“A TIME is Running Out WARNING, dedicated to the memories of Mr. Olopai, a Humble Cultural Icon who maintained a never-ending pursuit in the preservation & promotion of his culture & to the memories of Auntie Daling a “Cultural & Saipan Historian and Activist for the Amelia Earhart Monument to contribute to our CNMI Tourism-Brand”!
The Truth Be Told, I was thinking about Mr. Olopai’s passing and how the CNMI just lost an almost “irreplaceable cultural resource in the loss of Mr. Olopai.” I have been writing about the need for “Cultural Maintenance, Preservation & Promoting Cultural Events” ever since, as it’s been far over a decade now. Having minored in Sociology, I know cultures in the hundreds have died over time, as no culture is immune to CHANGE that often has a “domino effect on societies” both “positively & adversely.” Chamorros/Carolinians have less than 50yrs. now to embed the “programs & activities of cultural resilience to save the cultures.” CHANGE is a two-edge sword, which is WHY it is All-Important to “meet change head-on to control and even master” or be doomed to be helpless in effectuating the end results of CHANGE. I’m also writing this because I know from experience what’s it’s like to be a victim of “losing one’s culture,” as I was ROBBED of my ancestral culture that was taken by force during slavery — so be GLAD you still have a culture to SAVE that needs you!
For years Ambrodamus has been pushing for a “Carolinian/Chamorro Curriculum like the Hawaiians to document ALL the Aspects of the two indigenous cultures,” as the main reason for the death of many cultures was the failure to “Write-It-Down” for posterity, as many cultures did not have writing. However, in these modern times of computers there is no rational excuse for not writing down the two indigenous cultures that once depended upon the insufficient “word-of-mouth method to teach the belief system, customs, practices, arts & craft and even the toys & games for the children.” Language alone is insufficient to preserve a culture that needs maintenance & constant practice to pass the test of time. Furthermore, there haven’t been any new indigenous words to accommodate the CHANGE in language that now requires words like for the new technology/medical leaving the languages dysfunctional mixing English & Indigenous words — No Maintenance!
For me, the Government’s Cultural Agencies are NOT doing their job of maintenance & promoting the two indigenous cultures — a Fact! Heck, there should be All-Kinds of Cultural Summer Schools for all parts of the cultures with maintenance activities & Events for the youth who don’t have anything to do on Saipan, Tinian or Luta, instead of DEFLECTING cultural preservation responsibilities on PSS. Where are the “active Chamorro/Carolinian Villages as part of OUR Brand for Tourists with Indigenous Dances” opposed to most of the dances being from other island groups, as tourists come to see “both-of-the-cultures in action” like Hawaii. Someone must step-up to resurrect or recreate the indigenous cultures/dances that seem to have ALREADY been lost to a very large degree, as I know it to be TRUE from when all of our daughters were once dancers! I even suggested years ago for the reinstitution of the vital leadership in a “Chief System” — Chiefs on all islands, as no new chiefs (leaders) have been declared in either culture in over a century — the REALITY of No Maintenance, so sad!
Cultures die slow/quick deaths from wars, slavery which hit my ancestors in America, natural disasters and sometimes from the lack of maintenance due to the culture being “over-run by outside influences.” When American Modernization hit the Marianas with the push to learn English & American Practices that put the indigenous cultures on the “back-burner & a slow decline” which is clearly contributing to the two indigenous cultures starting to die a “slow-death one person (resource) at a time,” and the Chamorro/Carolinian Dictionary is not sufficient to preserve the cultures. So please create the Cultural Curriculums for future generations to teach the cultures and don’t be ashamed or so proud & arrogant to jeopardize the cultures’ future by refusing help from a real Social Scientist who CARES and is offering sound “Facts & proven Methodology” before it’s too darn late, as this may be my last wake-up call on saving the indigenous cultures!
The death of Mr. Olopai was a real OMEN for me based on what I learned in Sociology, as the People with the knowledge to preserve the indigenous cultures are dying and No One has yet sought to write-it-all-down, meaning one day there will be no human-resources left to teach the cultures. I’m sure my friend the late Lino Mettao Olopai would welcome and agree with what I have said about the need for “cultural-activist’s work” before “IT’S TOO LATE” as the People who know the cultures are dying closing the window within the next 50yrs. one elder-resource at a time. FYI readers, “if not me saying something, then who and if not now then, when will there be legitimate efforts to conduct maintenance & promote the two indigenous cultures,” as time is running out — for TRUE! I’m sure Mr. Olopai, who was a Walking-Cultural-Encyclopedia, would want someone take up his “Banner of Cultural Preservation & Promotion for his Carolinian and even the Chamorro Culture. Just as I have tried to carry on the work of my African American Mentors, someone must WAKE UP and carry-on the work that Mr. Olopai started if you truly CARE, as “Your culture is NOT Ambrodamus’ responsibility” but about “WHAT you Do to preserve & promote YOUR Culture” — prayers for Mr. Olopai and for the two indigenous cultures in the days ahead that are filled with cultural-trepidation facing the powerful forces of change, as the “American Migration” is the newest threat!
News Flash
We just lost Maria Soledad — “Auntie Daling’” on the 25th as she was another “cultural & historical encyclopedia” whom WE must all pray for. I truly hate that she never got to see the Amelia Earhart Monument, that has a world interest, as Auntie Daling put her heart into working so hard to accomplish FOR the benefit of HER CNMI Tourism, as Tourism is truly everyone’s business like Chris was trying to tell us. But our leaders “didn’t get the monuments importance for complementing our Tourism-Brand” as that Bigotry-Politics if you & your idea are not Republican got in the way refusing to provide a simple “20-foot-square of land for the statue” preventing progress & a taste of prosperity for the CNMI that would have evolved into many Tourists visiting the CNMI to see Saipan and a simple statue — so, so darn sad! Someone must pick up & unfurl her Banner, as Auntie Daling will surely be MISSED — Rest in Peace Auntie Daling!
One People, One Direction.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
