Minidoka director Kurt Ikeda wins Idaho Humanity Council’s highest honor – Idaho Capital Sun

The Idaho Humanities Council awarded Kurt Ikeda the 2021 Excellent Achievement in Humanities Award, the group’s highest honor, awarded yearly to acknowledge achievements that encourage a greater understanding of the humanities. 

Ikeda serves because the Minidoka Nationwide Historic Website’s director of schooling and interpretation and beforehand labored as an schooling specialist for southern Idaho parks. In 2018, he was an intern with Northwest Youth Corps. Earlier than he started working for the Nationwide Park Service, Ikeda labored on the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates and as a highschool English instructor.

“The presence of Minidoka and the general public programming linked to it has an area and world influence,” stated humanities council govt director David Pettyjohn in a press launch. “Kurt’s work exemplifies a crucial side of the humanities, which is that information of essentially the most painful reminders of our previous can and may present an avenue to actually perceive the problems that may result in the erosion of civil liberties and fundamental human rights.”

Ikeda is a second technology Japanese American and a descendant of World Battle II incarceration survivors. He earned his bachelor’s diploma on the College of California, Los Angeles and earned a grasp’s from Loyola Marymount College. 

Ikeda can be honored at a reception on the Minidoka Nationwide Historic Website close to Jerome on Aug. 15. Different recipients of the Excellent Achievement in Humanities Award embrace former Idaho Gov. Robert Smylie, Moscow author Mary Clearman Blew, Nez Perce elder Horace Axtell and lots of others. To study extra in regards to the award, go to the Idaho Humanities Council web site.