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Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Welcome

Embracing Diversity By Julie P. Bednar Associate Director Human Resources Directorate Interior Business Center

Welcome to our inaugural Special

Emphasis Program Magazine.

I've been a federal civil servant for

almost 30 years in Human Resources. I

use the term "civil servant" in its truest

form - I am proud to have served the citizens of our

country to my fullest extent and to bring value to our

taxpayers. I'm extremely proud of the diversity of our

federal workforce.

In my eyes, "diversity" has so many different meanings.

Diversity can be the personal characteristics that you

observe when you first meet someone. Diversity can be

how each of us grew up, which has an impact on how we

interpret our daily experiences. Diversity can be how

each person's ideas can be harvested to create

innovative ways of delivering government service.

Diversity is the world around us - Earth's diverse

ecosystem constantly amazes me.

If each of us embraced diversity in all of its forms, and

showed respect for all of the diversity that surrounds us

every day, imagine the possibilities!

I challenge each of you to have one new experience each

day for the next two weeks - it can be as simple as trying

a new dish for your next meal or considering an opinion

that is different from your own. Then reflect upon what

you have learned in two weeks.

Keep on going -- embrace a new experience every day,

day after day. I would love to get feedback from you

after time, to know how your lives have been impacted

by this view of diversity. Please share your thoughts

with me at Julie_P_Bednar@ibc.doi.gov. Thank you!

Pictured, above: Julie Bednar presenting former IBC Associate Director LC Williams with the United States Flag that was flown over the United States

Capitol in his honor on the occasion of his retirement after more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Military and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

2 Welcome: Embracing Diversity 3 About AAPI 5 A Legacy of Public Service: Daniel Ken Inouye 7 Perspectives: Hawai’i 9 Perspectives: New Zealand 11 Unrepresented Nations and Peoples: The Hmong 12 Chinese Communities in Western America 13 Perspectives: Taiwan and Japan 14 Remembering and Giving 15 DOI Celebrates AAPI 16 Spotlight on Origami 17 Flavors of Asia 18 About the Special Emphasis Program

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About AAPI

Telling All Americans' Stories:

Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

Courtesy of National Park Service

The history of North America is shaped by the stories of immigrants from Asia and the Pacific and the native people of the Pacific Islands. While some of the earliest Asian immigrants arrived from China, Japan, India, and Korea, immigration reforms tied to U.S. civil rights legislation brought even more groups to the United States—such as Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Indonesians, the Hmong and other peoples from South and Central Asia.

During the 1800s, the discovery of gold in California and political upheaval in China triggered unprecedented waves of immigration from Asian countries to the United States. Asian immigrants contributed significantly to the history of American nation-building and westward expansion.

Initially welcomed as a much needed labor source in mining, railroad, and agriculture, Asian immigrants soon became a source of resentment for those Americans who thought of themselves as white. Oh good! They began to blame Asians for the economic decline and high unemployment after the Civil War. The U.S. government passed a series of measures to stem the influx of immigrants. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 severely restricted immigration by barring Chinese laborers from entering the country for ten years and made Chinese immigrants already within the United States ineligible for U.S. citizenship. In 1907, a “Gentleman’s Agreement” between the United States and Japan also limited the immigration of Japanese laborers.

In the wake of exclusionary immigration policies and racial discrimination, early Asian immigrants nevertheless successfully built ethnic enclaves throughout the United States. In the Sacramento delta, the small settlements of Locke and Walnut Grove were once thriving nihonmachi’s (Japan towns) and Chinatowns that were the homes of immigrants who flocked to California during the Gold Rush. The Stedman-Thomas Historic District of Ketchikan, Alaska, was home to a

diverse community of Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, and Filipinos who helped build the region’s fishing industry.

By the mid-1900s, generations of Asian Americans had built enduring communities throughout the United States. However, Japan’s attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 revived existing hostility towards Japanese Americans. In response to public outcry against the attack and widespread fear of Japanese American disloyalty, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which forcibly relocated over 120,000 Japanese Americans from their homes on the West Coast to one of ten Relocation Centers. The Minidoka National Historic Site is one of the places that interprets this largest forced relocation of American citizens.

Despite the denial of their civil liberties and constitutional rights, many Japanese Americans still felt it was their duty to contribute to the war effort. Initially barred from enlisting following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the armed forces later formed a segregated unit for Japanese Americans: The 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team. They fought on the battlefields of Italy, Germany, and southern France while most of their families remained in internment camps for the duration of the war. The 442nd would go on to become the most decorated unit of its size in American military history.

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About AAPI

Currently, over 20 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent live in the United States, totaling about 6 percent of the U.S. population. As diverse communities built strong roots in the United States, they retained cultural heritages that stretch across the globe.

As the nation’s storyteller, the National Park Service strives to tell the stories of ordinary and extraordinary Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders preserved in our nation’s parks, memorials, and historic sites.

Visit the National Park Service Telling All Americans' Stories portal to learn more about this topic and American heritage themes and histories.

Abu Dhabi Amman Ankara

Ashgabat Baghdad

Baku Bandar Seri Begawan

Bangkok Beijing Beirut

Bishkek Damascus

Dhaka Dili

Doha Dushanbe

Hanoi

Islamabad Jakarta

Jerusalem Jerusalem (East)

Kabul Kathmandu

Kuala Lumpur Kuwait City

Male Manama Manila

Moscow Muscat

Naypyidaw New Delhi

Nicosia Nur-Sultan

Phnom Penh Pyongyang

Riyadh Sana'a Seoul

Singapore Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte

Taipei Tashkent

Tbilisi Tehran

Thimphu Tokyo

Ulaanbaatar Vientiane Yerevan

Here is an alphabetized list of capitols in Asia.

Can you name the country for each capitol? Answer key on page 17

An antique

porcelain sculpture

of Quan Yin, the

goddess of

compassion and

mercy

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A Legacy of Public Service

By Shaun House Auditor/Negotiator Interior Business Center From humble beginnings in 1924, Daniel K. Inouye was destined for a life of public service. His mother, of Japanese ancestry, was adopted by a Native Hawaiian minister and his family, whom Daniel was named after. Inouye said of his mother, “She made it very clear to me from the time I was very young that I owe a lot to the Hawaiian people, and she expected me to repay that debt.”

During World War II, Inouye attempted to enlist into the military at the age of 18, but was denied admission due to his race. After petitioning the government, Inouye was allowed to enlist into the U.S. Army as a private in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was primarily comprised of Japanese American Soldiers. Inouye was injured in battle on the 21st of April, 1945, resulting in the amputation of his right arm. His actions on that day would eventually earn him the Medal of Honor, but not for half a century. Inouye retired as a Captain in 1947, after spending almost 2 years in U.S. Army hospitals.

Upon leaving military service, Inouye graduated from the University of Hawaii before attending George Washington University Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1953. Shortly after admittance to the bar, Inouye was elected to a territorial house of representatives in the then territory of Hawaii. In 1959, when Hawaii attained statehood, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as the first Japanese American congressman. From 1959 until his death in 2012, Inouye served as an elected representative of Hawaii.

Remembering Daniel Ken Inouye

Left: Amputee Daniel Inouye with Bob Dole at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan

Robert Dole Library

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For over 100 years, the Kīlauea Point Lighthouse has been a beacon for the island of Kaua‘i and the community of Kīlauea. Guiding ships safely and standing tall as a link between the islands past, present and future.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rededicated the Kīlauea Point Lighthouse in honor of the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye in a ceremony on Saturday, May 4, 2013. The lighthouse is on Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on the island of Kaua‘i in Hawai‘i.

“Senator Inouye’s legacy as an American hero is distinguished – from serving our country on the battlefield to representing the state of Hawai‘i for over 40 years,” said Robyn Thorson, Director of the Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Daniel K. Inouye Institute

Left: On June 21-22, 2019 the Inouye ohana (family) gathered in Bath, Maine for the christening of the Navy Destroyer Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), which will arrive in its homeport of Pearl Harbor in early 2021 under the leadership of Commanding Officer CDR DonAnn Gilmore, Master Chief Thomas Mace, and a crew of more than 300 sailors.

A Legacy of Public Service

During his time in Congress, Inouye worked tirelessly for his constituency and others he felt had inadequate representation. He proposed legislation to help the Hawaiian people and was paramount in passing the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act. His commitment to the people didn’t end at his constituency. He also proposed legislation for the Japanese Americans that were interned during WWII, leading to the Civil Liberties Act, and worked diligently to right the wrongs he felt were made against Native Americans while working on the Committee on Indian Affairs.

In June of 2000, Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor he had earned so long ago in San Terenzo, Italy. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Through his years of service to the country and his state, and navigating great adversity, it’s safe to say that Daniel K. Inouye had repaid the debt his mother felt she owed the Hawaiian people.

As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage this month, we should reflect on the contributions Daniel K. Inouye made to our country, and the debt owed to him for his leadership, integrity, and devotion to causes greater than himself.

"My father just looked straight ahead,

and I looked straight ahead, and then

he cleared his throat and said,

'America has been good to us. It has

given me two jobs. It has given you

and your sisters and brothers

education. We all love this country.

Whatever you do, do not dishonor your

country. Remember – never dishonor

your family. And if you must give your

life, do so with honor.' I knew exactly

what he meant. I said, ‘Yes, sir.

Goodbye.’" - Daniel Inouye

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Perspectives: Hawai’i

From One Among Many to One Alone By Amber Irish Human Resources Specialist Interior Business Center My childhood home was built on a steep

hillside in ‘Aiea, Hawai’i. When I was a

kid, I used to climb onto our roof and

look down at the coast below, admiring

radio towers that dotted a nearby bay. I

convinced myself that the tallest one

must be the Eiffel Tower and because

the world felt so small then, it seemed

an undeniable certainty that the

Egyptian Pyramids and the Great Wall of

China were just beyond the horizon -

far away, but still much closer to home

than the world had led me to believe.

Hawai’i has the well-deserved reputation

of being a tropical paradise, and people

often talk about the warm and inviting

culture of Aloha that is a cornerstone of

Hawai’i life. Growing up there is one of

the most treasured parts of my

childhood, and something I didn’t know

how to appreciate until I became an

adult. I am lucky to have fond memories

of Saturdays spent at the beach and

warm, 80 degree Christmases. But

Hawai’i’s culture has always been the

most special and

important part of

my childhood.

Hawai’i is famously

diverse, where

Asians make up

more than a third

of the population,

due to pineapple,

coconut, and

sugarcane

plantations that enticed early immigrants

from the Philippines, Japan, China,

Korea, and India. And while Native

Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders only

make up about 0.4 percent of the United

States population, Hawai’i unsurprisingly

has the highest percentage of Native

Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders compared

to the other states. And almost a quarter

of residents claim multi-racial

backgrounds, the highest percentage in

the country.

Growing up, I identified with the last

group. My mother is Japanese and

Okinawan, and my father is Korean and

European. My family called me hapa, the

Hawaiian word meaning “part,” which is

an identifier for individuals who are part

Asian or Pacific Islander, mixed with

another race. Growing up, a lot of my

friends and family were hapa. At school,

most kids looked like me. We almost

always shared the same appreciation of

culture and food, we questioned the

existence of Santa together (since no

home in Hawai’i had a chimney), and we

bonded over making fun of our

grandparent’s accents. It was rare to see

a fair-skinned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed

peer, and I could almost always pinpoint

a military kid who’d recently moved by

how they said, “Hawaii” like it was a fluid

question: Huh-why. Back then, I didn’t

know what minorities and majorities

were, I only knew where I felt

comfortable because I knew how to

blend in. [cont’d next page]

7 ‘Aiea, Hawai’i

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Perspectives: Hawai’i

The summer

after I turned

fourteen, my

mother, sister,

and I moved to

a suburb in

Colorado. Mom found a job that gave her the opportunity to

relocate. I remember falling asleep on the plane and waking

up in a new state. We walked out of the airport and the Rocky

Mountains felt ominous – less majestically beautiful than

frighteningly inescapable, and not being able to see the ocean

on the horizon disoriented me for weeks.

I started high school in Colorado, where the Asian population

of students was less than 3% and nearly 60% of the student

body was white. At school, almost none of the kids looked like

me. Classmates were quick to point out my accent and made

fun of the way I said, “Hawaii,” like Huh-WUH-ee, the way our

Hawaiian Studies teachers taught us. I got into arguments

about the culinary and cultural value of Spam, dispelled

rumors that women actually wore coconut bras, and when

winter came, kids in my Biology class told me yellow snow was

the tastiest and pulled me outside to see if I could be

persuaded to eat week-old slush.

My first year in Colorado was very lonely. My demographics

completely switched, and I went from being one among many,

to being just one. I

couldn’t help but

remember the fair-

skinned, blonde-

haired, blue-eyed

military kids from

my time in Hawai’i and I realized that instead of trying to

connect with them by learning about them, I was quick to

point out all our differences, stereotype them, and label them

as foreign and strange. In that moment, I realized I had not

been demonstrating the sense of welcome or aloha for which

Hawai’i was famously known. Instead, I’d been insulating my

life with things that were familiar and comfortable instead of

things that were different or maybe even challenging.

I knew if I continued to live that way, I would miss out on so

much of the world. I spent so long mistaking radio masts for

the Eiffel Tower that I almost convinced myself I’d never have

to leave the comfort of my home to find it.

Now, I learn about others. Differences fascinate me. While I

am still proud of my heritage and culture, I find a lot of joy in

building connections with people where previously there were

none.

Acceptance and aloha are the cornerstones of Hawai’i life that

I plan on taking with me wherever I go.

“Acceptance and aloha are

the cornerstones of Hawai’i

life that I plan on taking

with me wherever I go.”

- Amber Irish

Left: Amber on her 6th grade graduation with mom Lori and sister Amanda. Right: Amber and her dad Marty.

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Perspectives: New Zealand

New Zealand and the Maori

By Tahirih Varner, MSCM Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution

Maybe it started with The Lord of the Rings, maybe with rugby, I’m really not sure, but a few years ago my older son Michael developed a healthy curiosity about New Zealand. This past summer he was afforded the incredible opportunity to spend a month in Aotearoa (the Maori name for the country) with nine other high school students from across the United States as part of a Student Diplomacy Corps (SDC) program. In its vision statement, SDC says that by “challenging our students to share, give, laugh, struggle and learn about the world around us, we inspire the next generation of young activists to invest in creating a more sustainable, peaceful, successful and interconnected global community.” So, with this mission, the young group and their not-much-older group leader set out to learn about the politics, ecology, and cultural dynamics of this amazing land.

They visited black sand beaches and volcanic hot springs too hot to soak in. They tubed down rivers that went through caves lit only by glow worms, observed street protests, visited universities, and stayed in Marea – Maori cultural community centers where they learned how to prepare traditional Maori meals, took language and culture classes, and were welcomed with an intense and thrilling Haka. The Haka is a traditional Maori dance that has been popularized in recent years by the New Zealand national

rugby team, The All Blacks, who begin each match by performing a Haka in the face of their opponents. It has been performed in a number of other popular arenas recently as well, including by Jason Momoa at the premiere of Aquaman. Its origins date back hundreds of years though as a war cry and dance to elicit strength and courage in the face of overwhelming odds and to strike fear in the heart of the opponent. The Maori people were small in number and had suffered great adversity, but they stood strong, held on to their values and traditions, and their culture is rich and alive everywhere they live and call home today. That is a part of the meaning and significance of the Haka, and there are others. [Continued next page]

Tahirih with her sons Michael Cox (18) and Jamal Cox (14)

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Perspectives: New Zealand

Over time, the Haka has taken on a variety of meanings and is performed on a number of occasions, - weddings, funerals, reunions and more. There is also a popular form of Haka called the Kapa Haka or performance art Haka, used by Maori youth to bring awareness to and address social issues in community forums and even in international competitions.

Something else that fascinated my teenage son during his time in the Pacific Islands were the ever-present Ta Moko or Maori tattoos. One that he recounted making a great impression on him was an artistic representation of an owl that is worn on the chin of select elder women, who are designated the very honored and respected role of passing on Maori traditions to the next generation. Raising children and teaching them the Maori culture is a responsibility shared by the whole family and community, but there are certain wise women that earn this revered position and it is denoted by this tattoo on their chin.

The strength and resilience integral to the rich culture and identity of the Maori

people, interwoven with a palpable warmth, peace and tranquility that my son experienced left a life-altering impression on him. All I know is we’re now retiring in New Zealand, because Michael is determined to get back there on a more permanent basis.

If the beautiful picture of community life he painted wasn’t enough to win us over (which it was), his first reports home last summer were that “Everywhere here looks like screensavers” and “There are no dangerous animals or insects,” so we’re all on board.

Above: Participants in the Student Diplomacy Corps trip to New Zealand pose in front of one of

many waterfalls they visited; Michael learns that in Maori culture, the traditional skirt-like

garment made up of numerous strands of prepared flax fibers, woven or plaited, is called a piupiu.

Check out NPS’s great site celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

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Unrepresented Nations and Peoples

The Hmong The Hmong people are an ethnic group in East and Southeast Asia. They are a sub-group of the Miao people, and live mainly in Southern China, Vietnam and Laos. They have been members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) since 2007.

The Hmong (Miao) traditions and historical evidence indicates that they originated near the Yellow River region of China, According to linguist Martha Ratliff, there is linguistic evidence to suggest that they have occupied some of the same areas of southern China for over 8,000 years.

The ancient town of Zhuolu is considered to be the birthplace of the widely proclaimed legendary Hmong king, Chi You. Today, a statue of Chi You has been erected in the town.

Did you know: About 5% of the world Hmong population lives in the United States. The 2008 Census counted 171,316 people solely of Hmong ancestry, and 221,948 persons of at least partial Hmong ancestry.

Photo, right: Flower Hmong Women by Brian Snelson; below: Hmong Embroidery Story Cloth by beavela

Video: “Who are the Hmong People?” (An Introduction To Hmong Culture, History & Language)

Hmong Textile Art consists of traditional and modern textile arts and crafts produced by the Hmong people. Traditional Hmong textile examples include hand-spun hemp cloth production, basket weaving, batik dyeing, and a unique form of embroidery known as flower cloth or Paj Ntaub. The most widely recognized modern style of Hmong textile art is a form of embroidery derived from Paj Ntaub known as story cloth (seen at left).

Traditional Hmong textiles like Paj Ntaub play a significant role in Hmong daily life and are often directly associated with larger cultural concerns such as religion, gender, economics, and ethnic identity. Modern textiles like story cloths provide important historical and cultural context and are often used by scholars and educators within and outside of the Hmong community as a means to understand and engage with Hmong culture.

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Chinese Communities in Western America

Kam Wah Chung Company Building Explore Asian American & Pacific Islander Stories with the National Park Service

The Kam Wah Chung Company Building is located in the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site in John Day, Oregon. The building was originally constructed as a trading post near Canyon Creek in the 1860s and was purchased in 1887 by two Chinese businessmen, Lung On and Ing Hay. From the late 1880s to the 1940s, the Kam Wah Chung Company Building served as a commercial, social, and cultural center for the Chinese community in eastern Oregon. Today, the building is the best known example of a Chinese mercantile and herb store in the United States and has one of the best collections of its kind, containing hundreds of artifacts dating from the late 19th through the mid-20th century.

In 1848, gold was discovered in California and throughout the 1850s Chinese immigrants were a major source of labor for the mines in the western U.S. In the 1860s, Chinese laborers were recruited in large numbers from both China and the U.S. western mining industry to help build the western section of the Transcontinental Railroad. By the 1870s, Chinese immigrants were working in the lumber mills in Oregon and Washington and the coastal fishing industries on the West coast as well as in agriculture, construction, and retail.

Because of the large number of Chinese laborers in the West, Chinese communities began to form to support the growing immigrant population. By the late 19th century, the Chinese community in John Day was the largest one of its kind in eastern Oregon. In 1887, Lung On and Ing Hay decided that their combined business and medical skills would benefit their community. They purchased the Kam Wah Chung Company Building and began to sell goods and services from a general store and an herbalist shop located in the front of the building.

For more information: Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site.

Asian and Pacific Islander peoples in all walks of life have played a profoundly important role in American history, contributing to and shaping the rich heritage of the United States in many ways. Explore their stories and their legacy by visiting the units of the National Park System and other places listed in the National Register of Historic Places, most of which are National Historic Landmarks, throughout the nation featured in this itinerary. The National Park Service preserves historic places and stories of America's diverse cultural heritage and expands and maintains the National Register of Historic Places.

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Perspectives: Taiwan and Japan

A Child’s Memory By Steve Carlisle Program Analyst Interior Business Center

Growing up a Navy brat, I lived in California, Taiwan, Japan and DC all before I

was six years old. They tell me I spoke Mandarin before I spoke English, then

forgot it all when I learned Japanese. One thing I do remember are the

extraordinary women who helped to raised me. My mom was busy tending to

the social obligations of a Navy Captain’s wife, so I was placed in the care of two

amazing women: first was Hotsu in Taiwan, then Shizuko San in Yokohama.

Hotsu, a young, fun-loving beautiful person infatuated with all things American,

took charge of me when I was two years old. She had a bubbly personality, and

when we sat around the kitchen table at lunchtime with Lucy, the cook, we

giggled and laughed over steaming bowls of rice. That’s when she taught me the

Mandarin words for bowl, spoon, rice, soy sauce and chop sticks. Hotsu

delighted in costume jewelry and we often went treasure hunting in Mom’s

jewelry box together, awe-struck at the sparkling bangle bracelets and

rhinestone necklaces my mom wore when entertaining.

A couple of years later we moved to Japan and the wonderful Shizuko San

wrapped me in her loving arms. I remember our adventures in the rooftop

children’s playground of Takashimaya Department Store while mom shopped.

We both found particular delight in the jiggling spring-loaded plastic animal

rides. I’d plead with her to ride the yellow duck, “Dozo, Shizuko San?” “Okay,

Stevie San!” Then we would climb on together and bounce up and down. On

those occasions when we went out on the town, Shizuko San wore her soft

brown kimono, geta (clackety wooden sandals) and sparkling white tabi socks

(like mittens with a spacer between the big toe and the other toes).

One magical day Shizuko San took me to her one-room home in downtown

Yokosuka. Her husband was a real estate broker and their little house was a

billboard advertising the properties for sale: each panel of the rice paper shoji

screen walls featured hand-written ads in traditional sumi ink. I was treated as

an honored guest, sitting cross-legged on the tatami mat floor around a

cauldron of chicken broth bubbling away on a hibachi in the center of the room.

From the steamy pot she pulled long ramen noodles and tender pieces of pork.

She took care to serve me the one red noodle in the pot, for that was reserved

for esteemed guests. I tried very hard to let her know how honored I was to be a

guest in her home, so when it was time to leave I bowed in my seersucker

Atomu (Astro Boy) kimono and said, “Arigato gozaimashita, Shizuko San!”

Pictured, above: Hotsu and Stevie, Taipei, 1960. Below: Shizuko San and Stevie, Yokohama, 1962.

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Remembering and Giving

Nidoto Nai Yoni: Let It Not Happen Again

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, a unit of Minidoka National Historic Site, commemorates the first instance in the United States where people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes during World War II and sent to relocation centers in remote areas of the country. This memorial serves to honor those who were removed and the neighbors who stood by them. It also serves as a reminding hope that this dark moment in our nation’s history not be repeated. Photograph by Joe Mabel, Flikr.

Read more here

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DOI Celebrates AAPI

“Unite Our Nation by Empowering Equality”

From the Office of Civil Rights

The growth and diversification of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population has been

nothing short of phenomenal. Driven by sustained immigration and refugee resettlement during the 1970s and 1980s, Asian American and Pacific Islanders have emerged as one of the Nation's fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups. The AAPI community consists of culturally and linguistically diverse people, representing populations from many countries and islands. Today, the United States has a population that includes more than 22.2 million Asians, and 1.6 million Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.

The seeds for the commemorative month originated from proposals made by both Houses of Congress in 1977. Although the original bills did not pass, in 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a House resolution proclaiming annually Pacific Asian American Heritage week during the first ten days in May. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress, extending the week-long celebration to the entire month of May. The month of May was chosen to commemorate both the 1843 arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America and the 1869 completion of the transcontinental railroad by Chinese laborers. The establishment and implementation of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month showcases the dynamic roles the AAPI community has played in shaping America's history and culture as we know it today. From education to politics to mainstream media, the AAPI community plays an integral role in the further advancement of all facets of American society.

This year’s AAPI theme is “Unite Our Nation by Empowering Equality.” The topic speaks not only to the many ways in which the Asian American and Pacific Islander community has enriched our society and shaped the character of our country, it also solidifies the need for all people to continue to work in unity to sustain the United States as a great Nation.

As we reflect on those remarkable trailblazers, who progressed the principals of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of society, we will continue their efforts to build a culture where every person of every race, national origin, religion, age, gender, and regardless of disability realize their dreams.

During this month, the Office of Civil Rights encourages supervisors, managers, and employees to participate in the myriad of activities that are held nationally in recognition

of AAPI month. Such participation supports continuous learning and appreciation for the many contributions made to the American culture by the AAPI community. Together, let us continue to maintain the Department of the Interior's reputation as being an employer that educates, honors, and values the richness of all our employees.

Additional Resources: Watch the new PBS docuseries, Asian Americans Register for one of the White House Initiative on AAPIs (WHIAAPI) Virtual Events

Learn about AAPI heritage and upcoming events in the FAPAC AAPI Resource Center

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Spotlight on Origami

A Thousand Cranes

By Chiketta R. Wilson Contract Specialist Interior Business Center

As we all look to find a bit of peace and happiness while the world faces the sorrow of losing loved ones in the pandemic, there is a time honored tradition that comes to mind: the Japanese art of origami. There are many options to chose from when one is looking to take on the challenge of origami but today the spotlight is on the crane. In Japan the crane is believed to be a mystical creature that lives for a thousand years. Some Japanese refer to the crane as “the bird of happiness” whose wings carry souls up to paradise. According to Japanese tradition, if one person folds 1,000 cranes in one year they have the chance to make one special wish come true. Variations of the tradition grant happiness and eternal good luck. The 1,000 cranes are called a senbazuru and sometimes groups of people come together to fold them. This simple act brings people together or helps to spread awareness. While we are home with our loved ones, let us all band together to help bring some good luck and happiness to those that are enduring hardships.

Here are some quick easy instructions but more detailed instructions can be found at https://origami.me/crane/.

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COUNTRY CAPITOL Afghanistan Kabul Armenia Yerevan Azerbaijan Baku Bahrain Manama Bangladesh Dhaka Bhutan Thimphu Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan Cambodia Phnom Penh China Beijing Cyprus Nicosia Georgia Tbilisi India New Delhi Indonesia Jakarta Iran Tehran Iraq Baghdad Israel Jerusalem Japan Tokyo Jordan Amman Kazakhstan Nur-Sultan Kuwait Kuwait City Kyrgyzstan Bishkek Laos Vientiane Lebanon Beirut Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Maldives Male

COUNTRY CAPITOL Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Myanmar Naypyidaw Nepal Kathmandu North Korea Pyongyang Oman Muscat Pakistan Islamabad Palestine Jerusalem (East) Philippines Manila Qatar Doha Russia Moscow Saudi Arabia Riyadh Singapore Singapore South Korea Seoul Sri Lanka Sri Jayawar- denepura Kotte Syria Damascus Taiwan Taipei Tajikistan Dushanbe Thailand Bangkok Timor-Leste Dili Turkey Ankara Turkmenistan Ashgabat UAE Abu Dhabi Uzbekistan Tashkent Vietnam Hanoi Yemen Sana'a

Flavors of Asia

From the U.S. Forest Service

Spices and herbs are defined as plant derived substances that add flavor to any dish. It is difficult to distinguish between the two. Spices can come from the following plant parts: roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Herbs are typically thought of as non-woody plants.

It is not known when humans began to use the first herbs and spices as flavoring agents. Garlic and onions were documented as being used 4,500 years ago. Humans used spices to help preserve foods before refrigeration. Both were also used in religious ceremonies.

Spices and herbs have historical importance and were once the source of great power and wealth. Many Asian and Pacific Island cultures built their diets around the availability of certain herbs and spices. Cinnamon from Sri Lanka, hawaij from Yemen, curry from India, shichimi togarashi from Japan, galangal from Indonesia, Baharat from Lebanon, garam masala from India, shiso from Kyoto Prefecture Japan, sansho pepper from Japan, and Sichuan pepper from China are just a few of the flavors of Asia.

Explore Asian herbs and spices here:

https://www.tasteatlas.com/asia/herbs-and-spices

Answer Key from Page Four

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The Special Emphasis Program Magazine is a publication

of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary,

Administrative Services. Your input is essential to making

this a valuable resource for all employees. Please feel

free to share your ideas, suggestions and articles/

pictures with editor Steve Carlisle by calling (505) 288-

4092 or emailing Stephen_Carlisle@ibc.doi.gov. Thank

you! May 2020

ON THE COVER Every spring, the cherry blossoms on the #NationalMall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. explode into a gorgeous display of white and pink. Blooming into flowering clouds that hover over the Tidal Basin, it’s an incredible natural event in the middle of an urban area. A gift from Japan to the United States in 1912, these gorgeous trees are a symbol of peace and friendship. For photographer Jen Johnson, they’re also a connection to family, “Ever since I was a young child, my favorite memories include my grandfather, who was also a photographer, taking us to the view the #cherryblossoms at the Tidal Basin. I continue to photograph the cherry blossoms in memory of him.” Photo from 2019 courtesy of Jen Johnson

About the Special Emphasis Program

Asian American Pacific

Islander Heritage Magazine

Special Emphasis Programs (SEPs) are implemented and observed throughout the Department of the Interior primarily to ensure that all are provided an equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. These programs encourage employees to appreciate, value, understand, and celebrate social and cultural similarities and differences. MONTHLY COMMEMORATIONS ALIGNED WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAMS February: African-American History Month (Black Employment Program) March: Women’s History Month (Federal Women’s Program) May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month June: LGBTQ History Month July: Caribbean Heritage Month August: European Heritage Month September: National Hispanic American Heritage Month (Hispanic Employment Program) October: National Disability Employment Awareness Month (Includes Disabled Veterans) November: Native American Heritage Month Additionally, Memorial Day (Last Monday in May) and Veterans Day (November 11) are aligned with the Veterans Employment Program, and Women’s Equality Day (August 26) is aligned with the Federal Women’s Program.

Please join us!

The Special Emphasis Program Team publishes a magazine to coincide with each monthly commemoration. We would be delighted to have you be a part of our efforts by

• Shaping subject matter for each magazine

• Creating and submitting content

• Participating in and hosting virtual observances and informal discussions

• Celebrating diversity with family, friends and co-workers

Team members spend approximately one hour per pay period on SEP initiatives, are able to take time away when work schedules require it, and can focus on those subject areas that are most meaningful to them.

To get started, please send an email to respect@ibc.doi.gov and a team member will contact you. Thanks!