HAGÅTÑA (Ayuda Foundation) — A book launch at the Joeten-Kiyu public library this Saturday, April 23, at 10 a.m. will showcase a publication entitled, “Latte in the Marianas.” The book features latte through wisdom handed down over generations, photographs, oral histories, archaeology, latte-inspired art, poetry, chants, and songs, as well as community heritage initiatives.
The book is both a vivid and beautiful oversized coffee table book as well as a compilation of over 130 pages of single and double-page entries written by highly regarded cultural practitioners, historians, archaeologists, and historic preservationists who have been part of the Marianas’ cultural renaissance and have years or decades of expertise and experiences to share.
A 10-poster Latte in the Marianas series is also on display at the library that imparts some of the main points about latte which are showcased in the book.
Latte have become an iconic symbol of CHamoru identity and the ingenuity and skill of their ancestors. At the same time, while there is a substantial amount of academic material on latte, there are few books written about latte for the community. In “Latte in the Marianas,” entries are between 50 to 500 words and take a few to 15 minutes to read. One can easily peruse through the book and stop on any one of its numerous topics to learn the latest understandings about a particular aspect of latte.
The CNMI launch to be held in Saipan will highlight that “Latte in the Marianas” is truly by the community, for the community comprised of over 80 voices from throughout the archipelago and elsewhere. CNMI contributors to the book have been invited to the launch where they will be able to see and hear about how their individual contributions were woven together into an important accounting of the latte. Public librarians as well as school librarians have also been invited to pick up their library’s complimentary copy of the book.
The “Latte in the Marianas” project has recently partnered with Guampedia through which one will be able to purchase copies of the book, the proceeds of which will continue to sustain Guampedia’s valuable cultural and historical work about not only Guam but CNMI and Micronesia as well.
The “Latte in the Marianas” project was made possible by Ayuda Foundation, the Guam Preservation Trust, Humanities Guåhan, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, the Guam Tourist Attraction Fund, Nihi Ta Fanhasso’ Cultural and Historical Consulting, Kaleidic Design, and Micronesian Heritage Consulting, LLC.
For more information, contact Dr. Kelly Marsh (Taitano) at kmarsh@triton.uog.edu
