By (Eipéráng) Gregorie Michael Towai
For Variety
OVER the past several months, I have been humbled by the many private messages, emails, and conversations from people asking a simple question:
“Who are you, and what are you hoping to accomplish?”
It is a fair question.
I am not an elected official. I am not affiliated with any political party. I do not represent any government agency, nonprofit organization, or special interest group. I have no ambitions of seeking public office, nor do I write on behalf of anyone but myself.
I am simply a Refaluwasch son of the Northern Mariana Islands who believes our islands deserve thoughtful conversations grounded in facts, history, accountability, and hope.
Like many islanders, I have watched our Commonwealth experience tremendous change throughout my lifetime. I have witnessed moments of remarkable progress, endured periods of uncertainty, and seen how quickly circumstances can redefine our priorities. Those experiences have taught me that many of our greatest challenges are not unique to the CNMI. They are shared throughout Oceania: balancing economic development with environmental stewardship, preserving Indigenous identity while navigating globalization, strengthening public institutions, and ensuring that future generations inherit something better than what we received.
These are not problems that can be solved by criticism alone.
That realization has shaped the direction of my work.
My academic writing explores what I believe is the next stage of Pacific scholarship. While much important work has documented colonial histories, structural inequities, and the complexities of island governance, I believe we must also devote equal energy to designing institutions that reflect our own Oceanic values and aspirations.
One of my recent papers, “From Archipelagic Critique to Institutional Design: Toward Infrastructure for Oceanic Relationality in the Marianas,” argues precisely this point. It suggests that the future of our islands will not be secured solely by identifying what is wrong. It will depend upon our willingness to imagine — and then build — the institutions capable of supporting a more sustainable future for generations to come.
That philosophy also explains why I write so many opinion pieces.
To some readers, my op-eds may appear to cover unrelated topics: disaster recovery, government accountability, deep-sea mining, economic diversification, public infrastructure, the Covenant, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, or public policy. I see them differently.
They are all connected.
Each explores how the choices we make today shape the long-term sustainability of our Commonwealth. More importantly, each asks how we can build institutions that are not merely capable of addressing today’s challenges, but of sustaining future generations with integrity, accountability, and foresight.
I do not expect everyone to agree with my conclusions. Healthy disagreement is essential to any democracy. If my writing encourages respectful debate, inspires additional research, or motivates someone else to contribute new ideas, then it has already served its purpose.
I also believe scholarship should not remain confined to universities or academic journals. Research has its greatest value when it informs public understanding and helps communities make wiser decisions. Likewise, public conversations often reveal questions that deserve deeper scholarly inquiry. The relationship should be reciprocal.
That is why I have chosen to write both academic papers and public essays. One informs the other. Together, they represent my modest contribution toward strengthening civic discourse in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Everything I write is guided by a simple conviction: that our islands possess extraordinary people, extraordinary knowledge, and extraordinary potential. Our greatest resource has never been found beneath the ocean floor or measured in government revenues. It has always been our people, our cultures, and our capacity to build a more sustainable future together.
If my writing has a single purpose, it is this:
To help imagine institutions worthy of the people they serve.
Whether my work reaches a handful of readers or a much wider audience is ultimately less important than remaining faithful to that purpose.
As an independent researcher and private citizen, I will continue asking difficult questions, exploring possible solutions, and inviting others into the conversation — not because I claim to have all the answers, but because I believe the future of the Marianas is a responsibility we all share.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read, challenge, encourage, and engage with my work. Your thoughtful messages remind me that meaningful dialogue still exists, and that there remains a genuine desire among our people to think deeply about the future we are building together.
With God’s guidance, and inspired by the wisdom of our elders and the hopes of future generations, I intend to continue contributing in the only way I know how: through research, thoughtful dialogue, and a sincere love for our islands and our people.
