REMEMBERING GILA RIVER

Saturday August 28, 2021

Gila River Camp Panel

Join us for a conversation with survivors of the Gila River Relocation Center. We discussed our panelists’ memories of camp, the legacy of Japanese American incarceration, and the future of Japanese American heritage. Moderated by Abigail Chun, the panel featured a combination of prewritten questions and live audience inquiries.

About the Gila River Indian Community

http://www.gilariver.org/index.php/about/history

http://www.gilariver.org/index.php/about/culture

http://www.grichhc.org/

Gaman: Japanese American Internment at Gila River

Courtesy of the Chandler Museum

This video provides a virtual walk-through of the Chandler Museum exhibition, “Gaman: Japanese American Internment at Gila River.” Narrated by director Jody Crag

Coming Soon from 50 Objects!

Pop Culture at Gila River?

Life went on for kids and teens at Gila River. The 50 Objects project is working on a story about comics in the camps. In the comic book community, a collection assembled by a single person at the time of publication is known as a “Pedigreed” collection. One of the most famous pedigreed comic book collections, the “Okajima Pedigree,” was begun in a concentration camp - either Manzanar or Gila River. Rumor has it that this collection was created either by a young woman or her brother. 50 Objects Project Director Nancy Ukai with the help of expert collector Jeff Tom have made a strong case for both authorship and origin. These comics would have been purchased at a camp store and served as a vital lifeline to American culture for young Japanese Americans.

The “Okajima Pedigree” comic collection will be the 22nd featured object in the 50 Objects Project series. More information is coming soon to www.50objects.org