Congratulations to our Museum Curator, Jeanine Greco, and KCHS Member Joann Oligario, on winning the Washington State Historical Society’s 2020 Peace and Friendship Award! The award was for their work on the exhibit “Beyond Borders: The Indipino Community of Bainbridge Island”.
Their work and the award was highlighted in the Tacoma Daily Index: https://www.tacomadailyindex.com/blog/historians-in-washington-receive-prestigious-recognition/2447776/
From the article:
This exhibition at the Kitsap History Museum in Bremerton was the first to examine the history of the marriages of First Nations women and Filipino American men on Bainbridge Island during World War II.
Joann Oligario (Squamish, Sechelt) is a tireless advocate for Indigenous, civil, labor and women’s rights and has devoted her life to collecting and documenting the history of her family and others in her Indipino community. Joann grew up on her family’s farm on Bainbridge Island. She joined the Navy and served as a nurse in the Vietnam War, later becoming a radiological technician. As an elder of the Indipino community, Joann has facilitated cross-cultural fellowship and increased understanding of the historic events that brought the founders of her community together.
Jeanine Greco is the curator at the Kitsap History Museum in Bremerton and acted as staff lead and cultural liaison in the research, planning, and design of Beyond Borders. Her work on the exhibition began with a meeting with Indipino elders, ensuring that the voices and experiences of the Indipino community were centered throughout the narrative. Jeanine acted as facilitator for the story and consulted with elders at every step, building meaningful relationships and trust between communities.