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Transcript of interview with Sharon Gutzman by Lisa Mades, March 13, 1981

Date

1981-03-13

Description

On March 13, 1981, Lisa Mades interviewed Sharon Gutzman (born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1935). Gutzman talks much about early Las Vegas, Nevada, including early businesses, the first casinos, and the first airport. She also discusses educations, shopping, recreation, entertainment, and gambling.

Text

Sanje Sedera oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03761

Abstract

Oral history interview with Sanje Sedera conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Stefani Evans on April 16, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Sanje Sedera discusses growing up in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, with his family. He shares his educational history, moving from Sri Lanka to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia as a high schooler to learn English before immigrating to the United States to attend Idaho State University. Sedera discusses the political unrest and civil war that took place in Sri Lanka between the Tamil and Sinhalese people, and how he grew to appreciate political activism instilled in him by his paternal grandparents. Sedera shares his employment history working as a manager for K-Mart, an opportunity that brought him to Las Vegas, as well as his entrepreneurial pursuits of owning a mortgage business and becoming a realtor. He talks about the financial crisis of 2008 that led to losing his business, his attempts to run for public office, and how he helped to form Nevada's Asian American Democratic Caucus. Sedera concludes with a discussion of his Buddhist practice and how these philosophies have shaped his life.

Archival Collection