The Story
Akiko was exhausted. It seemed she got very little sleep since her family was told they had to move to this place in the Arizona desert. She missed her home in the beautiful mountains of California.⠀
⠀
Each day Akiko rose from her mat on the floor to care for her younger siblings. Her Haha was always weeping and had little time for the children. And Papa was so angry that Akiko just didn’t want to bother him. So, the work was left to her.⠀
⠀
Akiko worked hard, day in and day out, to keep the children quiet and peaceful. She realized that she had a choice to make. She could look upon her circumstances and wish that they were different, or she could make the best of the situation. For her own sanity, she choose to make it as wonderful as she could.
The History
The Gila River Arts and Crafts Center was built in 1970 and was designed as a way to educate the general public about local Native American tribes. The center also included areas dedicated to the Mormon Trail and a nearby Japanese Internment Camp. The building was closed in the early 2000’s.⠀