heard about the Japanese American internment and Poston as a 15 year old high school student in Nigeria. Later when he moved to Arizona he visited Poston and saw the buildings that are still extent at what was the "Colorado River Relocation Center" better known simply as Poston. Over the succeeding years Raoul talked with various member of the CRIT tribal council and found an ally in Dennis Patch and his brothers. Working together they formulated a plan to restore a small portion of the center for educational purposes.
As a structural engineer most of the basic conceptual planning fell to Raoul. As I understand it one of the most basic fundamentals of the plan is to restore the Camp One high school gymnasium.
In addition the proposal calls for the relocating and restoration of fourteen original camp barrack buildings to provide visitors with an idea of what a standard camp block looked like. Each barracks would be landscaped based on historic photographs available to us and the interiors would reflect living conditions circa 1944. Raoul tells me that they have located these buildings on the reservation and in the surrounding area.
The plan likewise includes the reconstruction of a children's pool and a larger swimming pool that were built by the internees. The plan also envisions a visitors interpretation center. Raoul tells me that the tribes have committed to the use of 100 acres of land for the project. The project will be tied into an existing monument built by Poston internees and dedicated on October 6, 1992.
Raoul also tells me that they expect to receive a notification sometime this month of the award of a $500,000 grant from the Arizona Transportation Department in support of the project.
Yesterday (January 4) the CRIT Tribal Council voted to approve the concept and move ahead. Raoul is forwarding me a copy of the Council's resolution and I should have the text tomorrow. I'll forward what I receive to you as soon as it arrives. There is an off chance that Raoul will email some of the material to me. If that happens I'll forward it directly on to you.
When I talked to him today, Raoul indicated that he was sending me a disk with the most recent version of the power point presentation. Do you have a need of that? Is there anyone else I should pass any of this information to at this time.
Raoul can be reached via email at rroko@visto.com His phone number (520) 795 4207. He won't be back at that number until late Sunday. He is a very bright and personable gentleman and I believe the driving force of this project.
I became involved through my long time connection with the San Diego Japanese American community and I guess from the fact that I'm a historian by training. I've written extensively on the San Diego JA experience including a number of pieces on Poston, particularly Poston Camp Three where most of the San Diego people were sent. Our oldest son's MA was on the experience of the San Diego Nikkei at Poston. As you may have noticed my from the fax sent via my wife's office that her name is Toshiye. She is a Japanese American.
There is much excitement here in San Diego over the proposed project. It's funny how things seem to come together. Our Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego is hosting a reunion of Camp III internees in June. We anticipate 500 to 700 folks to be in attendance and we feel that they will want to support the CRIT efforts. The administration's interest come at the same time. I hope working together that we can bring this project to its full planned fruition.
Resolution adopted by the Colorado River Tribal Council on Thursday, January 4, 2001:
A resolution to initiate the recognition, restoration and Future Development of the Japanese Internment Camps
Be it resolved by the Tribal Council of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, in special meeting assembled on January 4, 2001
WHEREAS, the Tribes acknowledge & recognize the Historical significance of the Internment of Americans of Japanese descent during the second (sic) World War; and
WHEREAS, the Tribes desire to implement, restore & prepare for future development of the Japanese Internment Camps located within the Reservation boundries; and
WHEREAS, specific phases will be submitted accordingly. The staffs progress with this project and more specific development will be brought forth for the Tribal Council's approval:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Colorado River Indian Tribes hereby:
1. Approves the designated support staff to initiate and proceed with preliminary plans to initiate recognition, restoration & future development of the Japanese Internment Camps; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tribal Council Chairman and Secretary, or their designated representatives, are hereby authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to impliment this action.
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/internment/reportd.htm
