CWU museum event explores Asian, Asian American, Pacific islander experiences in the region

The role that Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities play in shaping Central Washington is an important one.

The historical accounts range from the rich agricultural and labor history of the Filipino American community of Wapato, to the economic and cultural force of the Chinese American community in Ellensburg, to the forced removal and detention of the Japanese American community of Yakima during World War II.

To honor the continued legacies of these communities, CWU's Asian Studies program will be partnering with the CWU Museum of Culture and Environment to host "Heroes Unheralded: Stories from Nisei World War II Veterans and their Families" on Thursday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m.

The event features Dr. Linda Tamura, an emerita professor of education at Willamette University, who will discuss American World War II veterans of Japanese ancestry, their unwelcome return home, and how communities have moved forward to honor them and address past wrongs. This research is rooted in Tamura's questions about growing up in Hood River, Oregon, which gained national notoriety for its racist wartime acts. Tamura also published a book on this history, Nisei Soldiers Break Their Silence: Coming Home to Hood River (University of Washington Press, 2012).

During her talk, Dr. Tamura will recognize local citizens who stepped forward in support of Nisei veterans, despite facing scrutiny themselves. She challenges us by asking, "What if Americans who served valiantly overseas found that there was still a battle to wage at home? What would you do?" Finally, the May 11 event will engage in conversations about the experiences of Americans of Japanese ancestry in Central Washington, with faculty and students sharing local stories from the Densho Digital Repository, an oral history archive.

Throughout the month of May, the CWU Museum of Culture and Environment will feature an exhibit co-curated and developed by Dr. Tamura, What if Heroes Were Not Welcome Home?, which uses captivating images and primary source materials to showcase the often-hidden history that will be the focus of Dr. Tamura's talk.

For more information about exhibits or other events at the CWU Museum of Culture and Environment, email museum@cwu.edu or call 509-963-2313. The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. To learn more about CWU's Asian Studies program, visit CWU's Asian Studies webpage.

Media contact: , hope.amason@cwu.edu, 509-963-2313.