How can I learn more about Okinawan culture and history? Okinawan/Japanese identity crisis

I grew up in the US to an Okinawan father and a Japanese mother.

I was exposed to mainstream Japanese culture growing up and developed a Japanese identity. On the otherhand, I had little exposure to Okinawan culture. My dad would very occasionally cook Okinawan foods (like goya champuru) and sometimes speak of experiences in his childhood that I understand now are uniquely Okinawan. He sometimes played Okinawan music in the car. For the most part though, I didn’t really have a sense of Okinawan identity since I had much greater exposure to mainstream Japanese culture.

Recently, I’m finally learning more about Okinawa’s history (the Ryukyu Kingdom, annexation by Japan in 1879, sad WW2 stuff, post-WW2 U.S. administration, etc.), and learning about my family history. The more I learn, the more I feel sad and angry, and also kind of helpless.

My dad can understand/speak some Uchinaguchi, and my grandparents were able to converse in it. I’ve learned that all Ryukyuan languages are endangered and on course for extinction by 2050. There aren’t any “duolingo” course or online courses on Uchinaguchi. I guess I’m sad to realize that there’s a whole language/culture that I don’t know that is getting lost. I am going through a bit of an identity crisis.

Aside from learning more from my dad and trying to visit my family in Okinawa, do you have any recommendations (resources/books) to learn about Okinawa’s history and culture? Has anyone had a similar experience of trying to connect with their heritage? There is no active Uchinanchu community in my area as far as I know.

Thank you for reading!

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/10dv3po/how_can_i_learn_more_about_okinawan_culture_and/