Participants at the 2016 Minidoka Pilgrimage gather for a group photo. The 15th annual pilgrimage takes place July 6-9. (Photo: Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee)
SEATTLE — The Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee has announced that the dates for the 15th annual 2017 pilgrimage will be July 6-9.
In 1942, almost 13,000 people of Japanese ancestry living in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, many of whom were American citizens, were removed from their homes and sent to a desolate “concentration camp” near Twin Falls, Idaho. This summer, the 15th pilgrimage will take place with former incarcerees, their families and friends — from Seattle, Portland and across the nation — to the former Minidoka Camp in Idaho.
The pilgrimage is an opportunity to learn, share memories and ask questions about the Minidoka experience. Consider participating as a way to bring your family together and reconnect with friends. The number of participants is limited.
Last year’s Minidoka Pilgrimage welcomed more than 240 participants, where they took part in 18 presentations during the Friday Education Program, shared countless stories about their experiences and witnessed the dedication of the new baseball field that was built during the Field in a Day Project in May 2016.
The Minidoka Pilgrimage officially begins in Twin Falls, Idaho, on the evening of July 6 for dinner. July 7 will feature a full day of educational programming for pilgrimage participants. On July 8, the group will tour the Minidoka National Park Site, followed by small group discussions that will allow participants to learn and share memories of the incarceration experience. On the morning of July 9, the pilgrimage will conclude with a commemorative closing ceremony at the Minidoka National Park Site.
Pilgrimage Details
There are two different registration packages:
The Seattle/Bellevue package includes bus transportation from Bellevue, Wash., to Twin Falls, Idaho. The registration fee is $425.
The Boise/Twin Falls Package requires participants to provide their own transportation to Twin Falls, Idaho. The price is $225.
There is a discount on both packages for children under 12 and seniors 75 years and older.
The registration fee includes meals and all activities during the pilgrimage. Lodging must be made by each participant. Please review the Hotel and Information document and the Registration Form for more information on Pilgrimage packages (Seattle and Twin Falls). This information can be found on the Minidoka Pilgrimage website (minidokapilgrimage.org).
The Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee is excited to once again offer a Senior Scholarship for those who are over 80 years of age and were imprisoned in any of the American concentration camps during World War II. Please review the Senior Scholarship Registration Form to apply for the scholarship.
Student Scholarships are also available. In an effort to continue to provide an experience of social justice in action and allow diverse input, participation and energy, the Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee and the Seattle University International Student Center are proud to offer unique scholarship opportunities to college students.
The Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee is an all-volunteer run committee based in Seattle, Wash. The annual pilgrimage strives to honor the generations that were at Minidoka by sharing stories so that in the future, due process of the law will be honored.
All registration forms and information can be found on the Minidoka Pilgrimage website at minidokapilgrimage.org. For other questions or concerns, email minidokapilgrimage@gmail.com. For those who cannot access the forms and information by computer, please leave your name and address with Dale H. Watanabe at (206) 296-2156 and they will be mailed.
