BIJAC PROJECTS
In addition to an ongoing interest in the Memorial and the Walt and Milly Woodward Fund, BIJAC is active in numerous other community projects.
Among these are the maintainance of the "Haiku no Niwa" (Haiku garden and pool) at the Bainbridge Public Library, an Oral History Program with the goal of recording the story of all the Nikkei who live or have lived on Bainbridge Island, "Kodomo no Tame Ni—For the Sake of the Children," an educational traveling exhibit, and many others. If you are interested in participating, or have questions, please call Ron Nakata at (206) 842-5354 or email the BIJAC webmaster.MEMORIAL
One of BIJAC's most important projects is the creation of the Bainbridge Island Nikkei WWII
Internment and Exclusion Memorial at Eagledale Harbor at the end of Taylor Avenue. The Memorial is called "Nidoto Nai Yoni—Let It Not Happen Again" Read more >>>
THE WOODWARD FUND
Walt and Milly Woodward loved many things: America, publishing their small newspaper, The Bainbridge Review, boating, and most all their family, friends and neighbors of their island community.During World War II, the Woodwards coureageously took a very unpopular stand. The Review became the first and only newspaper in the nation to consistently oppose the exclusion of more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans from the west coast, of which two-thirds were U.S. citizens. The Woodwards believed that this action was a violation of fundamental civil rights protected by the U.S. constitution.
The first 227 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and taken to internment camps lived on Bainbridge Island,
The Woodwards' opposition to the mass exclusion of Japanese Americans, and their newspaper, became the target of anger and prejudice driven by war hysteria.
As journalists, the Woodwards cherished the freedom of speech and press granted by the Bill of Rights.
As Americans, the Woodwards held the unwavering belief that the constitutional reights of civil liberties, freedom, fairness and justice applied to all. Their courage, love of country and steadfast belief in the principles and laws that created our nation are the inspiration for this fund.
Shortly after Walt Woodward's death on March 13, 2001, the Walt and Milly Woodward Fund was officially created by the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC) as a tribute to the legacy of Walt and Milie Woodward. A 501 (c3) account, the fund is overseen by a committee comprised of BIJAC members and the greater Bainbridge Island community.
Honorary Advisory Committee members include: Mary Woodward-Pratt, Gordon Hirabayashi, Lori Matsukawa, KING TV - NBC news anchor and David Guterson, author of "Snow Falling on Cedars."
Walt and Milly Woodward have been awarded numerous honors, including Walt being named one of the 100 citizens inducted into the Washington State Centennial Hall of Honor for humanitarian and civil libertarian contributions to the state's qualilty of life; the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association's "Freedom Light Award" and the National Japanese-American Citizens League's Edison Uno Civil Rights "Dove of Peace Award."
The fund's mission is "to promote the values of acceptance, understanding and respect of civil rights for all, and support the important fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in a diverse and changing world."
An endowment fund will permit financial support for various activities that meet the vision of the Woodward Fund mission statement including:
* Working with school districts, communities, organizations and individuals with their efforts to promote the relevance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in a diverse and changing world.
* Sponsoring forumns, visiting speakers and workshops.
* Working with community groups dedicated to the development of values such as acceptance, understanding and respect for the civil rights of all persons.
* Assisting local governments and agencies in their efforts to confront issues that threaten civil liberties.
* Providing scholarships to promote students in the fields of journalism, law and human rights.
Please help keep the legacy of Walt and Milly Woodward alive with your tax-deductible contribution. A receipt will be sent to you to acknowledge your gracious gift. Thank you. The mailing address for the fund is P.O. Box 10126, Bainbridge Island WA 98110. The committee chairman at BIJAC for the fund is Ron Nakata at (206) 842-5354. Visit their website at www.woodwardfund.org.
"GAMAN" BOOK
Frank Kitamoto and Clarence Moriwaki have met with Tetsuden Kashima of the University of Washington to explore renewing our efforts to publish a book about the Japanese American Community on Bainbridge Island. Tetsuden helped us clarify the direction we would like to go in writing this book. It will be loosely based on the text and photos in our exhibit, but will emphasize the legacy left to us by the Issei—why we are like we are—and the closeness and uniqueness of our special relationships with our European American neighbors. We are meeting every first Wednesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. just before our regular monthly Community meetings. Clarence has agreed to write the book for a very nominal retainer.EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Frank Kitamoto, often accompanied by Gerald Nakata, has been giving a slide presentation/lecture throughout the Puget Sound area. The presentation is based on actual photos of the forced removal from Bainbridge Island, other photos and oral histories from the BIJAC History Project, features people then and now, and includes Frank's own personal experiences growing up in a largely European-centered society. He presents his views on multicultural education, the uniqueness of the relationship between Bainbridge Island Nikkei and their European American neighbors and the desirability and strengths of differences that make America so unique and special.Recent venues have included on Bainbridge Island: Island School, Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church; IslandWood Staff and Docents; Sakai School; Wilkes School; Bainbridge High School. In North Kitsap: Breidelblik School; Gordon School. Also: Issaquah Park District Asian Pacific Islander Week; Washington State Multicultural Education Teacher’s Association at the University of Washington; University Cooperative School; International School Lake Washington School District, Kirkland; Saint Anne School, Seattle; Monroe High School, Monroe; Cherry Blossom Festival, Seattle Center; Seattle Community College Multicultural Drama Department; The Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Tacoma; Naval Station Everett Asian American Pacific Island Day; and the 2003 Minidoka Reunion
Anyone interested in the presentation for their group can contact Frank at (206) 842-4774 or 842-5094.
PRESENTATION PANELS
BIJAC can make available to any interested party two sets ... "Kodomo no Tame Ni—For the Sake of the Children" and ..... to come...VIDEOS
Award-winning videos produced by or with BIJAC include "After the Silence," "The Red Pines," "Visible Target," "Emi of Bainbridge," "Nidoto Nai Yoni Memorial Dedication Ceremony," "After Silence" and "Red Pines." Some are available at the Bainbridge Public Library and/or IslandWood. Contact Frank Kitamoto at (206) 842-4774 or 842-5094 for details.ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
We have a growing collection of audio and video recordings of Japanese Americans and others whose experiences.... to come•••