STATESIDE Chamorros, Carolinians, and others connected to the Marianas gathered in Copperas Cove, Texas, on July 5 for the 2025 CNMI Liberation Celebration organized by Islan Marianas Inc., a nonprofit organization.
The organization’s vision is to promote the arts, culture, and languages of the Marianas and surrounding Pacific islands; to expand educational opportunities; and to conduct community outreach to further the common good and general welfare of the community.
The 2025 Liberation Celebration was open to the public and drew guests from across the “Texas Triangle” of San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth for a day of celebration, music, food, and fellowship, according to Islan Marianas Chair Ellery Arriola.
Arriola said the group has hosted CNMI Liberation Day celebrations since 2018, and that the event is a way to introduce the people of the CNMI — “culturally and traditionally” — to surrounding communities in Texas. Islan Marianas Inc. currently has 30 active households in its membership, he said.
Vendors at the event sold handmade wood carvings, ground hot peppers, baked goods, lighatutur, and more.
Cultural performers included Inenton Famagu’on Guåhan and Metgot Manggåfa, two separate groups made up of people connected to Guam, as well as a dance troupe from Kosrae. Islan Marianas Inc. members, under Arriola’s dance instruction, also performed, along with members of the Refaluwasch community, who presented a maas and stick dance.
The event emcees were Francis “Ponko” Atalig and his wife, Carolyn B. Atalig, both from Saipan. The DJ was Abraham “Bang Bang” Taimanao from Rota. The Marianas Band performed the CNMI anthem during the opening ceremony and provided live musical entertainment throughout the event, Arriola said.
At the fiesta table, group members contributed local favorites, such as latiyas, chicken kelaguen, red rice, mutsiyas, island style barbecue, fritada, ko’ko’, and other dishes.
Arriola noted that the event was supported by a donation of cultural posters from the Northern Marianas Humanities Council and added that their organization could “always use more books, art, brochures,” and other materials to display at future events.
“Anyone interested can always email us with questions at islanmarianasinc@outlook.com/,” he said. “We try to form a supportive community that brings a piece of the islands to the mainland and will assist in any way possible with issues people may face during their transition. One of the organization’s main goals for the future is to have a small community center that showcases our culture, traditions, and heritage.”
He said the group is inclusive.
“Membership in the organization is not limited to certain people,” Arriola said. “It is open to anyone who is interested. Presently, we have several members with no ties to the CNMI or any Pacific islands. Their reasoning is that they love how we continue to keep our culture and traditions strong, and that we are a tight-knit group of people who welcome everyone with open arms.”
Cultural dancers prepare their native attire ahead of a performance in Copperas Cove, Texas.
At their fiesta table, Islan Marianas Inc. members donated local favorites like lantiyas, chicken kelaguin, red rice, mutsiyas, local style barbecue, fritada, ko’ko’ and more.
Cultural performers included members of the Refaluwasch community, who performed a maas and stick dance.
Stateside Chamorros, Carolinians, and others connected to the Marianas gathered at Copperas Cove in Texas on July 5 for the 2025 CNMI Liberation Celebration organized by Islan Marianas Inc., a nonprofit organization.
