Members of Company B, 163rd Infantry pose at attention. Company B was composed almost entirely of Native Americans, mostly Sioux from the Fort Peck Indian Agency in Northeast Montana. They served in the Montana National Guard until they were inducted into national service in September of 1940. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they were some of the first to be sent overseas, where they fought the Japanese on New Guinea and in the Philippines. Native Americans served in the Armed Forces at a disproportionately high rate in World War II. More than 44,000 served, out of a total population of less than 350,000, most of them as volunteers. Native Americans have the highest record of military service per capita when compared to other ethnic groups. (T.Times 12/11/1940 p.1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

Members of the Montana National Guard, Company B, 163rd Infantry, 41st Division pose at attention for inspection. The company is composed primarily of Sioux from the Fort Peck Indian Agency. The company was inducted into federal service in September 1940 and sent to the Pacific. They were part of the most decorated army division in the Pacific Arena. (T.Times 12/11/1940 p.1) TPL-10595

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

Nine Native American members of Company B 163rd Infantry, a Montana National Guard regiment composed primarily of Sioux Indians, stand for inspection at Camp Murray in December of 1940. This unit reformed in 1922, the original Company B had also been comprised of Native Americans and served in World War I. Partially because of the outstanding volunteer effort of Native Americans during World War I, in 1924 Congress granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans. One result of this action was that native men between the age of 21 and 35 became eligible for the draft under the Selective Training and Service Act of September 16, 1940. However, most Native Americans served on a volunteer basis. More than 44,000 of them, out of a total population of less than 350,000, served with distinction between 1941 and 1945. (T. Times 12/11/1940, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

A diminutive drill sergeant adjusts the helmet chin strap on one of the soldiers from Company B, 163rd Infantry during inspection. Company B was part of the Montana National Guard and was composed almost exclusively of Sioux Indians from the Fort Peck reservation. They were inducted into federal service in September of 1940 and were based out of Fort Lewis. After Pearl Harbor, they were among the first troops sent to the Pacific, where they served bravely for the duration of World War II. TPL-1955 (T. Times 12/11/1940, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

Group portrait of eighteen young women, and a child, who are members of the Puyallup Valley Japanese-American Citizens League dance group. They will be performing a ceremonial dance in traditional Japanese dress during "Japan Night," a Japanese bazaar, to be held at Fife High School on November 12, 1938. Over 1,000 people attended the event that offered a glimpse into the island empire's ancient culture. In the afternoon, girls in kimonos served Japanese noodles, rice curry and "osushmis" as well as American salads, pies and hot dogs. In the evening, a program of the dances of old Japan was performed before a background of cherry blossoms and red, white and blue hangings. (T. Times, 11/10/1938, p. 20; 11/14/1938, pg. 3).

Kimonos; Japanese-American Citizen's League (Tacoma); Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Ceremonial dancers; Japanese Americans--Dance;

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Kendo
Photograph by Bruce Larson

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--Old Culture, New Life--
Kathy Laufasa and Tupou Mamaea, both students at Chief Sealth High School, practice Polynesian dance steps. The Samoans are among increasing numbers of Pacific Rim natives who have emigrated to the United States.

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Asian Day - Monk Dance
Yi Yi Young

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Hang Sou, a Hmong refugee, stands in line for his final medical exam at a Thailand transit camp in the Non Fiction Television documentary "Becoming American", which will be televised over the Public Broadcasting Service Friday, June 4 at 9 p.m. (Check local listings.) The documentary by Ken Levine and Ivory Waterworth Levine follows Hang Sou and his family from a refugee camp in northern Thailand to their new home in Seattle, WA.

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Tuyet Mazziotta feeds her 14-month-old daughter during a visit to the Luner New Year Festival celebration in the Kingdome Saturday. This is the beginning of the year of the horse. It's two days of food, music, booths, and combines many groups of differing Asian backgrounds including Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese, Thai et cetera. The traditional dragon dance can still be seen tomorrow afternoon after 4 pm in Chinatown in S. Seattle.

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From:
Executive Order 9066:
50 Years Before-50 Years After
Chiyoko Shiromura and Family
Courtesy of the Wing Luke Asian Museum
Seattle, WA

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--BJ's Bingo, new Indian gambling rules.
Lazara Gallardo, 90, of Tacoma plays bingo at BJ's Bingo Hall Friday. Her granddaughter, Lamar Abalahin, 22, of Tacoma is sitting behind her. They were playing in hopes of winning one of the six Yugos given away at BJ's. The winner of the car was Lazara's daughter! (Juanita A. Pastor, winner)
Photo by Susie Post

A group of African Americans look on for the cutting of a cake at an unidentified social event at the USO #2, 713-715 Commerce St., circa 1946. The cake has four candles, possibly indicating that it was in honor of the Club's fourth anniversary in September of 1946. In the group were Helen B. Stafford (second from left), Arthur Hayes (fifth from left), Maude Leonard (seventh from left) and Louise Beck (back of center, in hat.) (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

From September of 1942 until the end of March, 1947, 713-15 Commerce housed USO #2, a club reserved for the entertainment of servicemen and women of color. One of the unique activities in the club took place each year during "Be Kind to Animals" week. Servicemen assisted in the planning and production of a dog show with the pets of local children. Ribbons were presented to the best in each catagory. In this photograph dated September 16, 1945, unidentified children and servicemen pose with a variety of dogs at the club. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

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The Rev. Jerry Sanders rejoiced in his God given freedom from heroin and cocaine as he witnessed at an anti drug service at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, on the Hilltop, in Tacoma.
News/Maynard
Bruce Larson Photo

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Action Upward at Hilltop with story.
Photograph by Richards Studio

Three young children stand on either side on a man holding a basketball.

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El Comite
Alex Almonte (left) Paul Castillo (right)
Photograph by Jerry Buck

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El Comite
Mrs. Yenin Webster
Photograph by Jerry Buck

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Theatrical Group, Order of Vasa, ca. 1912, Tacoma
Photograph courtesy of the Vasa Lodge Norden, Tacoma

From In the Footsteps of Nicholas Delin: the Swedish Presence in Pierce County, a photography exhibition tracing the world of Swedish and Swedish-Finnish immigrants in Pierce County from 1887 - 1930, opening Thursday, December 14, 1995 at the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery (Main Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma).

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Indians, Nisqually

A person in rubber boots weighs a bucket

Catherine Frank, left, stands beside husband James V. Mills. Frank is a Nisqually tribal member and Mills is a Yakima tribal member. Also pictured: mother, blanket keeper, left, and food basket keeper at right.

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Indians, Nisqually

Nisqually law enforcement officers, Jack Jewart, left, and Clyde Parsons, check over their new patrol boat at the Steilacoom Marina. The boat will be used for tribal fisheries regulation enforcement on Puget Sound.

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Indians, Nisqually

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Fireworks stands fizzle
Puyallup Indian fireworks stands that boomed with business on the reservation last week lie fizzled out after the July Fourth celebration.
photo by Bruce Kellman

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Three-year-old Calvin Medina, Tacoma, checks out his competition and other tribal dress during the Puyallup tribe's Pow Wow. There was singing, dancing, eating, and competition for best dress and dance.
Photo by David Brandt

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Artist rendering of Puyallup Tribal Bingo Hall

A year after the Puyallup Tribe reached a $162 million settlement which guaranteed hundreds of new jobs, social services, and economic rebirth programs began to receive funding. “Among the tribe’s projects for economic improvement is a $2.1 million state-of-the-art bingo hall, seating up to 1,500 people, to be built in east Tacoma.” The bingo hall was estimated to generate between 90 to 150 jobs.

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Puyallup Project/Patty Butler
Patty Butler enjoys the closeness of family and the feeling of living in an Indian community in Youngsville.

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Indians, Puyallup

Joe Washington, shaman of the Lummis, led the Puyallup Tribe in a ceremony marking the start of the salmon run. The ancient ceremony was held on tribal land near the Portland Avenue Bridge. The ceremony ended with a wedding. Joe Washington asked for the tribe’s adults to remember what they had seen and to pass the knowledge on to their children. Photo by Tribune staff member Russ Carmack.

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Indians, Puyallup

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Indians, Puyallup

A person holds binoculars and looks at the camera.

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Indians, Puyallup
Photo by Kai Silva

Puyallup Tribal members try to stop Wildlife agents from confiscating fish. Ralph Larson director of the state Game department had restricted all fishing starting on December 5th. Three Puyallup tribal officers were cited for permitting tribal members to fish in waters that were closed to all. Photo by Kai Silva.