During WWII, over 110,000 Japanese-Americans living along the West Coast of the United States were incarcerated in ten detention camps located in isolated areas throughout the west, as well as in the state of Arkansas. It did not matter if you were a U.S. citizen, a veteran of WWI, or a child in an orphanage — if you were a Japanese-American, you were detained.

For over seven years, I have been giving PowerPoint presentations on this subject based on my extensive research of these events and the forces that led to them. Most of my presentations have been given at College of the Siskiyous, where I work. In addition, I have presented these PowerPoints to community organizations including Rotary clubs, the Siskiyou County Peace Officer’s Association, and the Retired State Employees Association.

Dr. Eve Thompson (Multi-cultural Communications professor):
My students and I were deeply touched by Art’s presentation, “The Japanese Experience During World War II.” If a picture is worth a thousand words, Art’s poignantly thoughtful PowerPoint presentation was worth an entire library. He professionally focuses on all aspects of the Internment, tempering facts, statistics, images, and quotes with personal insights and anecdotes. Although the material he covers is heartbreaking and shocking, he creates a safe environment conducive to discussion and growth. I cannot speak highly enough of this presentation. Each time I see it, I learn something new.

Heidi English (Psychology and Sociology professor):
At the age of 36, I became a California resident and a college professor at College of the Siskiyous. Until meeting Art Kameda, I had no idea the United States had forced over 100,000 persons into Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. I had never read about the internment camps in a history textbook. I had never heard about the internment camps from a history teacher or professor. My 78-year old father knew, but he had never shared his knowledge with me. Many of my students have never heard about the Japanese-American internment camps, even though the Tulelake camp is approximately 100 miles east of our college. Fortunately for me and my students, Art Kameda has been coming into my classrooms for the past three years and presenting factual information about the internment camps as well as sharing his family’s personal experience with us. At the end of Art’s presentation, many students are teary-eyed and so is their instructor.

This PowerPoint presentation will cover:

• Events that led to the mass detention of Japanese-Americans during WWII
• The Department of Justice Camps: Shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed, the FBI detained people from the Japanese, German and Italian communities who could be considered "dangerous"
• The Detention Camps: Japanese-Americans who lived on the West Coast, whether you were American citizens or not, were detained in ten camps located in the West and in Arkansas
• The experience of my family who chose to move out of the West Coast rather than go into one of these camps
• The Resisters: Resistance spread out in all of these camps. Those branded as "disloyal" are put into the Tule Lake Segregation Center
• The Japanese-American contributions to the war effort
• The 100/442 Regimental Battalion: One of the most highly decorated units in the history of the US Army
• Military Intelligence: The Japanese-American served as crucial intelligence resources. They were given credit for shortening the war in the Pacific by two years

Length of presentation: 45 minutes to 1.5 hour (adjustable)
Best length of time for presentation is 1.5 hr (with time for questions, answers and discussion)
Charge: None - if you feel so inclined, you can make a donation to the Tulelake Preservation Committee.
     This committee is in the process of establishing a museum at the former Tule Lake Segregation Center.